To meet the Texas funeral director license requirements, you must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalency, graduate from a mortuary science program accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, complete the Texas Funeral Service Commission’s provisional apprenticeship, and pass both the National Board Examination and the Texas State Mortuary Law Examination with a state exam score of at least 75 percent.1State of Texas. Texas Occupations Code OCC 651.253 The Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC) runs the process from provisional application through renewal.
A funeral director license covers the business, ceremonial, and arrangement side of death care. Performing embalming requires a dual license, which adds embalming coursework and additional exam content.
Who Can Apply
Texas Occupations Code Chapter 651 sets five prerequisites the TFSC checks before issuing a full license:
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You hold a diploma from an accredited high school or a passing score on the equivalency exam prescribed by the Texas Education Agency.
- You have graduated from a mortuary science program accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE).
- You have completed the state’s supervised provisional program (waived only if you qualify for reciprocity).
- You have passed the National Board Examination and the Texas State Mortuary Law Examination, scoring at least 75 percent on the state exam.
Mortuary Science Education
Your program must be ABFSE-accredited. Accredited programs typically award an associate’s degree and cover funeral service arts, including grief psychology, funeral arranging and merchandising, business law, and regulatory compliance. Several Texas colleges offer qualifying programs, and the ABFSE maintains a directory. Confirm accreditation before you enroll. Credits from a non-accredited school will not count toward licensure.
The Provisional License Program
Before applying for a full license, you complete a paid apprenticeship at a licensed Texas funeral establishment under the direct supervision of the funeral-director-in-charge (FDIC).2State of Texas. Texas Occupations Code 651.302 – Application Issuance of Provisional License
The provisional license is valid for 12 consecutive months and can be renewed once, giving you up to 24 months. During that window you must handle a minimum of 45 cases, and at least 10 of those must be complete cases, meaning you personally manage every step from the initial call through final disposition. The remaining cases can involve partial participation. Each one is documented in a standardized case report submitted to your supervising FDIC.3Texas Funeral Service Commission. Provisional Funeral Director Program Guidelines
If you have not yet enrolled in mortuary school, you can apply for an education waiver and receive a provisional license for up to 12 months before starting an accredited program. You still have to graduate before a full license will issue.4Texas Funeral Service Commission. Becoming Licensed as a Funeral Director or Embalmer in Texas
Getting Into the Provisional Program
To enter the program, you must be employed at a licensed Texas funeral establishment and file an application with the TFSC. The application fee is $93, payable by check or money order. You submit to an FBI criminal background check; the TFSC emails instructions once your paperwork and fee arrive. You must pass the State Mortuary Law Examination with a score of 75 percent or better before the commission will issue your provisional license.3Texas Funeral Service Commission. Provisional Funeral Director Program Guidelines
Required Examinations
National Board Examination
The National Board Examination (NBE) is administered by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. It is a pass/fail test with two independently scored sections. The Arts section covers funeral arranging, funeral service law and ethics, the sociology and psychology of grief, and business practices. The Sciences section covers embalming, restorative art, anatomy, pathology, microbiology, and chemistry. You need a minimum scaled score of 75 on each section.5The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. Questions and Answers
The NBE is the same exam for funeral directors and embalmers, so the Sciences section covers embalming content even if you are pursuing a director-only license. Your mortuary science program prepares you for both sections.
Texas State Mortuary Law Examination
The state exam tests Texas-specific statutes, TFSC rules, and death-care regulations that differ from national standards. A score of at least 75 percent is required. You take this exam before your provisional license is issued. If you leave the provisional program without completing it and apply again later, you must retake the state exam.6Texas Administrative Code. 22 Texas Administrative Code 203.1 – Funeral Director and Embalmer License Requirements and Procedure
Applying for the Full License
Once you have graduated, finished the provisional period, and passed both exams, you file for the full license with:
- Official transcripts from your accredited mortuary science program
- Certified exam scores from the NBE and the state law exam
- Completed case logs documenting your 45 cases
- Disclosure of any criminal history
- An FBI criminal background check
The post-provisional application fee is $93.7Texas Funeral Service Commission. TFSC Fee Schedule A separate initial license fee is $175 for a single license or $350 for a dual license. Fingerprinting and transcript fees are on top of these amounts.
Criminal Background Review
A background check is a hard requirement at both the provisional and full-license stages. The TFSC can deny a license if you have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that directly relates to the duties of a funeral director. The specific offenses considered related to the profession are listed in Texas Administrative Code Rule 203.16(h).8Texas Funeral Service Commission. Criminal Conviction Procedures
If you have a criminal record and are unsure whether it would disqualify you, the TFSC offers a Criminal History Evaluation Letter for $95. Requesting one before you enroll in mortuary school is worth considering if there is any doubt.
Renewal and Continuing Education
A Texas funeral director license renews every two years. The renewal fee for a single license is $193.7Texas Funeral Service Commission. TFSC Fee Schedule Each renewal period requires 16 hours of continuing education, with three mandatory subjects:9Cornell Law Institute. 22 Texas Administrative Code 203.8 – Continuing Education
- Ethics: 2 credit hours
- Texas Mortuary Law Updates: 2 credit hours
- Vital Statistics Requirements and Regulations: 2 credit hours
The remaining 10 hours are electives relevant to the profession. The same course counts only once per renewal period. Late renewal triggers an additional fee.10Texas Funeral Service Commission. Renewing or Reinstating an Individual License Active license holders are also now required to undergo a background check at renewal.11Texas Funeral Service Commission. Texas Funeral Service Commission
Reciprocity for Out-of-State Funeral Directors
If you already hold a funeral director license elsewhere, Texas offers a reciprocal path that bypasses the provisional program. Requirements vary by how closely your home state’s standards match Texas:
- From a substantially equivalent state: at least one year of practice under your license, graduation from an accredited mortuary science college, a Texas state law exam of no more than 50 questions, and a criminal background check.
- From a non-equivalent state: the same requirements, but at least five years of practice under your out-of-state license. The TFSC may waive requirements at its discretion.
Your existing license must be in good standing with no pending disciplinary proceedings or criminal prosecutions related to funeral service. You will need an affidavit from the licensing authority in your home state verifying that the license has not been suspended or revoked.12State of Texas. Texas Occupations Code OCC 651.259
Practicing Without a License
Acting as a funeral director, or holding yourself out as one, without a valid license is a Class B misdemeanor under Texas law. The same charge applies to licensed directors who violate the chapter’s practice rules.13State of Texas. Texas Occupations Code 651.602 – Criminal Penalty The TFSC also imposes administrative penalties that scale with severity and frequency, reaching up to $5,000 per violation for repeat offenses and often paired with suspension or revocation.14Texas Funeral Service Commission. TFSC Administrative Penalties and Sanctions Schedule