FUNERAL DIRECTOR EXAMINATION CALIFORNIA
FREQUENTLY TESTED ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
Question 1.
7616 ambulance service
ANSWER
(a) A licensed funeral establishment is a place of business
conducted in a building or separate portion of a building having a
specific street address or location and devoted exclusively to those
activities as are incident, convenient, or related to the preparation
and arrangements, financial and otherwise, for the funeral,
transportation, burial or other disposition of human remains and including, but
not limited to, either of the following:
(1) A suitable room for the storage of human remains. (2) A preparation room equipped with a
sanitary flooring and necessary drainage and ventilation and containing necessary
instruments and supplies for the preparation, sanitation, or embalming of human remains for
burial or transportation. (b) Licensed funeral establishments under common ownership or by
contractual agreement within close geographical proximity of each other shall be deemed to
be in compliance with the requirements of paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a) if at least one
of the establishments has a room described in those paragraphs.
(c) Except as provided in Section 7609, and except accredited mortuary science programs
engaged in teaching students the art of embalming, no person shall operate or maintain or
hold himself or herself out as operating or maintaining any of the facilities specified in
paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), unless he or she is licensed as a funeral director. (d) Nothing
in this section shall be construed to require a funeral establishment to conduct its business or
financial transactions at the same location as its preparation or storage of human remains. (e)
Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to render unlawful the conduct of any ambulance
service from the same premises as those on which a licensed funeral establishment is
conducted, including the maintenance in connection with the funeral establishment of
garages for the ambulances and living quarters for ambulance drivers.
Question 2.
7617 place of business licensing
ANSWER
The business of a licensed funeral establishment shall be conducted and engaged in at a fixed
place or facility. No person, partnership, association, corporation, or other organization shall
open or maintain a place or establishment at which to engage in or conduct, or hold himself
or herself or itself out as engaging in or conducting, the business of a funeral establishment
without a license.
,Question 3.
7623 separate locations licensees
ANSWER
If an applicant for a funeral establishment license proposes to engage in or conduct more
than one funeral establishment, the applicant shall make a separate application and procure
a separate license for each separate establishment.
Question 4.
7624 one director per establishment
ANSWER
Not more than one person, partnership, association, corporation, or other organization
engaged in business as a funeral establishment shall transact business in one specific funeral
facility.
Question 5.
7628 application to change place of business
ANSWER
Any person, partnership, association, corporation, or other organization desiring to change
the location of a licensed funeral establishment shall apply therefor on forms furnished by the
bureau and shall include a fee fixed by this chapter. The application shall be granted by the
bureau upon the filing with the bureau of a favorable report from an inspector concerning the
physical status or plans and specifications of the proposed licensed funeral establishment to
the effect that it conforms to the requirements of this article.
Question 6.
7629 unfair competiton
ANSWER
No funeral establishment shall be conducted or held forth as being conducted or advertised
as being conducted under any name which might tend to mislead the public or which would
be sufficiently like the name of any other licensed funeral establishment so as to constitute an
unfair method of competition. Any funeral director desiring to change the name appearing on
his or her license may do so by applying to the bureau and paying the fee fixed by this
chapter.
,Question 7.
7630 assignment of license
ANSWER
A funeral establishment's license may be assigned upon payment of the fee fixed by this
chapter and upon submission of an audit report prepared and signed by an independent
certified public accountant or public accountant currently licensed in this state. The audit
report shall include an unqualified opinion on the accuracy of the trust fund balances and a
report of compliance with the provisions of this article and Article 9 (commencing with Section
7735). Any shortages in the trust funds shall be funded. The assignee shall comply with all
provisions previously placed on the assignor.
Question 8.
7631 death of a licensee
ANSWER
In case of the death of a licensed funeral director who leaves a funeral establishment as part
or all of the assets of his or her estate, the bureau may issue a temporary license to his or her
legal representative, unless the legal representative has committed acts or crimes
constituting grounds for denial of licensure under Section 480. A temporary establishment
license is valid for six months from the date of issue. However, upon the petition of the
estate's legal representative, the bureau, in its discretion, may grant a reasonable extension
to allow for the assets of the estate to be distributed as circumstances warrant.
Question 9.
7632 embalming
ANSWER
A funeral director shall cause all human remains embalmed in or at the direction of his or her
funeral establishment to be embalmed by a licensed embalmer, by an apprentice embalmer
under the supervision of his or her licensed supervising embalmer, or by a student in a
program accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education under the
supervision of a licensed embalmer.
Question 10.
7633 death certificate fees
ANSWER
No funeral director shall charge a fee for filing a certificate of death or for providing copies
thereof in excess of fees set by statute for filing and providing certified copies of such
certificates.
, Question 11.
7634 removal of tissues
ANSWER
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a licensed embalmer, at the request of a licensed
physician, may remove tissue from human remains for transplant, or therapeutic, or scientific
purposes specified in, and pursuant to, the provisions of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act
(Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 7150) of Part 1 of Division 7 of the Health and Safety
Code), if such embalmer has completed a course in tissue removal for transplant, or
therapeutic, or scientific purposes approved by the Medical Board of California of the State of
California.
Question 12.
7641 unlicensed practice students and instructors
ANSWER
It is unlawful for any person to embalm a body, or engage in, or hold himself or herself out as
engaged in practice as an embalmer, unless he or she is licensed by the bureau. However, this
section shall have no effect on students and instructors of embalming in mortuary science
programs approved by the bureau.
Question 13.
7643 applicant's qualifications
ANSWER
In order to qualify for a license as an embalmer, the applicant shall comply with all of the
following requirements: (a) Be over 18 years of age. (b) Not have committed acts or crimes
constituting grounds for denial of licensure under Section 480. (c) Have completed at least
two years of apprenticeship under an embalmer licensed and engaged in practice as an
embalmer in this state in a funeral establishment which shall have been approved for
apprentices by the bureau and while so apprenticed shall have assisted in embalming not
fewer than 100 human remains; provided, however, that a person who has been licensed and
has practiced as an embalmer for a minimum of three years within the seven years preceding
his or her application in any other state or country and whose license has never been
suspended or revoked for unethical conduct shall not be required to serve any apprenticeship
in this state. (d) Have graduated from a mortuary science program approved by the bureau
and accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, or its equivalent, as
determined by the bureau, and furnished official transcripts from that program or equivalent.
FREQUENTLY TESTED ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
Question 1.
7616 ambulance service
ANSWER
(a) A licensed funeral establishment is a place of business
conducted in a building or separate portion of a building having a
specific street address or location and devoted exclusively to those
activities as are incident, convenient, or related to the preparation
and arrangements, financial and otherwise, for the funeral,
transportation, burial or other disposition of human remains and including, but
not limited to, either of the following:
(1) A suitable room for the storage of human remains. (2) A preparation room equipped with a
sanitary flooring and necessary drainage and ventilation and containing necessary
instruments and supplies for the preparation, sanitation, or embalming of human remains for
burial or transportation. (b) Licensed funeral establishments under common ownership or by
contractual agreement within close geographical proximity of each other shall be deemed to
be in compliance with the requirements of paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a) if at least one
of the establishments has a room described in those paragraphs.
(c) Except as provided in Section 7609, and except accredited mortuary science programs
engaged in teaching students the art of embalming, no person shall operate or maintain or
hold himself or herself out as operating or maintaining any of the facilities specified in
paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), unless he or she is licensed as a funeral director. (d) Nothing
in this section shall be construed to require a funeral establishment to conduct its business or
financial transactions at the same location as its preparation or storage of human remains. (e)
Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to render unlawful the conduct of any ambulance
service from the same premises as those on which a licensed funeral establishment is
conducted, including the maintenance in connection with the funeral establishment of
garages for the ambulances and living quarters for ambulance drivers.
Question 2.
7617 place of business licensing
ANSWER
The business of a licensed funeral establishment shall be conducted and engaged in at a fixed
place or facility. No person, partnership, association, corporation, or other organization shall
open or maintain a place or establishment at which to engage in or conduct, or hold himself
or herself or itself out as engaging in or conducting, the business of a funeral establishment
without a license.
,Question 3.
7623 separate locations licensees
ANSWER
If an applicant for a funeral establishment license proposes to engage in or conduct more
than one funeral establishment, the applicant shall make a separate application and procure
a separate license for each separate establishment.
Question 4.
7624 one director per establishment
ANSWER
Not more than one person, partnership, association, corporation, or other organization
engaged in business as a funeral establishment shall transact business in one specific funeral
facility.
Question 5.
7628 application to change place of business
ANSWER
Any person, partnership, association, corporation, or other organization desiring to change
the location of a licensed funeral establishment shall apply therefor on forms furnished by the
bureau and shall include a fee fixed by this chapter. The application shall be granted by the
bureau upon the filing with the bureau of a favorable report from an inspector concerning the
physical status or plans and specifications of the proposed licensed funeral establishment to
the effect that it conforms to the requirements of this article.
Question 6.
7629 unfair competiton
ANSWER
No funeral establishment shall be conducted or held forth as being conducted or advertised
as being conducted under any name which might tend to mislead the public or which would
be sufficiently like the name of any other licensed funeral establishment so as to constitute an
unfair method of competition. Any funeral director desiring to change the name appearing on
his or her license may do so by applying to the bureau and paying the fee fixed by this
chapter.
,Question 7.
7630 assignment of license
ANSWER
A funeral establishment's license may be assigned upon payment of the fee fixed by this
chapter and upon submission of an audit report prepared and signed by an independent
certified public accountant or public accountant currently licensed in this state. The audit
report shall include an unqualified opinion on the accuracy of the trust fund balances and a
report of compliance with the provisions of this article and Article 9 (commencing with Section
7735). Any shortages in the trust funds shall be funded. The assignee shall comply with all
provisions previously placed on the assignor.
Question 8.
7631 death of a licensee
ANSWER
In case of the death of a licensed funeral director who leaves a funeral establishment as part
or all of the assets of his or her estate, the bureau may issue a temporary license to his or her
legal representative, unless the legal representative has committed acts or crimes
constituting grounds for denial of licensure under Section 480. A temporary establishment
license is valid for six months from the date of issue. However, upon the petition of the
estate's legal representative, the bureau, in its discretion, may grant a reasonable extension
to allow for the assets of the estate to be distributed as circumstances warrant.
Question 9.
7632 embalming
ANSWER
A funeral director shall cause all human remains embalmed in or at the direction of his or her
funeral establishment to be embalmed by a licensed embalmer, by an apprentice embalmer
under the supervision of his or her licensed supervising embalmer, or by a student in a
program accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education under the
supervision of a licensed embalmer.
Question 10.
7633 death certificate fees
ANSWER
No funeral director shall charge a fee for filing a certificate of death or for providing copies
thereof in excess of fees set by statute for filing and providing certified copies of such
certificates.
, Question 11.
7634 removal of tissues
ANSWER
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a licensed embalmer, at the request of a licensed
physician, may remove tissue from human remains for transplant, or therapeutic, or scientific
purposes specified in, and pursuant to, the provisions of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act
(Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 7150) of Part 1 of Division 7 of the Health and Safety
Code), if such embalmer has completed a course in tissue removal for transplant, or
therapeutic, or scientific purposes approved by the Medical Board of California of the State of
California.
Question 12.
7641 unlicensed practice students and instructors
ANSWER
It is unlawful for any person to embalm a body, or engage in, or hold himself or herself out as
engaged in practice as an embalmer, unless he or she is licensed by the bureau. However, this
section shall have no effect on students and instructors of embalming in mortuary science
programs approved by the bureau.
Question 13.
7643 applicant's qualifications
ANSWER
In order to qualify for a license as an embalmer, the applicant shall comply with all of the
following requirements: (a) Be over 18 years of age. (b) Not have committed acts or crimes
constituting grounds for denial of licensure under Section 480. (c) Have completed at least
two years of apprenticeship under an embalmer licensed and engaged in practice as an
embalmer in this state in a funeral establishment which shall have been approved for
apprentices by the bureau and while so apprenticed shall have assisted in embalming not
fewer than 100 human remains; provided, however, that a person who has been licensed and
has practiced as an embalmer for a minimum of three years within the seven years preceding
his or her application in any other state or country and whose license has never been
suspended or revoked for unethical conduct shall not be required to serve any apprenticeship
in this state. (d) Have graduated from a mortuary science program approved by the bureau
and accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, or its equivalent, as
determined by the bureau, and furnished official transcripts from that program or equivalent.
