Funeral Service FAQ
General Questions
Find out if a facility or individual has an active license using the Licensee Search. Enter the requested information, click "search", and the license information should populate.
Complaints should be submitted from within GOALS. Learn more about filing online complaints on the How To Submit A Licensing Complaint page. Complaints are confidential by Georgia law in OCGA § 43-1-2 (k) (4) and OCGA § 43-1-19 (h) (2) and are not subject to the Open Records Act. The Board encourages complainants to provide as much detail and supporting documents as possible.
Refer to the Fee Schedule for a current listing of the various fees.
Many state boards will accept a printout of the on-line verification showing the Secretary of State logo. However, if you need a Board-certified verification, you may request one through your GOALS account. After logging in, go to the “Licenses” section, click “Take Action” for the license that you need to purchase a verification for, and then click “Request License Verification”.
Login into your GOALS account to print a copy of your license or to purchase a paper copy or wall certificate to be mailed to you. After logging in, go to the “Licenses” section, click “Take Action” for the license that you need a copy of your license for, and then click “Print License”.
Death Certificates can be obtained through the State Office of Vital Records.
Please email [email protected] and indicate which establishment(s) you no longer serve as FDFCC at, your license number, and the date of separation.
You can submit a request for a legal name change through your GOALS account in the “My Profile” section.
The application for Establishment Change of Name can be submitted by the owner via the facility GOALS account as a license amendment.
Notification of a change of ownership must be submitted to the Board within 15 days of the change. Notification should be made by submitting an application in GOALS for a Transfer of Establishment Ownership.
The establishment owner must notify the Board within 5 days of the departure of the FDFCC. At that time, the new FDFCC candidate may either submit an Application for Change of FDFCC as license amendment under their Funeral Director license, or the facility may submit a written request for a 90-day grace period, according to Board Rule 250-6-.02, which can be submitted by the owner as a license amendment under the facility license. The Board will consider the request for a grace period at the next scheduled meeting and notify the establishment owner in writing if the grace period is approved.
Pursuant to Board Rule 250-6-.08(2), the individual approved by the Board to serve as the FDFCC may only serve in this capacity at one funeral establishment, but may also serve as the FDFCC at a crematory if the crematory is located at the same physical address as the approved funeral establishment, provided that the funeral establishment and crematory are licensed under the same ownership. If the crematory offers their services directly to the public, a different FDFCC would be required.
All licenses expire biennially on March 31st of even-numbered years and must be renewed prior to the expiration date. Renewals open typically about 90 days prior to the expiration date, which you’ll be notified of via email.
Even if the crematory is in the same building as the funeral home, the crematory must be licensed separately [O.C.G.A. § 43-18-72(a)].
For information about requirements to obtain a license refer to the How-To Guide: Apply for a Funeral Director License and the How-To Guide: Apply for an Embalmer License.
For information about requirements to obtain a license by Endorsement or Reciprocity refer to the How-To Guide: Apply for a Funeral Director License and the How-To Guide: Apply for an Embalmer License.
The Georgia State Board of Funeral Service reciprocates with other states that have licensure requirements that are substantially equivalent with Georgia’s. To determine if your original state of licensure has substantially equal requirements for licensure in Georgia, compare the state’s educational requirements, length of apprenticeship, and the number of bodies and funerals on which you are required to assist during the apprenticeship. For Georgia requirements for licensure please refer to Board Rules 250-5-.01 and 250-5-.04
Yes. The Board will allow an embalmer or funeral director license to be placed on Inactive status if the license is active and in good standing with the Board and the licensee has met the required 10 hours of continuing education for the next licensing period. The licensee cannot practice during the period of inactive status.
An application to reactivate the license must be submitted to the Board to place a license back on Active status. If the license has been on Inactive status for more than two years, but less than four years, you must also submit proof of obtaining continuing education during the Inactive period. If the license has been on Inactive status for four or more years, you will be required to submit proof of continuing education, and you will also be required to pass the Funeral Laws & Rules Exam. Please review Board Rule 250-5-.11 for more detailed information regarding reactivating an Inactive license.
Yes, all applicants must take the Funeral Laws & Rules Exam. [O.C.G.A. § 43-18-42 (1)]
PSI is the administrator of the exam. Refer to the PSI website when you are notified of your eligibility for the exam for a list of current exam fees.
No. A funeral director may be an FDFCC for only one funeral establishment [O.C.G.A. § 43-18-71 (a) (2)].
It is possible for the FDFCC to have other employment; however, approval of the FDFCC with secondary employment is at the Board’s discretion. The FDFCC must be able to work in the employ of the funeral establishment at least 40 hours per week and be accessible to the community. The Board exercises its discretion in determining the suitability of the proposed FDFCC in accordance with Board Rule 250-6-.08.
Every licensed embalmer and funeral director must obtain a minimum of 12 hours of continuing education credit during the two-year licensing period. A licensed embalmer or funeral director who became licensed within one year of the expiration date of the initial license is not required to obtain the continuing education hours for the initial license period [Board Rule 250-5-.12].
Individuals over age 65 and those with inactive licenses are exempt from continuing education requirements. The Board may also waive the requirement for continuing education for reasons of hardship, disability, or illness. Please refer to Board Rule 250-5-.12 for more detailed information.
In order to obtain a license for a funeral establishment or a crematory, you must submit an Application for Funeral Establishment license, or an Application for Crematory license in GOALS. If the owner of the establishment is not a licensed funeral director, a licensed funeral director must be identified on the application as the proposed funeral director in full and continuous charge (FDFCC). Do not submit the application until the establishment is ready for an inspection. Once the application is submitted, your proposed establishment is considered ready for inspection. An inspector with the Professional Licensing Boards Division will contact you to set up an appointment for the preliminary inspection. You will be notified in writing by the Board office when your application will go before the Board and if you’re required to appear before the Board. If required to appear, both the owner and proposed FDFCC must attend.
The funeral director must be a resident of Georgia and must be able to work a minimum of 40 hours per week in the employ of the funeral establishment as FDFCC. Per Board Rule 250-6-.08a funeral director may not be approved as FDFCC unless they are in a position of ownership at the facility or until they have been employed as a licensed funeral director for a minimum of three years. Please review O.C.G.A. § 43-18-71 and Board Rule 250-6-.08 for further details on the requirements to be FDFCC.
Board Rule 250-6-.06 details the criteria for Funeral Establishment Inspections and Board Rule 250-6-.07 details the criteria for Crematory Inspections.
Board Rule 250-6-.06 states that inspections will be conducted between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Establishments should be open and available for inspection. If the establishment is not open, a telephone number should be posted on the outside of the establishment whereby someone from the establishment can be reached to open the establishment for an inspection.
Apprenticeship Application Questions
When an apprenticeship registration lapses, the apprentice may submit a Funeral Apprenticeship Application in GOALS to reinstate the registration. The application for reinstatement must be received within one year of the expiration date of the registration [O.C.G.A. § 43-18-54 (c). The apprentice may receive full credit for the amount of time served while previously registered, as long as the registration lapsed due to failure to renew by the expiration date; however, no credit will be given for the time during which the registration was lapsed.
A minimum of 3,120 hours must be served as an apprentice including 50 cases assisted in embalming and 50 cases assisted in funeral directing, which must be served in not less than 18 months.
The regular business hours for purposes of serving an apprenticeship are 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. [Board Rule 250-4-.03 (2)]
No.
An apprentice may make arrangements with family members for funerals, embalm bodies, and serve during a funeral service; however, an apprentice may only perform these duties while under the direct supervision of the apprentice’s supervising embalmer and funeral director [see Board Rule 250-4-.05 (2) (c)].
The formal education at a board-approved school of mortuary science is 18 months.
No.
The Board accepts mortuary schools that are accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education [Board Rule 250-5-.01 (2) (a)]
You may serve as an apprentice while attending mortuary school; however, you may only count 20 hours of apprentice work per week while attending school. The 18 months of apprenticeship must be served in addition to the 18 months of school [see O.C.G.A. § 43-18-50 (c) and Board Rule 250-4-.03 (1)].
No. The continuing education requirement only applies to licensed embalmers and funeral directors.
You may take the Georgia Laws and Rules Exam after an application for funeral director and embalmer has been received by the Board office. When your application is received and determined to be complete by our office, your eligibility is communicated to PSI. PSI notifies you by email of your eligibility and provides instructions for applying for the exam online from the PSI website. You can be made eligible to test as an apprentice ONLY after our office has received a request in writing to [email protected], including your name and apprentice license number.
PSI is the administrator of the exam and maintains a list of exam dates on their website. You will be provided with the dates and locations when you apply online with PSI to take the exam.
No. The apprenticeship is registered at a specific funeral establishment and under specific supervisors. If your supervising embalmer is a trade embalmer, your supervisor may supervise your work only at the establishment specified on the application for apprenticeship and approved by the Board [see O.C.G.A. § 43-18-50 (b) and Board Rule 250-4-.05 (2) (a)].
When a supervising embalmer and/or funeral director leaves the funeral home, the apprenticeship is terminated [O.C.G.A. § 43-18-50 (b) ]. In order to continue with the apprenticeship, an amendment for a Change of Site and/or Supervisor must be submitted by the apprentice in GOALS. Once the Board approves the change in supervisor, the apprenticeship may continue. Failure to notify the Board of a change in supervisor may result not only in loss of credit of time served, but may also result in disciplinary action taken by the Board against the apprentice, supervisor, and/or FDFCC.
You must have been licensed as an embalmer and/or funeral director for at least 3 years [Board Rule 250-4-.05 (2) (b)].
CE Broker
CE Broker provides multiple account options for licensees to manage their CE requirements. Licensees can elect to use a free Basic Account or choose to upgrade to a Professional or Concierge Account for enhanced services. For more information on the different account options, click here.
CE Broker's support center is available from 8 am-8 pm Monday through Friday and is staffed with experts who have been thoroughly trained on the rules & regulations for the Georgia Board of Long-Term Care Facility Administrators.
To avoid any delays or potential disciplinary action based on noncompliance with the requirements, do not wait until the last minute to register for your account and/or become familiar with the new continuing education requirements outlined in Board Rule 250-5-.12.
Go to https://www.cebroker.com. Once you have created your account and logged into the system, click "Report CE" and locate the option that is most applicable to what you are recording. You will need to answer a few questions and then attach the documentation that the Board requires. If you are using the mobile application on your phone to submit your documentation into the system, you may take a picture of your documentation and upload it via your phone.
You will not receive credit for the courses you list or record if you do not load the supporting documents which represent your participation and completion of the course.
If you need assistance, please contact the CE Broker support team M-F from 8 am to 8 pm ET.
All Funeral Directors and Embalmers are required to complete 10 hours of continuing education as a condition of licensure renewal. Licensees should submit all continuing education documentation to CE Broker. A list of currently approved Education Providers and Courses can be found at https://goals.sos.ga.gov/GASOSOneStop/s/active-providers after sorting by profession.