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Individual Licensing and Certifications

Oregon has several occupational licenses for individuals working in the death care industry.  These licenses are based on specific scope of practice.  Which license is required for you, if any, is based on the type of work you wish to perform and the services you intend to offer – not necessarily on the location where services are provided or which business title you wish to use.   

The information included below is only an overview of the licensing requirements. If you have any questions about the licensing process, please reach out to our licensing manager.
We encourage all applicants to review information about the background checks that will be performed by the Board prior to submitting an application.

Applying for individual licenses has now moved online! 

To get started, go to our Applicant Portal.  

What do I need to know to apply online?
  • If you’ve never been licensed by OMCB, you’ll need to create an account. Click “New User? Apply Now” You’ll provide your email address and a temporary password will be sent to you. You’ll be required to change this password and set up security questions the first time that you login.
  • Have you been previously licensed by OMCB, and you’re now applying for a new license type? For example, are you an apprentice who is now ready to apply for full licensure? If so, use the login information that you used for the Licensee Portal at renewal to log in to the Applicant Portal. 
Once you’ve logged in to the Applicant Portal, click on the license type that want to apply for to start a new application. The application will walk you through the various steps to apply. You can leave the application and come back later to complete it. Please note- you can only have one application in progress at a time. 

Applications are not considered complete until all required information is received by the Board, including information sent by other parties. This also includes payment of all application fees. Fees can be paid online by credit card, or you can mail in a check or money order to the Board. 

Please note- some information required for the application can be uploaded directly into the application, so you may want to collect some documents and information ahead of time! Other documents must be sent directly to the Board from the issuing agency, or the Board must review a physical copy of the document, so it can’t be uploaded. 

All Applications, regardless of license type, require the following:
  • Photo of the Applicant, similar to a passport or driver’s license. The photo must only include the applicant. 
  • 10 Years of Residential History
  • 10 Years of Employment History
  • Documentation related to any prior convictions or administrative actions, if applicable (See Background Checks for additional information) 
  • Verification of any other Professional Licenses that you hold, in Oregon or any other states/jurisdictions 
Review each license type below for information on what additional information you may need to apply for licensure.

Preneed salesperson means an individual employed by a certified provider to engage in the sale of prearrangement or preconstruction sales contracts funded by trusts on behalf of the certified provider.

Preconstruction sales or preconstruction sales contract means any sale made to a purchaser, which has as its purpose the furnishing of undeveloped interment, entombment or cremation spaces and where the sale terms require payment or payments to be made at a currently determinable time.

The sale and conveyance of interment rights in existing plots, crypts or niches does not constitute preneed sales, even when the sale takes place years in advance of death. If you sell only existing plots, crypts or niches, you need not register to sell preneed. However, if you also sell goods or services that are not considered "delivered" at the time of the sale, like opening and closing, you must register.

Minimum Qualifications:

Must be employed by certified provider as defined in ORS 97.923(2).

Information Required to Apply:

  • Photo of the Applicant, similar to a passport or driver’s license.
  • 10 Years of Residential History
  • 10 Years of Employment History
  • Documentation related to any prior convictions or administrative actions, if applicable
  • Verification of any other Professional Licenses that you hold or have held, in Oregon or any other states/jurisdictions 
  • Name of Employer. The Employer must be a Facility that is a Certified Provider registered with the Division of Financial Regulation.
  • Name of the intended supervisor

    Licenses are valid for up to 2 years. Licenses expire on March 1 of even numbered years. The initial license fee is $150, and renewing the license is $50.​

    Combination Funeral Service Practitioner/Embalmers hold both the Embalmer license and the Funeral Service Practitioner license, and can perform the duties of both occupational licenses.

    Minimum Qualifications:

    ​Information Required to Apply:

    • Photo of the Applicant, similar to a passport or driver’s license.  
    • 10 Years of Residential History
    • 10 Years of Employment History
    • Documentation related to any prior convictions or administrative actions, if applicable
    • Verification of any other Professional Licenses that you hold or have held, in Oregon or any other states/jurisdictions
    • Copy of a Birth Certificate
    • Date that applicant passed the Oregon Funeral Service Exam
    • Certified scores for the National Board Examination from the ICFSEB
    • Transcripts showing proof of graduation from an accredited school of Funeral Service Education.​​
    If qualifying through completion of apprenticeships:
    • Proof of completion of both Apprenticeships (apprenticeship logs or a signed statement from your supervisor(s))

    If qualifying through reciprocity:
    • Documentation showing that the applicant has been licensed in good standing and practicing for a minimum of one year in another state. This must include both the verification of the licensure ​and ​documentation of the dates that you were employed as a funeral director and an embalmer from your employer.

    ​​Licenses are valid for up to 2 years. Licenses expire on December 31 of Odd Years. The initial license fee is $320, and renewing the license is $320.​

    Death care consultants provide, for payment, information or advice on matters related to funeral or final disposition arrangements to members of the public making final arrangments. Death care consultants may not provide any direct physical assistance with, or supervision of, the handling of human remains.

    Minimum Qualifications:

    Documents Required to Apply:

    • Photo of the Applicant, similar to a passport or driver’s license. 
    • 10 Years of Residential History
    • 10 Years of Employment History
    • Documentation related to any prior convictions or administrative actions, if applicable (See Background Checks for additional information)
    • Verification of any other Professional Licenses that you hold or have held, in Oregon or any other states/jurisdictions 

    Licenses are valid for up to 2 years. Licenses expire 2 years from the date of licensure. The initial license fee is $160, and renewing the license is $160.​​

    ​Embalmers provide the necessary handling and preparation of human remains, e.g. washing, disinfecting, setting features, embalming, repair and supervising dressing. Embalmers are responsible for the required sanitizing of a preparation room or holding room including, but not limited to, embalming tables, work surfaces, sinks, floors, instruments, and handling and properly disposing of contaminated waste. A preparation room or holding room must be sanitized after the use of the room.

    Minimum Qualifications:

    ​Information Required to Apply:

    • Photo of the Applicant, similar to a passport or driver’s license.  
    • 10 Years of Residential History
    • 10 Years of Employment History
    • Documentation related to any prior convictions or administrative actions, if applicable
    • Verification of any other Professional Licenses that you hold or have held, in Oregon or any other states/jurisdictions
    • Copy of a Birth Certificate
    • Certified scores for the National Board Examination from the ICFSEB
    • Transcripts showing proof of graduation from an accredited school of Funeral Service Education.​​
    If qualifying through completion of an apprenticeship:
    • Proof of completion of an Apprenticeship (apprenticeship logs or a signed statement from your supervisor(s))

    If qualifying through reciprocity:
    • Documentation showing that the applicant has been licensed in good standing and practicing for a minimum of one year in another state. This must include both the verification of the licensure ​and ​documentation of the dates that you were employed as a embalmer from your employer.
    Licenses are valid for up to 2 years. Licenses expire on December 31 of Odd Years. The initial license fee is $160, and renewing the license is $160. If less than a year is remaining in the renewal cycle at the time of initial application, the fee is prorated to $80.​

    ​Funeral Service Practitioners supervise or control the transportation, care, preparation, processing and handling of dead human bodies before the bodies undergo cremation, entombment or burial, or before the bodies are transported out of the State of Oregon. FSPs work to arrange for the disposition of human remains. FSPs coordinate and direct the various tasks associated with performing funeral services for at-need persons including but not limited to: taking all vital information on the deceased for the purpose of filing the death certificate; arranging for transportation of the remains; coordinating the services for final disposition; supervising or otherwise controlling the care, preparation, processing and handling of human remains.

    Minimum Qualifications:

    Information Required to Apply:

    • Photo of the Applicant, similar to a passport or driver’s license.  
    • 10 Years of Residential History
    • 10 Years of Employment History
    • Documentation related to any prior convictions or administrative actions, if applicable
    • Verification of any other Professional Licenses that you hold or have held, in Oregon or any other states/jurisdictions
    • Copy of a Birth Certificate
    • Date that the applicant passed the Oregon Funeral Service Exam
    If qualifying through completion of an apprenticeship:
    • Transcripts showing proof of an Associate’s Degree or higher 
    • Proof of completion of an Apprenticeship (apprenticeship logs or a signed statement from your supervisor(s))

    If qualifying through reciprocity:
    • Documentation showing that the applicant has been licensed in good standing and practicing for a minimum of one year in another state. This must include both the verification of the licensure ​and ​documentation of the dates that you were employed as a funeral service practitioner from your employer.
    • Transcripts showing proof of an Associate’s Degree or higher OR documentation showing that the applicant has been licensed in good standing and practicing for a minimum of four years in another state.
    Licenses are valid for up to 2 years. Licenses expire on December 31 of odd years. The initial license fee is $160, and renewing the license is $160. If less than a year is remaining in the renewal cycle at the time of initial application, the fee is prorated to $80.​
     

    ​Funeral Service Practitioner (FSP) Apprentices work a minimum of 1440 hours and must be directly involved in the following during the apprenticeship period under the supervision of a licensed funeral service practitioner: ​

    (a) At least 25 arrangements that include tasks listed in OAR 830-030-0004.    

    (b) For the purpose of this section, "arrangement" means funeral services or final dispositions for at need persons, fully from the initial contact through the disposition of remains. 

    (c) For the purpose of this section, "supervision" means that each arrangement shall be performed by an apprentice funeral service practitioner only after receiving direction from a licensed funeral service practitioner. 

    Information/Documentation Required to Apply:

    ​In accordance with OAR 830-011-0020(5), each applicant must submit the following:

    • Completed application through Applicant Portal.
    • Appropriate fee.
    • Copy of birth certificate.
    • Satisfactory proof of high school graduation or equivalency.
      • If an apprentice applicant does not have a high school diploma:
        • The applicant must present satisfactory evidence that they possess the equivalent of a high school education received in private, public, or trade school, or
        • Must successfully pass the high school equivalency test (General Education Development Test) given by the local high school, or some similar equivalency test conducted by a similar agency.

    Accepted forms of proof: certified copies or scanned and photo copies of high school diploma, transcripts or equivalent, or higher degree. 

    ​Additionally, each applicant must provide the following:

    • Name of intended supervisor
    • Photo of the Applicant
    • 10 Years of Residential History
    • 10 Years of Employment History
    • Documentation related to any prior convictions or administrative actions, if applicable 
    • Verification of any other Professional Licenses that you hold, in Oregon or any other states/jurisdictions

    Licenses are valid for up to 1 year. Licenses expire on December 31. The initial license fee is $50, and renewing the license is $25.


    An FSP apprentice must keep a log book on the premises of the licensed facility where he or she is supervised, showing all arrangements made or participated in by the apprentice. 

    FSP Apprentice Log Sample: PDF​

    Please note- an FSP Apprenticeship and an Embalmer Apprenticeship can run concurrently.
    ​
    ​

    ​An intern apprentice is any student enrolled in an accredited funeral service education program who is serving his/her three-month internship under the supervision of a licensed combination funeral service practitioner/embalmer at a participating licensed funeral establishment. Intern apprentices shall serve their apprenticeships in accordance with the internship guidelines established by an accredited funeral service education program. Intern apprentices are required to intern at a funeral home for 15 hours per week.

    Minimum Qualifications:

    Must be enrolled in an accredited funeral service education program.

    Information Required to Apply:

    In accordance with OAR 830-011-0020(5), each applicant must submit the following:

    • Completed application through Applicant Portal.
    • Appropriate fee.
    • Copy of birth certificate.
    • Satisfactory proof of high school graduation or equivalency.
      • If an apprentice applicant does not have a high school diploma:
        • The applicant must present satisfactory evidence that they possess the equivalent of a high school education received in private, public, or trade school, or
        • Must successfully pass the high school equivalency test (General Education Development Test) given by the local high school, or some similar equivalency test conducted by a similar agency.

    Accepted forms of proof: certified copies or scanned and photo copies of high school diploma, transcripts or equivalent, or higher degree.

    ​Additionally, each applicant must provide the following:

    • Name of intended supervisor
    • Photo of the Applicant
    • 10 Years of Residential History
    • 10 Years of Employment History
    • Documentation related to any prior convictions or administrative actions, if applicable 
    • Verification of any other Professional Licenses that you hold, in Oregon or any other states/jurisdictions​



    Licenses are valid for up to 3 months. Licenses expire on June 30, unless special arrangements are made to accommodate summer internships. The license fee is $25. ​

    ​

    ​Embalmer Apprentices work a minimum of 1440 hours and must be directly involved in the following during the apprenticeship period under the supervision of a licensed embalmer: 

    (a) Perform at least 35 arterial embalmings.

    (b) For the purpose of this section, "supervision" means that each task shall be performed by an apprentice embalmer only after receiving direction from a licensed embalmer. 

    Information Required to Apply:​

    In accordance with OAR 830-011-0020(5), each applicant must submit the following:

      • Completed application through Applicant Portal.
      • Appropriate fee.
      • Copy of birth certificate.
      • Satisfactory proof of high school graduation or equivalency.
        • If an apprentice applicant does not have a high school diploma:
          • The applicant must present satisfactory evidence that they possess the equivalent of a high school education received in private, public, or trade school, or
          • Must successfully pass the high school equivalency test (General Education Development Test) given by the local high school, or some similar equivalency test conducted by a similar agency.

      Accepted forms of proof: certified copies or scanned and photo copies of high school diploma, transcripts or equivalent, or higher degree.​

      ​Additionally, each applicant must provide the following:

      • Name of intended supervisor
      • Photo of the Applicant
      • 10 Years of Residential History
      • 10 Years of Employment History
      • Documentation related to any prior convictions or administrative actions, if applicable 
      • Verification of any other Professional Licenses that you hold, in Oregon or any other states/jurisdictions​

    Licenses are valid for up to 1 year. Licenses expire on December 31. The initial license fee is $50, and renewing the license is $25.

    An embalmer apprentice must maintain a log book of embalmings under supervision, with accurate and current entries, and the apprentice and his or her supervisor must furnish this record to the Board upon request. 

    Embalmer Apprentice Log Sample: PDF​

    Please note- an FSP Apprenticeship and an Embalmer Apprenticeship can run concurrently. 
    ​

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