NYS Funeral Director Law Exam Study Guide: 120
Practice Q&A with Rationales | Licensing &
Registration | Preneed Trusts | Cremation & Cemetery
Law
1. Under NYS Public Health Law Article 34, what is the minimum age requirement to
become a licensed funeral director?
A. 18 years
B. 19 years
C. 21 years
D. 25 years
Answer: B
Rationale: New York State requires applicants for funeral director licensure to be at least 19
years of age .
2. The biennial registration of licensed funeral directors, embalmers, and undertakers
is renewable on:
A. January 1st of each odd year
B. January 1st of each even year
C. July 1st of each odd year
D. July 1st of each even year
Answer: D
Rationale: For licensed individuals (funeral directors, embalmers, undertakers), registration
renews July 1st of each even year. For funeral firms (establishments), renewal is July 1st
of each odd year .
3. How many hours of continuing education (CEUs) must a funeral director complete
each biennium to be eligible for registration renewal?
, A. 6 hours
B. 12 hours
C. 18 hours
D. 24 hours
Answer: B
Rationale: Funeral directors must complete a minimum of 12 continuing education hours
each registration biennium .
4. Of the mandatory continuing education hours, what specific subject requirement
exists?
A. At least 4 hours in embalming techniques
B. At least 2 hours applicable to NYS laws and regulations affecting funeral directing
C. At least 6 hours in grief counseling
D. At least 1 hour in OSHA bloodborne pathogens
Answer: B
Rationale: Of the 12 required CE hours, at least 2 hours must be specifically applicable to
New York State laws and regulations affecting funeral directing, embalming, and preneed
services .
5. Is a newly licensed funeral director required to complete continuing education
during their first biennium?
A. Yes, full 12 hours are required
B. Yes, but only 6 hours
C. No, they are exempt
D. Only if they plan to renew
Answer: C
Rationale: Funeral directors are exempt from mandatory continuing education requirements
for the biennium during which they are first licensed and registered .
6. What is required for a registered resident (apprentice) to be listed on funeral
establishment letterhead?
A. They may be listed if supervised by a licensed director
, B. They may never be listed on letterhead
C. Only fully licensed funeral directors may be listed on letterhead
D. They may be listed after one year of residency
Answer: C
Rationale: The name of a registered resident may NOT be on the letterhead of a funeral
establishment. Only fully licensed and registered funeral directors may be listed .
7. May a non-licensed individual own a funeral home in New York State?
A. Yes, if the firm is a corporation or LLC
B. Yes, as a sole proprietor
C. No, all owners must be licensed funeral directors
D. Only with special DOH permission
Answer: A
Rationale: A non-licensed individual may own a funeral home, but the ownership must be
structured as a corporation or LLC. The unlicensed owner cannot personally engage in
funeral directing, and the firm must have a licensed manager .
8. If a funeral firm is owned and operated by a partnership, what is the licensing
requirement for the partners?
A. At least one partner must be a licensed funeral director
B. All partners must be licensed funeral directors
C. Only the managing partner needs a license
D. No license required if a manager is hired
Answer: B
Rationale: When a funeral firm is owned and operated by a partnership, all partners must
be licensed and registered NYS funeral directors .
9. What does a funeral director's "inactive" registration status mean for CE
requirements?
A. They must still complete full CE hours
B. They are exempt from CE as long as status remains inactive
, C. They must complete half the required CE hours
D. They cannot ever reactivate
Answer: B
Rationale: A funeral director duly registered as inactive with the NYS Bureau of Funeral
Directing is exempt from mandatory continuing education requirements as long as their
status remains inactive .
Funeral Establishment & Firm Operations
10. What is the legal definition of a "funeral establishment"?
A. Any business that sells caskets
B. A single physical location devoted to care and preparation of deceased persons
for disposition and for mourning/funeral ceremonial purposes
C. Any building owned by a funeral director
D. A crematory operation only
Answer: B
Rationale: A funeral establishment is defined as a single physical location, address, or
premises devoted to or used for the care and preparation of a deceased person's body for
disposition and for mourning or funeral ceremonial purposes .
12. What is the required lettering size for a sign displayed in front of a funeral home?
A. Minimum 0.5 inches
B. Minimum 1 inch
C. Minimum 1.5 inches
D. Minimum 2 inches
Answer: C
Rationale: Lettering in front of a funeral home must be a minimum of 1.5 inches .
13. What is the required lettering size for pricing on caskets or outer burial
receptacles displayed in a showroom?
A. 0.25 inch or larger
B. 0.5 inch or larger
Practice Q&A with Rationales | Licensing &
Registration | Preneed Trusts | Cremation & Cemetery
Law
1. Under NYS Public Health Law Article 34, what is the minimum age requirement to
become a licensed funeral director?
A. 18 years
B. 19 years
C. 21 years
D. 25 years
Answer: B
Rationale: New York State requires applicants for funeral director licensure to be at least 19
years of age .
2. The biennial registration of licensed funeral directors, embalmers, and undertakers
is renewable on:
A. January 1st of each odd year
B. January 1st of each even year
C. July 1st of each odd year
D. July 1st of each even year
Answer: D
Rationale: For licensed individuals (funeral directors, embalmers, undertakers), registration
renews July 1st of each even year. For funeral firms (establishments), renewal is July 1st
of each odd year .
3. How many hours of continuing education (CEUs) must a funeral director complete
each biennium to be eligible for registration renewal?
, A. 6 hours
B. 12 hours
C. 18 hours
D. 24 hours
Answer: B
Rationale: Funeral directors must complete a minimum of 12 continuing education hours
each registration biennium .
4. Of the mandatory continuing education hours, what specific subject requirement
exists?
A. At least 4 hours in embalming techniques
B. At least 2 hours applicable to NYS laws and regulations affecting funeral directing
C. At least 6 hours in grief counseling
D. At least 1 hour in OSHA bloodborne pathogens
Answer: B
Rationale: Of the 12 required CE hours, at least 2 hours must be specifically applicable to
New York State laws and regulations affecting funeral directing, embalming, and preneed
services .
5. Is a newly licensed funeral director required to complete continuing education
during their first biennium?
A. Yes, full 12 hours are required
B. Yes, but only 6 hours
C. No, they are exempt
D. Only if they plan to renew
Answer: C
Rationale: Funeral directors are exempt from mandatory continuing education requirements
for the biennium during which they are first licensed and registered .
6. What is required for a registered resident (apprentice) to be listed on funeral
establishment letterhead?
A. They may be listed if supervised by a licensed director
, B. They may never be listed on letterhead
C. Only fully licensed funeral directors may be listed on letterhead
D. They may be listed after one year of residency
Answer: C
Rationale: The name of a registered resident may NOT be on the letterhead of a funeral
establishment. Only fully licensed and registered funeral directors may be listed .
7. May a non-licensed individual own a funeral home in New York State?
A. Yes, if the firm is a corporation or LLC
B. Yes, as a sole proprietor
C. No, all owners must be licensed funeral directors
D. Only with special DOH permission
Answer: A
Rationale: A non-licensed individual may own a funeral home, but the ownership must be
structured as a corporation or LLC. The unlicensed owner cannot personally engage in
funeral directing, and the firm must have a licensed manager .
8. If a funeral firm is owned and operated by a partnership, what is the licensing
requirement for the partners?
A. At least one partner must be a licensed funeral director
B. All partners must be licensed funeral directors
C. Only the managing partner needs a license
D. No license required if a manager is hired
Answer: B
Rationale: When a funeral firm is owned and operated by a partnership, all partners must
be licensed and registered NYS funeral directors .
9. What does a funeral director's "inactive" registration status mean for CE
requirements?
A. They must still complete full CE hours
B. They are exempt from CE as long as status remains inactive
, C. They must complete half the required CE hours
D. They cannot ever reactivate
Answer: B
Rationale: A funeral director duly registered as inactive with the NYS Bureau of Funeral
Directing is exempt from mandatory continuing education requirements as long as their
status remains inactive .
Funeral Establishment & Firm Operations
10. What is the legal definition of a "funeral establishment"?
A. Any business that sells caskets
B. A single physical location devoted to care and preparation of deceased persons
for disposition and for mourning/funeral ceremonial purposes
C. Any building owned by a funeral director
D. A crematory operation only
Answer: B
Rationale: A funeral establishment is defined as a single physical location, address, or
premises devoted to or used for the care and preparation of a deceased person's body for
disposition and for mourning or funeral ceremonial purposes .
12. What is the required lettering size for a sign displayed in front of a funeral home?
A. Minimum 0.5 inches
B. Minimum 1 inch
C. Minimum 1.5 inches
D. Minimum 2 inches
Answer: C
Rationale: Lettering in front of a funeral home must be a minimum of 1.5 inches .
13. What is the required lettering size for pricing on caskets or outer burial
receptacles displayed in a showroom?
A. 0.25 inch or larger
B. 0.5 inch or larger