Chapter 250-5 PERSONAL LICENSURE
| (1) |
An applicant
for licensure as an embalmer must satisfy the following requirements:
| (a) |
be at least 18 years of age at the time
of application; |
| (b) |
be of good
moral character; and |
| (c) |
at
minimum, have graduated from a high school or have earned a general education
development certificate. |
|
| (2) |
An applicant for licensure as an embalmer
shall make application to the Board on forms approved by the Board, shall
submit the appropriate fee, and shall provide the following:
| (a) |
proof of graduation from a college of
funeral service accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education
or other college specifically approved by the Board. |
| (b) |
proof of 3,120 hours of service as an
apprentice as specified in Rule
250-4-.02 and in O.C.G.A. Section
43-18-50;
and |
| (c) |
an affidavit which states
that the apprentice assisted in embalming at least fifty (50) bodies and which
specifies the names and dates of death. |
|
| (3) |
An application for licensure as an
embalmer shall be reviewed by the Board only after it is complete. This
application shall ask questions regarding the applicant's conviction of a
felony or misdemeanor and violations or sentences under the First Offender Act.
A completed application must be submitted at least fifteen (15) days prior to a
Board meeting, and the Board shall accept or reject each application by
majority vote. |
| (1) |
An applicant
for licensure as an embalmer must attain a passing score, as determined by the
Board, on the Funeral Service Science Examination of the National Conference of
Funeral Service Examining Boards. Any examination fee which may be required
shall be paid directly to the Conference. An individual may take the Funeral
Service Science and Funeral Service Arts Examinations of the National
Conference on the same date. |
| (2) |
Veterans who qualify for Veterans Preference Points may have additional points
added to their score. Information on points may be obtained from the Board
office. |
| (3) |
An applicant for
licensure as an embalmer must direct the National Conference to provide the
Board with certification that the applicant passed the Funeral Service Science
Examination. |
The Board may consider licensure by reciprocity without the
requirement of taking the National Examination and upon payment of the
appropriate fee, to any person licensed as an embalmer by another State,
territory, or country, or by the District of Columbia.
| (1) |
An applicant for licensure as an embalmer
by reciprocity must successfully pass an examination approved by the Board
which tests knowledge of the laws of this state relating to funeral directors
and:
| (a) |
must satisfy the requirements listed
in Rule
250-5-.01 above; or |
| (b) |
must hold a valid embalmer's license in a
jurisdiction whose requirements for licensure as an embalmer are substantially
equal to the requirements for licensure as an embalmer in Georgia;
and |
| (c) |
an embalmer licensed by
endorsement cannot be issued a license on the basis of another reciprocal or
endorsement license. |
| (d) |
An
applicant who cannot meet the requirements of (a) or (b) in this rule may be
issued a license as an embalmer by endorsement upon submission of documentation
from an employer attesting that the applicant has been engaged in the active
practice of funeral service as a licensed embalmer and funeral director for a
minimum of three (3) years immediately preceding the submission of an
application for licensure in Georgia, in accordance with the provisions of
O.C.G.A. § 43-18-42(a)(2).
For the purposes of this rule, "immediately preceding" shall mean that the
applicant must submit the appropriate application to the Board office within
six (6) months of leaving the state in which he or she has been actively
engaged in the active practice of funeral service. |
|
| (1) |
An applicant
for licensure as a funeral director must satisfy the following requirements:
| (a) |
be at least 18 years of age at the time
of application; |
| (b) |
be of good
moral character; and |
| (c) |
at
minimum, have graduated from a high school or have earned a general education
development certificate. |
|
| (2) |
An applicant for licensure as a funeral
director shall make application to the Board on forms approved by the Board,
shall submit the appropriate fee, and shall provide the following:
| (a) |
proof of valid licensure as an embalmer
in the State of Georgia; and |
| (b) |
an
affidavit stating that, as an apprentice, the applicant assisted with at least
fifty (50) funerals; the affidavit shall also specify the names of the deceased
and dates of death. |
|
| (3) |
An application for licensure as a funeral director shall be reviewed by the
Board only after it is complete. This application shall ask questions regarding
the applicant's conviction for a felony or misdemeanor and violations or
sentences under the First Offender Act. A completed application must be
submitted at least fifteen (15) days prior to a Board meeting, and the Board
shall accept or reject each application by majority vote. |
| (1) |
An applicant
for licensure as a funeral director must attain a passing score, as determined
by the Board, on both the Funeral Service Science and Funeral Service Arts
Examinations of the National Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards.
Any examination fee which may be required shall be paid directly to the
Conference. An individual may take the Funeral Service Science and Funeral
Service Arts Examination of the National Conference on the same date. |
| (2) |
An applicant for licensure must direct
The Conference to provide the Board with certification that the applicant
passed both examinations. |
| (3) |
An
applicant for a funeral director license on or after January 1, 1991, must also
pass the Board-approved Jurisprudence Examination which covers state laws
regarding funeral directing. |
| (1) |
The Board may,
upon payment of the appropriate fee and without the requirement of taking the
national examination, issue a funeral director license to any person licensed
as a funeral director by another State territory, or country, or by the
District of Columbia. An applicant for licensure as a funeral director by
endorsement must pass the Board-approved Jurisprudence Examination on Georgia
law regarding funeral directing on or after January 1, 1991, and either:
| (a) |
satisfy the requirements listed in Rule
250-5-.04 above, or |
| (b) |
hold a valid funeral director's license
in a jurisdiction whose requirements for licensure as a funeral director are
substantially equal to the requirements for licensure as a funeral director in
Georgia. |
|
| (2) |
No embalmer
or funeral director license issued by endorsement may be issued on the basis of
another reciprocal or endorsement license. |
| (3) |
An applicant who cannot meet the
requirements of (1)(a) or (1)(b) in this rule may be issued a license as a
funeral director by endorsement upon submission of documentation from an
employer attesting that the applicant has been engaged in the active practice
of funeral service as a licensed embalmer and funeral director for a minimum of
three (3) years immediately preceding the submission of an application for
licensure in Georgia, in accordance with the provisions of O.C.G.A. § 43-18-42(a)(2).
For the purposes of this rule, "immediately preceding" shall mean that the
applicant must submit the appropriate application to the Board office within
six (6) months of leaving the state in which he or she has been actively
engaged in the active practice of funeral service. |
| (1) |
Each person
licensed by the Board must display their license conspicuously in the principal
funeral establishment where employed. |
| (2) |
A trade embalmer or funeral director who
works in more than one establishment must display a duplicate photocopy of
their license in each establishment or crematory in which the trade embalmer
works. |
An embalmer or funeral director license is neither transferable
nor assignable to any other individual.
| (1) |
An initial
embalmer or funeral director license shall become effective upon issuance of a
license number by the Board. |
| (2) |
Each embalmer or funeral director license expires on March 31 of even-numbered
years. Licenses may be renewed with the submission of a renewal application
plus renewal fee prior to expiration. If you are licensed as an embalmer and
funeral director, you must renew your embalmer's license in order to renew your
funeral director's license. |
| (3) |
During the period between April 1 and April 30 immediately following the
expiration of a license, the license may be renewed upon submission of a
penalty fee in addition to the regular renewal fee and application. |
| (1) |
Failure to
renew an embalmer or funeral director license prior to May 1 of the renewal
year shall have the same effect as revocation. Any consideration for license
reinstatement shall be at the discretion of the Board and shall require
submission of a reinstatement application and reinstatement fee. |
| (2) |
The Board in its discretion may reinstate
a funeral director license upon receipt of an application, evidence of
completion of ten (10) hours of approved continuing education for any applicant
who is under 65 years of age and appropriate fees as noted on the Fee Schedule.
Additionally, a person applying for reinstatement more than two (2) years after
the expiration date of the license shall be required to retake and pass the
Board-approved Jurisprudence Examination on Georgia law regarding funeral
directing. |
| A |
person must
hold a current Georgia funeral director or embalmer license to apply for
inactive status; and
| (a) |
A funeral director or
embalmer who holds a current license and who will not practice funeral
directing or embalming in Georgia may apply for inactive status by completing
an Application for Inactive Status and submitting the appropriate fee (see Fee
Schedule) to the Board. Once the license is in Inactive Status, an embalmer or
funeral director shall not practice embalming or funeral directing in the State
of Georgia while that license is on Inactive Status; and |
| (b) |
To request that a license be placed on
Inactive Status, the license must be in good standing and the licensee must
show that they have attained the continuing education hours which will be
required at their next renewal; and |
| (c) |
A funeral director or embalmer who wishes
to reactivate an Inactive Status license must submit to the Board an
Application to Reactivate, appropriate fee, and documentation of continuing
education:
| 1. |
If the request to reactivate is
received more than two (2) years but less than four (4) years from the date on
which Inactive Status was approved, the licensee must document five (5)
continuing education hours; |
| 2. |
If
the request to reactivate is received four (4) or more years after the date on
which Inactive Status was approved, the licensee must document ten (10)
continuing education hours and take and pass the State Laws and Rules
Examination, notwithstanding the fact that they may have passed the Laws and
Rules Examination on a prior date. |
|
|
| (1) |
Ten (10) hours
of continuing education are required biennially (every two (2) years) to renew
an embalmer or funeral director license. At the time of renewal, each licensee
shall submit an Application for License Renewal and a report in writing, under
oath, noting the number of hours of continuing education completed during the
two (2) years preceding the renewal. |
| (2) |
All licensees must obtain ten (10) hours
whether they hold one or two licenses. |
| (3) |
Funeral directors or embalmers who are
licensed by the Board within the second year of the renewal cycle (after April
1 of the odd numbered year) will not be required to submit continuing education
hours for their first license renewal. |
| (4) |
Hardship, Disability and Age Requirement.
The continuing education requirement shall be waived for persons who hold an
Inactive Status license or for licensed individuals age 65 or older; and
| (a) |
The Board may waive the continuing
education requirement in cases of hardship, disability, illness, or under such
circumstances as the Board deems appropriate. The waiver must be requested in
writing to the Board and must be accompanied by acceptable
documentation. |
|
| (5) |
The
Board shall be authorized to approve courses offered by educational
institutions, specialty societies, professional or other organizations, or
government agencies upon submission of an application and non-refundable fee.
For the purpose of this rule, 'government agencies' means federal, state or
local government agencies, public school systems and licensed
hospitals. |
| (6) |
The Board may, in
its discretion, accept continuing education hours that are approved in another
state. The Board may require the licensee to submit information concerning the
course(s), and proof of successful completion. |
| (7) |
Board Approved Providers. Continuing
education hours may be obtained by participating in activities sponsored by
Board-Approved Providers. Board-Approved Providers shall offer programs only in
the topic areas for which they have been approved. The provider shall certify
the number of clock hours of educational content in each continuing education
activity.
| (a) |
To qualify for initial approval,
to renew approval or to qualify for approval in additional topic areas, a
provider must submit to the Board:
| 1. |
a
Funeral Service Board-Approved Continuing Education Provider Application and
non-refundable fee (See fee schedule); and |
| 2. |
a description of the topic areas in which
the provider plans to sponsor continuing education activities; and |
| 3. |
the names of all instructors currently
offering continuing education activities, a description of the topic areas in
which the instructor is qualified to teach along with a resume or other
evidence demonstrating that each instructor is qualified in the identified
topic area; and |
| 4. |
program
outlines, including instructors, objectives, schedules and instructional
material. |
|
| (b) |
Board-Approved Provider status shall expire March 31 of even numbered years.
The Provider must submit a new application and non-refundable application fee
for the next renewal cycle. The Board retains the right to monitor continuing
education programs sponsored by Board-Approved Providers and will withdraw
approval from providers who do not maintain Board standards. |
|
| (8) |
Board Approved Instructors.
Continuing Education Instructors must meet minimum qualifications for
instructor certification.
| (a) |
In order to
qualify for initial Board approval or to renew Board approval, a provider must
submit the following to the Board:
| 1. |
a
Funeral Service Board Approved Instructor Application and non-refundable fee
(see fee schedule); and |
| 2. |
a
description of the topic areas in which the instructor is qualified to teach
along with a resume or other evidence demonstrating that each instructor is
qualified in the identified topic area; and |
| 3. |
evidence of a minimum of five (5) years
supervisory experience in the Funeral Service Profession; or |
| 4. |
evidence of any other experience or
education which may qualify applicant for certification upon the discretion of
the Board. |
|
| (b) |
Board-approved instructor status shall expire March 31 of even-numbered years.
The instructor must submit a new application and non-refundable fee for the
next renewal cycle. |
|
| (9) |
Reporting and Documentation. Each licensee shall maintain documentation of
their continuing education activities.
| (a) |
Each licensee shall attest, on the biennial license renewal application, that
the licensee has satisfied the continuing education requirements. Documentation
of these activities shall be retained for three (3) years by the licensee and
shall be provided to the Board only upon the Board's request. False attestation
of satisfaction of the continuing education requirements on a renewal
application may subject the licensee to disciplinary action, including license
revocation; and |
| (b) |
The Board will
audit a fixed percentage of the renewal applications. Licensees whose
applications are audited will be required to provide documentation of having
met the continuing education requirements; and |
| (c) |
An audited licensee who fails to provide
the Board with acceptable documentation of the hours attested to in the renewal
application shall not have their license renewed. In the event the person seeks
a new license, the Board may in its discretion review and take into
consideration all files, including investigative files and/or reports, related
to the person and/or establishment. |
|
| (1) |
As used in this rule, the following terms
shall mean:
| (a) |
"Board" means the State Board
of Funeral Service. |
| (b) |
"License"
means any license issued by the State Board of Funeral Service. |
| (c) |
"Military" means the United States armed
forces, including the National Guard. |
| (d) |
"Military spouse" means a spouse of a
service member or transitioning service member. |
| (e) |
"Service member" means an active or
reserve member of the armed forces, including the National Guard. |
| (f) |
"Transitioning service member" means a
member of the military on active duty status or on separation leave who is
within twenty-four (24) months of retirement or twelve (12) months of
separation. |
|
| (2) |
Effective July 1, 2017, military spouses and transitioning service members may
qualify for expedited processing of the license application by showing that the
applicant is a military spouse or transitioning service member and that the
applicant has paid the fee and meets the requirements for a license under the
law and rules for the type of license for which the applicant has
applied. |
