PA State Funeral Board- Embalming
and Laws
Student Trainee - answer must have completed 2 years of college/Liberal arts (or
integrated course of study) and be accepted for matriculation at a mortuary college or
university
Resident Intern - answer Their training should take place in a funeral establishment in
the Commonwealth under the supervision of a qualified preceptor
Preceptor - answer Licensed and qualified funeral director in good standing with the
Board may supervise 1 intern for every 35 funerals completed in the year before the
request. By accepting the position of FD is required to fulfill duties set out by the board,
otherwise may result in suspension or revocation of license.
Widow/Widower License - answer A license given to the Widow/Widower of a licensed
funeral director and renewal to the estate of the deceased for a period not to exceed 3
years
Time Limitations on the Widow/Widower License - answerThe Widow/Widower License
is without time limitation, if the widow/widower remains unmarried and has written notice
of intent to continue practice
Upon Death of Licensee - answerThe Board must be informed within 10 days of
deceased's death and request application
When should a Widow/Widower License be filed? - answerThe license should be filed
within 30 days of the deceased's death. Widow/er must include death certificate and
marriage certificate
How long can a funeral home hold on to deceased remains? - answerFuneral home
may not retain a dead human body for a total of more than 10 days without special
permission from the board
Where should remains be held after 24 hours? - answerRemains held 24 hours beyond
death shall be embalmed or sealed, or kept under refrigeration.
Temperature Range for Cooler - answer35-40 Degrees Fahrenheit
How long after removal from refrigeration should remains be brought to their method of
disposition? - answerRemains shall be buried, cremated or entombed within 5 hours of
removal from refrigeration
, What is the maximum time for viewing an unembalmed body? - answerPublic should
not view an unembalmed body kept in refrigeration over 36 hours
How long after death can human remains be cremated? - answerThe dead Human body
may be cremated any time after 24 hours beyond the time of death. Body may be taken
to the crematory before that with written instruction
How long can an embalmed body be kept in a receiving vault? - answerA properly
embalmed body may remain in a receiving vault for a period not exceeding 30 Days
Who issues disinterment/re-interment permits? - answerA disinterment/re-interment
permit is issued by the local registrar
How long disinterment/re-interment permit valid? - answerA disinterment/re-interment
permit is valid for 72 hours.
How many days within completion of Prepaid Burial Contract report filed? - answerA
completed Prepaid Burial Contract Report must be filed within 30 days of the completion
date
Who issues the permits to exhume a dead human body? - answerA permit to exhume a
dead human body is issued by the Court of competent jurisdiction.
Unclaimed Bodies - answerBodies which remain unclaimed for 36 hours after death
shall fall under the jurisdiction of the Human Gift Registry and shipped in accordance
with its procedures.
How thick should the lumber be on bodies being transported? - answerExcept for
bodies shipped by air, embalmed bodies shall be shipped by placing the casket in a box
of strong lumber not less than 7/8 inches thick
Why would an Order of Disinterment be gotten? - answerIf the remains are going to be
exposed to view
What is the distance from the natural surface of the ground to the top of the Outer Case
(Vault)? - answerThe vault should be 1.5 feet (18 inches) from the natural surface of the
ground
What is the distance from the natural surface of the ground to the top of a casket (not
contained in an outer case or vault)? - answerThe Casket not placed in an outer case
(vault) may be no less than 2 feet (24 inches) from the natural surface of the ground
What is the maximum amount of time after a person's death that a death certificate
should be filed? - answerA death certificate must be filed within 96 hours of death
and Laws
Student Trainee - answer must have completed 2 years of college/Liberal arts (or
integrated course of study) and be accepted for matriculation at a mortuary college or
university
Resident Intern - answer Their training should take place in a funeral establishment in
the Commonwealth under the supervision of a qualified preceptor
Preceptor - answer Licensed and qualified funeral director in good standing with the
Board may supervise 1 intern for every 35 funerals completed in the year before the
request. By accepting the position of FD is required to fulfill duties set out by the board,
otherwise may result in suspension or revocation of license.
Widow/Widower License - answer A license given to the Widow/Widower of a licensed
funeral director and renewal to the estate of the deceased for a period not to exceed 3
years
Time Limitations on the Widow/Widower License - answerThe Widow/Widower License
is without time limitation, if the widow/widower remains unmarried and has written notice
of intent to continue practice
Upon Death of Licensee - answerThe Board must be informed within 10 days of
deceased's death and request application
When should a Widow/Widower License be filed? - answerThe license should be filed
within 30 days of the deceased's death. Widow/er must include death certificate and
marriage certificate
How long can a funeral home hold on to deceased remains? - answerFuneral home
may not retain a dead human body for a total of more than 10 days without special
permission from the board
Where should remains be held after 24 hours? - answerRemains held 24 hours beyond
death shall be embalmed or sealed, or kept under refrigeration.
Temperature Range for Cooler - answer35-40 Degrees Fahrenheit
How long after removal from refrigeration should remains be brought to their method of
disposition? - answerRemains shall be buried, cremated or entombed within 5 hours of
removal from refrigeration
, What is the maximum time for viewing an unembalmed body? - answerPublic should
not view an unembalmed body kept in refrigeration over 36 hours
How long after death can human remains be cremated? - answerThe dead Human body
may be cremated any time after 24 hours beyond the time of death. Body may be taken
to the crematory before that with written instruction
How long can an embalmed body be kept in a receiving vault? - answerA properly
embalmed body may remain in a receiving vault for a period not exceeding 30 Days
Who issues disinterment/re-interment permits? - answerA disinterment/re-interment
permit is issued by the local registrar
How long disinterment/re-interment permit valid? - answerA disinterment/re-interment
permit is valid for 72 hours.
How many days within completion of Prepaid Burial Contract report filed? - answerA
completed Prepaid Burial Contract Report must be filed within 30 days of the completion
date
Who issues the permits to exhume a dead human body? - answerA permit to exhume a
dead human body is issued by the Court of competent jurisdiction.
Unclaimed Bodies - answerBodies which remain unclaimed for 36 hours after death
shall fall under the jurisdiction of the Human Gift Registry and shipped in accordance
with its procedures.
How thick should the lumber be on bodies being transported? - answerExcept for
bodies shipped by air, embalmed bodies shall be shipped by placing the casket in a box
of strong lumber not less than 7/8 inches thick
Why would an Order of Disinterment be gotten? - answerIf the remains are going to be
exposed to view
What is the distance from the natural surface of the ground to the top of the Outer Case
(Vault)? - answerThe vault should be 1.5 feet (18 inches) from the natural surface of the
ground
What is the distance from the natural surface of the ground to the top of a casket (not
contained in an outer case or vault)? - answerThe Casket not placed in an outer case
(vault) may be no less than 2 feet (24 inches) from the natural surface of the ground
What is the maximum amount of time after a person's death that a death certificate
should be filed? - answerA death certificate must be filed within 96 hours of death
