South Carolina Code 40-19-230. Qualifications for license as embalmer or funeral director; examinations; conditions for licensure without examination; renewal of licenses
(1) is at least eighteen years of age;
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-19-230
- Apprentice: means a person who is preparing to become licensed for the practice of embalming and funeral directing under the supervision and instruction of a person licensed for the practice in this State and who is registered with the board pursuant to § 40-19-120. See South Carolina Code 40-19-20
- Board: means the South Carolina State Board of Funeral Service. See South Carolina Code 40-19-20
- Crematory: means an establishment in which the dead body is reduced to residue by intense heat. See South Carolina Code 40-19-20
- Embalmer: means a person licensed by the board to disinfect and preserve or attempt to disinfect and preserve the dead human body, entirely or in part, by the use of application of chemicals, fluids, or gases, externally or internally, or both, by their introduction into the body by vascular or hypodermic injections, by direct application into the organs or cavities, or by other method and includes the restoration or attempted restoration of the appearance of the dead human body. See South Carolina Code 40-19-20
- Embalming: means the disinfection of the dead human body by replacing certain body fluids with preserving and disinfecting chemicals. See South Carolina Code 40-19-20
- funeral: means a period following death in which there are religious services or other rites or ceremonies with the body of the deceased present. See South Carolina Code 40-19-20
- Funeral director: means a person licensed by the board to engage for hire or profit in the profession of arranging, directing, or supervising funerals. See South Carolina Code 40-19-20
- mortuary: means an establishment where the practice of funeral service and embalming is practiced. See South Carolina Code 40-19-20
(2) has not been convicted of a violent crime or found guilty of a felony or crime of moral turpitude;
(3) has a high school education or the equivalent of a high school education, the equivalence to be determined by the board;
(4) has completed successfully a regular course in an embalming college accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education and approved by the board;
(5) has completed a minimum of twenty-four months of service pursuant to § 40-19-240 as an apprentice under the direct supervision of a licensed embalmer actively engaged in the practice of embalming in this State;
(6) has passed an examination prescribed by the board.
(B) A person may be issued a license as a funeral director if the person:
(1) is at least eighteen years of age;
(2) has not been convicted of a violent crime or found guilty of a felony or crime of moral turpitude;
(3) has a high school education or the equivalent of a high school education and has a minimum of two years of successful attendance at an accredited academic college or successful completion of a regular course of not less than one year, twelve scholastic months, in an accredited mortuary college;
(4) has completed a minimum of twenty-four months of service pursuant to § 40-19-240 as an apprentice funeral director under the direct supervision of a licensed funeral director actively engaged in the practice of funeral directing in this State;
(5) has passed an examination prescribed by the board.
(C) An applicant for licensure must be examined on subjects as are prescribed by the board and the examination must be by a standardized written test. The passing grade must be established by the board in regulation.
An application for examination must be upon a form furnished by the board and must be accompanied by a fee established by the board in regulation. An application for examination must be submitted at least thirty days before the date of the examination.
(D) No license may be issued or renewed for a period exceeding two years, and all licenses and renewals expire on the thirtieth day of June unless sooner revoked or canceled. The date of expiration may be changed by unanimous consent of the board and upon ninety days’ written notice of the change to all persons licensed by the board.
(E) A person holding a license under this chapter may have the license renewed for a two-year period by applying within thirty days preceding or following the expiration of his license, upon forms provided by the board and payment of a renewal fee as established by the board in regulation. A person who fails to renew the license, at the discretion of the board, may have it renewed by making application and appearing before the board and paying a renewal and revival fee established by the board. The license of a person who is engaged actively in the military service of the United States may be held in abeyance for the duration of service, and the licensee may be relieved of the payment of renewal fees as the board considers justifiable and expedient.
(F) A permit for a crematory or a permit for a funeral establishment which operates a crematory may be renewed for a two-year period by applying within thirty days preceding or following the expiration of the permit, upon forms provided by the board, payment of a renewal fee as established by the board in regulation and passage of an inspection conducted by the board.