California Funeral Directors Exam
Questions with Verified Answers
BPC 7616.2 - ANSWER-A licensed funeral establishment shall at all times employ a
licensed funeral director to manage, direct, or control its business or profession.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, licensed funeral establishments
within close geographical proximity of each other, may request the bureau to allow a
licensed funeral director to manage, direct, or control the business or profession of
more than one facility.
BPC 7617 - 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.
BPC 7617.1 - ANSWER-The applicant for a funeral establishment license, or in the
case the applicant is an association, partnership, or corporation, all officers of the
corporation or association or all general partners of the partnership shall be at least
18 years of age and shall not have committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for
denial of licensure under Section 480.
BPC 7618 - ANSWER-An application for a funeral director's license shall be written
on a form provided by the bureau, verified by the applicant, accompanied by the fee
fixed by this chapter and filed at its Sacramento office.
BPC 7619 - ANSWER-The applicant for a funeral director's license shall be at least
18 years of age, possess an associate of arts or science degree, or the equivalent,
or a higher level of education as recognized by the Western Association of Colleges
and Universities, or any other nationally recognized accrediting body of colleges and
universities, and shall not have committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for
denial of licensure under Section 480.
BPC 7619.3 - ANSWER-No licensed funeral director shall engage in or conduct, or
hold himself or herself out as engaging in or conducting, the activities of a funeral
director without being employed by, or without being a sole proprietor of, a licensed
funeral establishment.
BPC 7622 - ANSWER-Before an individual is granted a funeral director's license, he
or she shall successfully pass an examination upon the following subjects:
(a) The signs of death.
(b) The manner by which death may be determined.
,(c) The laws governing the preparation, burial and disposal of human remains, and
the shipment of bodies dying from infectious or contagious diseases.
(d) Local health and sanitary ordinances and regulations relating to funeral directing
and embalming.
BPC 7622.2 - ANSWER-A person shall not open or maintain a place or
establishment at which to engage in or conduct, or hold himself, herself, or itself out
as engaging in or conducting, the activities of a funeral director without a license.
BPC 7622.5 - ANSWER-An applicant for examination under Section 7622 shall pay
the funeral director's examination fee fixed by this chapter.
BPC 7623 - 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.
BPC 7624 - 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.
BPC 7625 - ANSWER-Upon receipt of an application for a license, the bureau shall
cause an investigation to be made of the physical status or plans and specifications
of the proposed funeral establishment, and of the other qualifications required of the
applicant under this chapter, and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses,
administer oaths, and take testimony.
The bureau shall grant a license if it finds that the proposed funeral establishment is
or will be constructed and equipped as required by this chapter and that the
applicant is qualified in all other respects as required by this chapter.
BPC 7626 - ANSWER-The bureau shall examine and pass upon the qualifications of
the applicant as to ability and experience before passing upon the physical status or
plans and specifications of the proposed funeral establishment.
BPC 7626.5 - ANSWER-Where a hearing is held to determine whether an
application for a license should be granted, the proceeding shall be conducted in
accordance with Chapter 5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
and the bureau shall have all of the powers granted therein.
BPC 7627 - ANSWER-Every application for a funeral director's license under this
article shall be granted or refused within ninety days from the date of the filing of the
application or within thirty days after the close of the hearing upon the application, in
case a hearing is held.
BPC 7628 - 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.
BPC 7629 - 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.
BPC 7630 - ANSWER-(a) A funeral establishment's license may be assigned upon
payment of the fee fixed by this chapter, the filing of a completed application, 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.
(b) (1) If the applicant cannot submit the audit report required in subdivision (a) due
to estate matters or litigation for which the director or his or her designee is a party,
the applicant may request approval from the bureau to secure a bond by an admitted
surety insurer guaranteeing the payment to each account of any shortages in the
trust funds. Along with the fee and the application to assign the license and transfer
ownership, any applicant requesting an exception to subdivision (a) shall submit to
the bureau a report, signed by an authorized representative, setting forth the reasons
requested for the exception to the audit requirement and a list of all trust accounts for
the funeral establishment showing the corpus of the trust, accumulated income, and
current account balances for each account. If the bureau approves the request to
secure a bond, the bureau shall notify the applicant of the approval and of the
requirements of this section.
(2) Any applicant who knowingly provides false or misleading information pursuant to
the requirements of this subdivision shall be subject to an administrative citation,
which may include an order of abatement and a fine in an amount not to exceed five
thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation, in addition to any other remedies t
BPC 7631 - 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.
Questions with Verified Answers
BPC 7616.2 - ANSWER-A licensed funeral establishment shall at all times employ a
licensed funeral director to manage, direct, or control its business or profession.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, licensed funeral establishments
within close geographical proximity of each other, may request the bureau to allow a
licensed funeral director to manage, direct, or control the business or profession of
more than one facility.
BPC 7617 - 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.
BPC 7617.1 - ANSWER-The applicant for a funeral establishment license, or in the
case the applicant is an association, partnership, or corporation, all officers of the
corporation or association or all general partners of the partnership shall be at least
18 years of age and shall not have committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for
denial of licensure under Section 480.
BPC 7618 - ANSWER-An application for a funeral director's license shall be written
on a form provided by the bureau, verified by the applicant, accompanied by the fee
fixed by this chapter and filed at its Sacramento office.
BPC 7619 - ANSWER-The applicant for a funeral director's license shall be at least
18 years of age, possess an associate of arts or science degree, or the equivalent,
or a higher level of education as recognized by the Western Association of Colleges
and Universities, or any other nationally recognized accrediting body of colleges and
universities, and shall not have committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for
denial of licensure under Section 480.
BPC 7619.3 - ANSWER-No licensed funeral director shall engage in or conduct, or
hold himself or herself out as engaging in or conducting, the activities of a funeral
director without being employed by, or without being a sole proprietor of, a licensed
funeral establishment.
BPC 7622 - ANSWER-Before an individual is granted a funeral director's license, he
or she shall successfully pass an examination upon the following subjects:
(a) The signs of death.
(b) The manner by which death may be determined.
,(c) The laws governing the preparation, burial and disposal of human remains, and
the shipment of bodies dying from infectious or contagious diseases.
(d) Local health and sanitary ordinances and regulations relating to funeral directing
and embalming.
BPC 7622.2 - ANSWER-A person shall not open or maintain a place or
establishment at which to engage in or conduct, or hold himself, herself, or itself out
as engaging in or conducting, the activities of a funeral director without a license.
BPC 7622.5 - ANSWER-An applicant for examination under Section 7622 shall pay
the funeral director's examination fee fixed by this chapter.
BPC 7623 - 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.
BPC 7624 - 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.
BPC 7625 - ANSWER-Upon receipt of an application for a license, the bureau shall
cause an investigation to be made of the physical status or plans and specifications
of the proposed funeral establishment, and of the other qualifications required of the
applicant under this chapter, and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses,
administer oaths, and take testimony.
The bureau shall grant a license if it finds that the proposed funeral establishment is
or will be constructed and equipped as required by this chapter and that the
applicant is qualified in all other respects as required by this chapter.
BPC 7626 - ANSWER-The bureau shall examine and pass upon the qualifications of
the applicant as to ability and experience before passing upon the physical status or
plans and specifications of the proposed funeral establishment.
BPC 7626.5 - ANSWER-Where a hearing is held to determine whether an
application for a license should be granted, the proceeding shall be conducted in
accordance with Chapter 5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code,
and the bureau shall have all of the powers granted therein.
BPC 7627 - ANSWER-Every application for a funeral director's license under this
article shall be granted or refused within ninety days from the date of the filing of the
application or within thirty days after the close of the hearing upon the application, in
case a hearing is held.
BPC 7628 - 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.
BPC 7629 - 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.
BPC 7630 - ANSWER-(a) A funeral establishment's license may be assigned upon
payment of the fee fixed by this chapter, the filing of a completed application, 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.
(b) (1) If the applicant cannot submit the audit report required in subdivision (a) due
to estate matters or litigation for which the director or his or her designee is a party,
the applicant may request approval from the bureau to secure a bond by an admitted
surety insurer guaranteeing the payment to each account of any shortages in the
trust funds. Along with the fee and the application to assign the license and transfer
ownership, any applicant requesting an exception to subdivision (a) shall submit to
the bureau a report, signed by an authorized representative, setting forth the reasons
requested for the exception to the audit requirement and a list of all trust accounts for
the funeral establishment showing the corpus of the trust, accumulated income, and
current account balances for each account. If the bureau approves the request to
secure a bond, the bureau shall notify the applicant of the approval and of the
requirements of this section.
(2) Any applicant who knowingly provides false or misleading information pursuant to
the requirements of this subdivision shall be subject to an administrative citation,
which may include an order of abatement and a fine in an amount not to exceed five
thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation, in addition to any other remedies t
BPC 7631 - 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.
