North Carolina Funeral Law — 120-Question
Practice Exam
1. Which agency has primary regulatory authority over funeral service licensing
in North Carolina?
A. The North Carolina Medical Board
B. The North Carolina Board of Funeral Service
C. The Department of Motor Vehicles
D. The North Carolina Bar Association
Answer: B
Rationale: The North Carolina Board of Funeral Service licenses and regulates
funeral directors, embalmers, funeral establishments, and preneed activities in the
state.
2. A person who wishes to practice as a funeral director in North Carolina must
generally:
A. Simply register a business name with the county
B. Hold a valid license issued by the Board of Funeral Service
C. Obtain approval only from a local funeral home owner
D. Complete a real estate license course instead
Answer: B
Rationale: Practicing as a funeral director requires a license issued by the Board of
Funeral Service after meeting education, examination, and other statutory
requirements.
,3. Which of the following is generally required before a person may be licensed
as a funeral director in North Carolina?
A. Completion of an approved mortuary science education program and a period
of supervised apprenticeship
B. A high school diploma only, with no further education
C. A real estate broker's license
D. Five years of unrelated retail experience
Answer: A
Rationale: Licensure typically requires completion of mortuary science coursework
along with a supervised apprenticeship or internship before an applicant may sit for
licensing examinations.
4. An embalmer's license in North Carolina authorizes the holder to:
A. Sell preneed insurance products exclusively
B. Perform embalming and related preparation of human remains
C. Practice medicine without additional licensure
D. Operate a crematory without further authorization
Answer: B
Rationale: An embalmer license authorizes the licensee to embalm and prepare
human remains, subject to the state's embalming regulations and standards.
5. Which license is required specifically to operate a place of business that
provides funeral services to the public?
A. Funeral establishment (funeral home) license
B. Embalmer apprentice permit only
C. Preneed sales license only
D. Vital records clerk certification
Answer: A
Rationale: A funeral establishment license authorizes a business location to hold itself
out to the public as a provider of funeral services, separate from individual practitioner
licenses.
,6. A funeral establishment in North Carolina is generally required to have on its
premises:
A. A licensed funeral director or other qualifying licensed personnel available to
serve the public
B. A working crematory at every location
C. An on-site cemetery
D. A licensed physician on staff
Answer: A
Rationale: Funeral establishments must have appropriately licensed personnel, such
as a funeral director, available to serve the public and to be responsible for
compliance with applicable law.
7. An apprentice working toward funeral director or embalmer licensure in
North Carolina must generally work:
A. Completely independently, with no supervision required
B. Under the supervision of a licensed funeral director or embalmer, as applicable
C. Only on weekends
D. Without any registration with the Board
Answer: B
Rationale: Apprentices are required to work under the direct supervision of an
appropriately licensed practitioner while completing the hours and experience
necessary for licensure.
8. Continuing education requirements for North Carolina funeral service
licensees exist primarily to:
A. Generate additional revenue for the state with no other purpose
B. Help ensure licensees remain current on laws, ethics, and industry practices
C. Replace the need for the original licensing examination
D. Apply only to embalmers, not funeral directors
Answer: B
Rationale: Continuing education helps licensees stay informed of changes in law,
technology, and professional standards throughout their careers, supporting ongoing
competency.
, 9. If a North Carolina funeral service license lapses due to non-renewal, the
licensee generally:
A. May continue practicing under the expired license indefinitely
B. May not perform licensed activities until the license is properly renewed or
reinstated
C. Automatically receives a new license category
D. Is only restricted from preneed sales
Answer: B
Rationale: A lapsed license means the individual is not authorized to perform licensed
funeral service activities until the license is renewed or reinstated according to Board
requirements.
10. Which of the following is an example of conduct that could result in
disciplinary action by the Board of Funeral Service?
A. Providing an accurate, itemized price list to a consumer
B. Fraud or misrepresentation in the practice of funeral service
C. Completing required continuing education on time
D. Maintaining accurate embalming records
Answer: B
Rationale: Fraud, misrepresentation, and similar misconduct are grounds for
disciplinary action, which can include license suspension, revocation, probation, or
civil penalties.
11. Disciplinary actions available to the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service
can include:
A. Only informal verbal warnings with no formal record
B. License suspension, revocation, probation, reprimand, and/or civil penalties
C. Immediate criminal imprisonment with no administrative process
D. No consequences beyond a federal fine
Answer: B
Rationale: The Board has a range of administrative remedies available, from
reprimand and probation to suspension or revocation of a license, depending on the
severity of the violation.
Practice Exam
1. Which agency has primary regulatory authority over funeral service licensing
in North Carolina?
A. The North Carolina Medical Board
B. The North Carolina Board of Funeral Service
C. The Department of Motor Vehicles
D. The North Carolina Bar Association
Answer: B
Rationale: The North Carolina Board of Funeral Service licenses and regulates
funeral directors, embalmers, funeral establishments, and preneed activities in the
state.
2. A person who wishes to practice as a funeral director in North Carolina must
generally:
A. Simply register a business name with the county
B. Hold a valid license issued by the Board of Funeral Service
C. Obtain approval only from a local funeral home owner
D. Complete a real estate license course instead
Answer: B
Rationale: Practicing as a funeral director requires a license issued by the Board of
Funeral Service after meeting education, examination, and other statutory
requirements.
,3. Which of the following is generally required before a person may be licensed
as a funeral director in North Carolina?
A. Completion of an approved mortuary science education program and a period
of supervised apprenticeship
B. A high school diploma only, with no further education
C. A real estate broker's license
D. Five years of unrelated retail experience
Answer: A
Rationale: Licensure typically requires completion of mortuary science coursework
along with a supervised apprenticeship or internship before an applicant may sit for
licensing examinations.
4. An embalmer's license in North Carolina authorizes the holder to:
A. Sell preneed insurance products exclusively
B. Perform embalming and related preparation of human remains
C. Practice medicine without additional licensure
D. Operate a crematory without further authorization
Answer: B
Rationale: An embalmer license authorizes the licensee to embalm and prepare
human remains, subject to the state's embalming regulations and standards.
5. Which license is required specifically to operate a place of business that
provides funeral services to the public?
A. Funeral establishment (funeral home) license
B. Embalmer apprentice permit only
C. Preneed sales license only
D. Vital records clerk certification
Answer: A
Rationale: A funeral establishment license authorizes a business location to hold itself
out to the public as a provider of funeral services, separate from individual practitioner
licenses.
,6. A funeral establishment in North Carolina is generally required to have on its
premises:
A. A licensed funeral director or other qualifying licensed personnel available to
serve the public
B. A working crematory at every location
C. An on-site cemetery
D. A licensed physician on staff
Answer: A
Rationale: Funeral establishments must have appropriately licensed personnel, such
as a funeral director, available to serve the public and to be responsible for
compliance with applicable law.
7. An apprentice working toward funeral director or embalmer licensure in
North Carolina must generally work:
A. Completely independently, with no supervision required
B. Under the supervision of a licensed funeral director or embalmer, as applicable
C. Only on weekends
D. Without any registration with the Board
Answer: B
Rationale: Apprentices are required to work under the direct supervision of an
appropriately licensed practitioner while completing the hours and experience
necessary for licensure.
8. Continuing education requirements for North Carolina funeral service
licensees exist primarily to:
A. Generate additional revenue for the state with no other purpose
B. Help ensure licensees remain current on laws, ethics, and industry practices
C. Replace the need for the original licensing examination
D. Apply only to embalmers, not funeral directors
Answer: B
Rationale: Continuing education helps licensees stay informed of changes in law,
technology, and professional standards throughout their careers, supporting ongoing
competency.
, 9. If a North Carolina funeral service license lapses due to non-renewal, the
licensee generally:
A. May continue practicing under the expired license indefinitely
B. May not perform licensed activities until the license is properly renewed or
reinstated
C. Automatically receives a new license category
D. Is only restricted from preneed sales
Answer: B
Rationale: A lapsed license means the individual is not authorized to perform licensed
funeral service activities until the license is renewed or reinstated according to Board
requirements.
10. Which of the following is an example of conduct that could result in
disciplinary action by the Board of Funeral Service?
A. Providing an accurate, itemized price list to a consumer
B. Fraud or misrepresentation in the practice of funeral service
C. Completing required continuing education on time
D. Maintaining accurate embalming records
Answer: B
Rationale: Fraud, misrepresentation, and similar misconduct are grounds for
disciplinary action, which can include license suspension, revocation, probation, or
civil penalties.
11. Disciplinary actions available to the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service
can include:
A. Only informal verbal warnings with no formal record
B. License suspension, revocation, probation, reprimand, and/or civil penalties
C. Immediate criminal imprisonment with no administrative process
D. No consequences beyond a federal fine
Answer: B
Rationale: The Board has a range of administrative remedies available, from
reprimand and probation to suspension or revocation of a license, depending on the
severity of the violation.
