South Carolina Funeral Law
Questions and Answers| Latest Update| Pass Guaranteed
Covering the South Carolina Funeral Service Practices Act, the Safe Cremation Act,
Board Licensure & Apprenticeship • Scope of Practice • Establishments &
Permits
Renewal & Continuing Education • Death Certificates & Body Handling •
Embalming
Cremation Law • Preneed Contracts • Consumer Protection • Ethics &
Discipline
1. The South Carolina State Board of Funeral Service is composed of how many
members?
A. Five members
B. Seven members
C. Eleven members
D. Fifteen members
Answer: C. Eleven members
Rationale: S.C. Code Title 40, Chapter 19 creates an eleven-member Board of
Funeral Service, appointed by the Governor from the state at large for three-year
terms.
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2. Of the eleven members of the South Carolina Board of Funeral Service, how
many must be members of the general public with no connection to a funeral
service establishment?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
Answer: B. Two
Rationale: The statute requires two of the eleven Board members to be public
members not connected with a funeral service establishment; the remaining nine
must have been licensed funeral directors and embalmers for at least five years
and be actively engaged in the profession.
3. Board members of the South Carolina State Board of Funeral Service who are
licensees must have been licensed as funeral directors and embalmers for at
least how many years immediately preceding appointment?
A. Two years
B. Three years
C. Five years
D. Ten years
Answer: C. Five years
Rationale: The nine licensee members of the Board must have held licensure as
funeral directors and embalmers for at least five years immediately before
appointment and must be actively engaged in the funeral service profession.
4. Under South Carolina law, an 'apprentice' is defined as a person who is:
A. Already fully licensed and mentoring new hires
B. Preparing to become licensed for the practice of embalming and funeral
directing under supervision, and who is registered with the Board
C. A member of the Board of Funeral Service
D. An employee of a crematory only
Answer: B. Preparing to become licensed for the practice of embalming and
funeral directing under supervision, and who is registered with the Board
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Rationale: S.C. Code Section 40-19-20 defines an apprentice as a person preparing
to become licensed for the practice of embalming and funeral directing under the
supervision and instruction of a licensee, who must be registered with the Board
pursuant to Section 40-19-120.
5. To be issued a license as an embalmer in South Carolina, an applicant
generally must complete a minimum apprenticeship period of:
A. Six months
B. One year
C. Eighteen months
D. Twenty-four months
Answer: D. Twenty-four months
Rationale: Section 40-19-230 requires a minimum of twenty-four months of
service as an apprentice under the direct supervision of a licensed embalmer
actively engaged in the practice of embalming in South Carolina.
6. How many apprentices may be registered under any one licensed funeral
director or embalmer at the same time in South Carolina?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. There is no limit
Answer: B. Two
Rationale: South Carolina law limits registration to a maximum of two apprentices
at a time under any one licensed sponsor, and each sponsor must be actively
connected with a licensed funeral establishment.
7. An applicant for a license as an embalmer or funeral director in South
Carolina must be at least:
A. Sixteen years of age
B. Eighteen years of age
C. Twenty-one years of age
D. Twenty-five years of age
Answer: B. Eighteen years of age
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Rationale: South Carolina law requires that an applicant for licensure as an
embalmer or funeral director be at least eighteen years of age, in addition to
other requirements such as good moral character and passage of the Board's
examination.
8. Before receiving a license, an apprentice embalmer in South Carolina must
present evidence, typically by affidavit from supervising licensees, that they
assisted in embalming at least how many bodies during the apprenticeship?
A. Ten
B. Twenty-five
C. Fifty
D. One hundred
Answer: C. Fifty
Rationale: South Carolina law has historically required an affidavit from the
supervising licensee(s) showing that the apprentice embalmer assisted in the
embalming of at least fifty bodies (or, for an apprentice funeral director, assisted
in conducting at least fifty funerals) during the apprenticeship.
9. Which entity is legally responsible for prescribing and administering the
licensing examination for embalmers and funeral directors in South Carolina?
A. The county coroner
B. The South Carolina Board of Funeral Service
C. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
D. The National Funeral Directors Association
Answer: B. The South Carolina Board of Funeral Service
Rationale: South Carolina law requires that a person seeking licensure as an
embalmer or funeral director pass an examination prescribed by the Board, which
is the state agency charged with regulating the profession.
10. An apprentice's supervisor must be present and readily available on the
premises when the apprentice is:
A. At home studying for the licensing exam
B. Assisting with funeral directing or embalming activities
C. Attending a continuing education seminar
D. On personal vacation time
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