(a) As used in this section: (1) “Licensee” means a funeral director or embalmer licensed pursuant to this chapter; and (2) “department” means the Department of Public Health; and (3) “registration period” means the twelve-month period that commences on the date of renewal of the licensee’s license, as provided in § 19a-88, and is current and valid.

(b) Each licensee shall complete a minimum of six hours of continuing education during each registration period, two of which shall be in the area of federal and state laws regarding the provision of funeral services, including applicable Federal Trade Commission regulations. Each licensee shall complete his or her initial continuing education in the area of federal and state laws regarding the provision of funeral services not later than twelve months after the licensee first applies for license renewal after July 1, 2007. The remaining four hours of continuing education shall be in areas related to the licensee’s practice, including, but not limited to, bereavement care, business management and administration, religious customs and traditions related to funerals, cremation services, cemetery services, natural sciences, preneed services, restorative arts and embalming, counseling, funeral service merchandising, sanitation and infection control, organ donation or hospice care. The continuing education shall consist of courses offered or approved by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, educational offerings sponsored by a hospital or other licensed health care institution or courses offered by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

(c) Each licensee shall obtain a certificate of completion from the provider of the continuing education for all continuing education hours that are successfully completed and shall retain a copy of such certificate for a minimum of three years following the license renewal date for which the activity satisfies the continuing education requirement. Each funeral home and licensee shall maintain a copy of such certificate for each licensee employed by the funeral home. Upon request by the department, the licensee or funeral home shall submit the certificate to the department.

(d) A licensee who fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to § 20-227.

(e) The continuing education requirements shall be waived for licensees applying for license renewal for the first time. The department may, for a licensee who has a medical disability or illness, grant a waiver of the continuing education requirements for a specific period of time or may grant the licensee an extension of time in which to fulfill the requirements.