497.377 Combination funeral director and embalmer internships.—
(1) The internship requirements for a combination license as both funeral director and embalmer may be served concurrently pursuant to rules adopted by the licensing authority.
(2)(a) An applicant who has not completed the educational credentials required for a combination license as both funeral director and embalmer is eligible for licensure as a combination funeral director and embalmer intern if the applicant:
1. Is currently enrolled in and attending a college accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE) in a course of study in mortuary science accredited by ABFSE.
2. Has completed at least 75 percent of the course of study in mortuary science as certified by the college in which the applicant is currently enrolled.
3. Has taken and received a passing grade in a college credit course in mortuary law or funeral service law and has taken and received a passing grade in a college credit course in ethics.
(b) An application for a combination funeral director and embalmer intern license must include the name and address of the funeral director licensed under s. 497.373 or s. 497.374(1) and the embalmer licensed under s. 497.368 or s. 497.369 under whose supervision the intern will receive training and the name of the licensed funeral establishment at which the training will be conducted.
(c) A combination funeral director and embalmer intern may perform only the tasks, functions, and duties relating to funeral directing and embalming which are performed under the direct supervision of a licensed funeral director who has an active, valid license under s. 497.373 or s. 497.374(1) and an embalmer who has an active, valid license under s. 497.368 or s. 497.369. However, a combination funeral director and embalmer intern may perform such tasks, functions, and duties under the general supervision of a licensed funeral director and embalmer upon graduation from a college accredited by ABFSE with a degree as specified in s. 497.373(1)(d) and upon passage of the examination required under s. 497.373(2)(b) if the funeral director in charge of the internship training establishment, after 6 months of direct supervision, certifies to the licensing authority that the intern is competent to complete the internship under general supervision.
(d)1. A combination funeral director and embalmer intern license expires 1 year after issuance and, except as provided in subparagraph 2., may not be renewed; however, upon expiration of a combination funeral director and embalmer intern license, any intern that has completed the educational credentials required for a combination license as both funeral director and embalmer and has applied for licensure may continue to perform the tasks, functions, and duties related to funeral directing and embalming in the manner provided in paragraph (c) until a license is issued or denied, or for a period of 90 days, whichever occurs sooner.
2. The licensing authority may adopt rules that allow a combination funeral director and embalmer intern to renew her or his combination funeral director and embalmer intern license for an additional 1 year if the combination funeral director and embalmer intern demonstrates her or his failure to complete the internship before expiration of the license due to illness, personal injury, or other substantial hardship beyond her or his reasonable control or demonstrates that she or he has completed the requirements for licensure as a combination funeral director and embalmer but is awaiting the results of a licensure examination.
History.—ss. 1, 5, ch. 79-231; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 1, ch. 89-8; s. 122, ch. 93-399; s. 82, ch. 2004-301; s. 5, ch. 2019-140; s. 11, ch. 2021-113.
