(a) After July 1, 2022, the board shall issue a registration to be an apprentice funeral service licensee to an applicant who meets the following requirements:

Terms Used In West Virginia Code 30-6-17

  • Apprentice: means a person who is preparing to become a licensed funeral director or a funeral service licensee and is learning the practice of embalming, funeral directing, or cremation under the direct supervision and personal instruction of a duly licensed funeral service licensee. See West Virginia Code 30-6-3
  • Board: means the West Virginia Board of Funeral Service Examiners. See West Virginia Code 30-6-3
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Embalmer: means a person licensed to practice embalming. See West Virginia Code 30-6-3
  • Funeral: means a service, ceremony, or rites performed for the deceased with a body present. See West Virginia Code 30-6-3
  • Funeral director: means a person licensed to practice funeral directing. See West Virginia Code 30-6-3
  • Funeral service licensee: means a person licensed after July 1, 2003, to practice embalming and funeral directing. See West Virginia Code 30-6-3
  • License: means a license, which is not transferable or assignable, to:

    (a) Practice embalming and funeral directing. See West Virginia Code 30-6-3

  • Licensee: means a person holding a license issued under the provisions of this article. See West Virginia Code 30-6-3
  • Mortuary: means a licensed place of business devoted solely to the shelter, care, and embalming of the deceased. See West Virginia Code 30-6-3
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, association, corporation, not-for-profit organization, or any other organization. See West Virginia Code 30-6-3
  • Registration: means a registration issued by the board to be an apprentice to learn the practice of embalming, funeral directing, or cremation. See West Virginia Code 30-6-3

(1) Is free of a felony conviction bearing a rational nexus to the profession pursuant to § 30-1-24 of this code;

(2) Is 18 years of age or over;

(3) Is a citizen of the United States or be eligible for employment in the United States;

(4) Has a high school diploma or its equivalent;

(5) The required 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of college or university credits and mortuary school can be completed prior to, during, or after the apprenticeship; and

(6) Has paid the appropriate fees.

(b) Any person that commences an apprenticeship prior to January 1, 2003, may continue to serve such apprenticeship and is not subject to the requirements set forth in this section, but is subject to board approval.

(c) The board may set the requirements for an apprenticeship, including the manner in which it shall be served and the length of time, which shall not be more than one year for a funeral service licensee and shall not be more than two years for a funeral director.

(d) No licensed funeral director or licensed embalmer shall be permitted to register or have registered more than five apprentices under his or her license at the same time.