(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in, or attempt to engage in, the business of a funeral director, conduct a funeral, or make an interment in this state, except as provided in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-1713b, and amendments thereto, without a funeral director’s license issued by the state board of mortuary arts.

(b) Every person desiring to enter the practice of funeral directing shall make written application therefor to the board on such forms and in such manner as shall be prescribed by the board. The application shall show that the applicant is of legal age, has successfully completed courses in an accredited academic community college or accredited academic college or university accumulating at least 60 semester hours with 20 semester hours earned in subjects designated by the state board of mortuary arts and has had practical experience in funeral directing working full-time for at least one year prior to the date of the application as a licensed Kansas assistant funeral director under a Kansas licensed funeral director. The application shall also show that the applicant has assisted in conducting at least 25 funeral services before applying for a funeral director’s license, which showing shall be supported by a verified written statement giving the list of the cases with which the applicant assisted, the dates thereof and the places where the services were conducted. Funeral directors’ licenses shall be issued to individuals only, and not to organizations, institutions, corporations or establishments.

(c) The applicant shall be present before the board for examination at a time and place fixed by the board. The manner and form of the examination shall be determined by the board. It shall not be necessary for the applicant to be a licensed embalmer in order to obtain a funeral director’s license under this act.

(d) All licenses shall be signed by the president and secretary of the board and attested by its seal. Every funeral director shall at all times prominently display the funeral director’s license in the funeral director’s place of employment. In the event of the death of the holder of a funeral director’s license, or in other special cases, the board, in its discretion and for good cause shown, may issue special permits to persons otherwise qualified, except for examination, authorizing the temporary practice of funeral directing until the next examination by the board.

(e) Any person, who has lawfully engaged in the business of providing cremation services in Kansas for five consecutive years prior to the effective date of this act, shall be exempt from the apprenticeship requirements which are a prerequisite for licensure as a funeral director under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 65-1701a, and amendments thereto, provided that such person shall apply for licensure within six months of the effective date of this act. Any person who is exempt from the apprenticeship requirements under this subsection shall have a grace period of 120 days following the effective date of the act to comply with the requirements for licensure as a funeral director.