ColoradoLicensed Funeral Director License Requirements

Minimum Education

No state minimum education requirement

Funeral director education typically requires an associate's or bachelor's degree in mortuary science from an ABFSE-accredited (American Board of Funeral Service Education) program. Programs cover embalming, restorative art, funeral service law, business management, and grief counseling.

Format: Not required in Colorado

Additional State Exam

New applicants: NBE (Arts section) + Colorado state law exam. Provisional license path available for existing practitioners with 4,000+ hours of documented experience obtained before January 1, 2026, plus 1 year workplace learning experience and background check. Provisional license valid for 3 years, during which licensee must complete at least 25 funeral services.

Retake Policy

N/A

The National Board Examination (NBE) is administered by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB). It consists of two sections: Arts (funeral directing) and Sciences (embalming). Most states require passing both sections for full licensure.

Supervision Requirements

No apprenticeship required

Timing

N/A

Most states require a period of apprenticeship or internship under a licensed funeral director. The apprenticeship may be completed before, during, or after the mortuary science education program depending on the state. Duration typically ranges from 1 to 3 years.

Embalming Training Required

No

Alternatives to Embalming

Colorado does not regulate embalming at the state level

Some states combine funeral directing and embalming into a single "Funeral Service Practitioner" license, while others issue separate licenses for each. States that issue separate licenses may allow funeral directors to operate without embalming privileges, contracting embalming services as needed.

Regulatory Board

Funeral director licenses must be renewed on schedule. Most states require 10-24 hours of continuing education per renewal period covering topics such as funeral service law, ethics, embalming techniques, and OSHA compliance.

Reciprocity Requirements

• •Colorado does not license funeral directors, so reciprocity is not applicable

NBE scores are generally portable between states, making it easier to transfer licenses. However, individual state requirements for education, apprenticeship, and state-specific exams may still apply. License by endorsement is available in most states for experienced funeral directors.