(a) Except as otherwise provided by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-1701b, and amendments thereto, each applicant for a license to practice embalming in this state, in order to be eligible for examination, shall be required to show to the satisfaction of the state board of mortuary arts that:

(1) Prior to July 1, 1991, the applicant: (A) Successfully completed courses in a community college, college or university accumulating at least 60 semester hours; and (B) graduated from a school of mortuary science approved by the board that offers a 12-month course in mortuary science with at least 30 semester hours in mortuary science; or

(2) on and after July 1, 1991, the applicant has graduated from a community college, college or university with at least an AA degree in mortuary science approved by the board.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-1701b, and amendments thereto, each applicant for a license to practice embalming in this state, in order to be eligible for a full apprenticeship, as provided in subsection (c), shall be required to submit to an examination approved by the board. An applicant who is completing a split apprenticeship, as provided in subsection (c), in order to be eligible for the second six-month period of the apprenticeship, shall be required to submit to an examination approved by the board. Each applicant shall be required to register with the secretary of the board in the manner and at the time required by the board before submitting to examination. The examination fee and registration fee shall be in the amounts fixed by the board in accordance with Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-1727, and amendments thereto. The board may require that fees paid for an examination be paid by the person taking the examination directly to the examination service providing the examination approved by the board.

(c) Except as otherwise provided by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-1701b, and amendments thereto, each applicant for a license to practice embalming in this state, in order to be eligible for licensure, shall successfully pass a written examination established by rules and regulations of the board and shall successfully complete a full-time 12-month apprenticeship under the supervision of a Kansas licensed embalmer or an embalmer approved by the board. The board by rules and regulations shall establish the score for the successful completion of the written examination.

(1) Such 12-month apprenticeship may be completed as either a:

(A) Full apprenticeship, with all 12 months being served after graduation from a school of mortuary science; or

(B) split apprenticeship, wherein the 12-month apprenticeship is split into two continuous six-month periods. The first six-month period shall be completed within the 12 months prior to enrollment in a school of mortuary science, and the remaining six-month period shall be completed after graduation from such school of mortuary science.

(d) (1) The board shall adopt rules and regulations establishing the criteria which a school of mortuary science or college or university offering at least an AA degree in mortuary science shall satisfy in order to obtain board approval under subsection (a).

(2) The board may send a questionnaire developed by the board to any school of mortuary science or college or university offering at least an AA degree in mortuary science for which the board does not have sufficient information to determine whether the school, college or university meets the criteria for approval established by rules and regulations adopted under this section. The questionnaire providing the necessary information shall be completed and returned to the board in order for the school, college or university to be considered for approval.

(3) The board may contract with investigative agencies, commissions or consultants to assist the board in obtaining information about such schools, colleges or universities. In entering such contracts the authority to approve schools, colleges or universities shall remain solely with the board.