Alabama Board of Funeral Service State Law Exam
Questions with Verified Answers
Question 1: Under Alabama law, what is the minimum age requirement for licensure as a
funeral director?
A. 18 years
B. 21 years
C. 25 years
D. No minimum age specified
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 21 years
Rationale: Alabama Code § 34-13-4 and Board rules require applicants for funeral director
licensure to be at least 21 years of age, in addition to meeting education, apprenticeship, and
examination requirements.
Question 2: Which Alabama agency has primary regulatory authority over funeral service
establishments?
A. Department of Public Health
B. Board of Funeral Service
C. Department of Insurance
D. Secretary of State
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Board of Funeral Service
,Rationale: The Alabama Board of Funeral Service, under the Alabama Department of Public
Health, has statutory authority to license, regulate, and discipline funeral directors and
establishments per Alabama Code Title 34, Chapter 13.
Question 3: What is the minimum apprenticeship requirement for funeral director licensure in
Alabama?
A. 6 months full-time
B. 1 year full-time under a licensed director
C. 2 years full-time under a licensed director
D. No apprenticeship required
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2 years full-time under a licensed director
Rationale: Alabama Code § 34-13-4 requires applicants to complete at least two years of full-
time apprenticeship under the supervision of a licensed funeral director as part of licensure
eligibility.
Question 4: Under the FTC Funeral Rule, what must funeral providers give to consumers who
inquire about funeral arrangements?
A. Only verbal price information
B. A General Price List (GPL) at the beginning of any discussion about funeral arrangements
C. A brochure with package prices only
D. Price information only upon written request
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A General Price List (GPL) at the beginning of any discussion about
funeral arrangements
,Rationale: The FTC Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453) requires funeral providers to give consumers
a General Price List at the start of any in-person discussion about funeral arrangements, goods,
or services, enabling informed comparison shopping.
Question 5: Which document is required under Alabama law before cremation may proceed?
A. Verbal consent from next of kin
B. Written cremation authorization signed by the legal authorizing agent
C. Court order only
D. No documentation required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Written cremation authorization signed by the legal authorizing agent
Rationale: Alabama Code § 34-13-11 and Board rules require written cremation authorization
from the legally authorized person (per statutory hierarchy) before cremation may be
performed, with specific waiting periods and medical examiner review when applicable.
Question 6: What is the required retention period for funeral service records in Alabama?
A. 1 year
B. 3 years
C. 5 years
D. Indefinitely
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 5 years
, Rationale: Alabama Administrative Code 560-X-.09 requires funeral establishments to maintain
complete records of each case, including contracts, authorizations, and disposition
documentation, for at least five years from the date of service.
Question 7: Under Alabama law, who has the highest priority to control disposition of human
remains?
A. Adult children
B. Surviving spouse
C. Parents of the decedent
D. Siblings
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Surviving spouse
Rationale: Alabama Code § 34-13-11 establishes a statutory hierarchy for authorizing
disposition, with the surviving spouse having first priority, followed by adult children, parents,
siblings, and other relatives in specified order.
Question 8: What is the minimum educational requirement for funeral director licensure in
Alabama?
A. High school diploma only
B. Associate degree in funeral service from an accredited program
C. Bachelor's degree in any field
D. No formal education required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Associate degree in funeral service from an accredited program
Questions with Verified Answers
Question 1: Under Alabama law, what is the minimum age requirement for licensure as a
funeral director?
A. 18 years
B. 21 years
C. 25 years
D. No minimum age specified
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 21 years
Rationale: Alabama Code § 34-13-4 and Board rules require applicants for funeral director
licensure to be at least 21 years of age, in addition to meeting education, apprenticeship, and
examination requirements.
Question 2: Which Alabama agency has primary regulatory authority over funeral service
establishments?
A. Department of Public Health
B. Board of Funeral Service
C. Department of Insurance
D. Secretary of State
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Board of Funeral Service
,Rationale: The Alabama Board of Funeral Service, under the Alabama Department of Public
Health, has statutory authority to license, regulate, and discipline funeral directors and
establishments per Alabama Code Title 34, Chapter 13.
Question 3: What is the minimum apprenticeship requirement for funeral director licensure in
Alabama?
A. 6 months full-time
B. 1 year full-time under a licensed director
C. 2 years full-time under a licensed director
D. No apprenticeship required
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2 years full-time under a licensed director
Rationale: Alabama Code § 34-13-4 requires applicants to complete at least two years of full-
time apprenticeship under the supervision of a licensed funeral director as part of licensure
eligibility.
Question 4: Under the FTC Funeral Rule, what must funeral providers give to consumers who
inquire about funeral arrangements?
A. Only verbal price information
B. A General Price List (GPL) at the beginning of any discussion about funeral arrangements
C. A brochure with package prices only
D. Price information only upon written request
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A General Price List (GPL) at the beginning of any discussion about
funeral arrangements
,Rationale: The FTC Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453) requires funeral providers to give consumers
a General Price List at the start of any in-person discussion about funeral arrangements, goods,
or services, enabling informed comparison shopping.
Question 5: Which document is required under Alabama law before cremation may proceed?
A. Verbal consent from next of kin
B. Written cremation authorization signed by the legal authorizing agent
C. Court order only
D. No documentation required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Written cremation authorization signed by the legal authorizing agent
Rationale: Alabama Code § 34-13-11 and Board rules require written cremation authorization
from the legally authorized person (per statutory hierarchy) before cremation may be
performed, with specific waiting periods and medical examiner review when applicable.
Question 6: What is the required retention period for funeral service records in Alabama?
A. 1 year
B. 3 years
C. 5 years
D. Indefinitely
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 5 years
, Rationale: Alabama Administrative Code 560-X-.09 requires funeral establishments to maintain
complete records of each case, including contracts, authorizations, and disposition
documentation, for at least five years from the date of service.
Question 7: Under Alabama law, who has the highest priority to control disposition of human
remains?
A. Adult children
B. Surviving spouse
C. Parents of the decedent
D. Siblings
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Surviving spouse
Rationale: Alabama Code § 34-13-11 establishes a statutory hierarchy for authorizing
disposition, with the surviving spouse having first priority, followed by adult children, parents,
siblings, and other relatives in specified order.
Question 8: What is the minimum educational requirement for funeral director licensure in
Alabama?
A. High school diploma only
B. Associate degree in funeral service from an accredited program
C. Bachelor's degree in any field
D. No formal education required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Associate degree in funeral service from an accredited program
