Texas State Mortuary Law Exam| Questions & Answers &
Rationale | 2025/2026 | Latest Update | Instant Download !!
1. A funeral director receives a decedent with a suspicious death. The family requests
immediate embalming before the authorities arrive. Which action is legally required in Texas?
A. Notify the local medical examiner or justice of the peace and delay embalming until clearance
B. Embalm immediately with family consent
C. Release the body to the family
D. Ignore the situation and proceed
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In Texas, suspicious, unattended, or violent deaths must be reported to the local medical
examiner or justice of the peace before embalming. Embalming without notification violates state
law.
2. A funeral home hires a new embalmer who has not yet completed continuing education (CE)
for license renewal. What is the legal requirement?
A. The embalmer cannot practice until CE is completed
B. CE can be completed anytime during the year
C. The funeral home can allow practice under supervision without CE
D. CE is optional
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Texas law requires licensed embalmers to maintain CE requirements for licensure.
Practicing without CE compliance is a violation of the Texas Funeral Service Commission rules.
,3. A family requests an unlicensed person to perform embalming at a funeral home. What is
the correct legal action?
A. Refuse and ensure embalming is done by a licensed embalmer
B. Allow it if supervised by a licensed embalmer
C. Allow it only for minor preparation
D. Allow it with family consent
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Only licensed embalmers may perform embalming in Texas. Unlicensed individuals
cannot legally perform this work, even under supervision.
4. A funeral director is asked to cremate a decedent, but the family cannot provide a valid
cremation authorization. What must the director do?
A. Refuse cremation until proper legal authorization is obtained
B. Proceed if family verbally agrees
C. Cremate after notarizing a verbal statement
D. Delay cremation for at least 24 hours
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Texas law requires valid, written cremation authorization signed by the proper person
(usually the next of kin) before cremation. Verbal consent or notarization without proper
authorization is not legally sufficient.
5. During a license inspection, a funeral home’s records are found incomplete regarding
embalming chemicals used. What is the legal requirement?
A. Maintain detailed records of embalming fluids and procedures for the mandated period
B. Record only the date and decedent’s name
,C. Only record chemicals if requested by the family
D. Record verbally for internal use
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Texas law requires funeral homes to maintain complete records of embalming chemicals
and procedures for regulatory inspection and public protection.
6. A funeral director prepares a decedent for viewing and discovers a communicable disease.
What action is required?
A. Follow OSHA guidelines and report to the appropriate public health authority if required
B. Proceed as usual
C. Only inform the family
D. Delay preparation for one week
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Texas law requires precautions for communicable diseases, and certain diseases must be
reported to health authorities. OSHA standards and proper protective measures must be followed.
7. A funeral home stores a decedent’s body beyond the legally allowed timeframe without
refrigeration. What is the regulatory consequence?
A. Violation of state regulations, subject to fines and disciplinary action
B. No action if family agrees
C. Only a warning is required
D. License suspension only after repeated offenses
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Texas law mandates proper storage and refrigeration of human remains. Noncompliance
is a regulatory violation with penalties, regardless of family consent.
, 8. A decedent’s death is unattended, and there is no physician signature on the death
certificate. What must a funeral director do before proceeding?
A. Notify the justice of the peace or medical examiner to certify the cause of death
B. Complete the certificate based on family statements
C. Embalm immediately
D. Wait for the funeral to be scheduled
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Unattended deaths require official certification by the justice of the peace or medical
examiner. Completing a death certificate without proper certification is illegal.
9. A family requests embalming of a decedent who died from an infectious disease. What is
required by law?
A. Use proper protective measures and document the disease; follow public health guidance
B. Embalm normally
C. Only notify the family
D. Delay embalming indefinitely
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Texas law and public health regulations require the use of PPE and specific handling
procedures for infectious diseases to prevent occupational exposure.
10. A funeral director receives a decedent from out-of-state. Which documentation is legally
required before transportation in Texas?
A. Proper death certificate and transport permit
B. Only family authorization
Rationale | 2025/2026 | Latest Update | Instant Download !!
1. A funeral director receives a decedent with a suspicious death. The family requests
immediate embalming before the authorities arrive. Which action is legally required in Texas?
A. Notify the local medical examiner or justice of the peace and delay embalming until clearance
B. Embalm immediately with family consent
C. Release the body to the family
D. Ignore the situation and proceed
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In Texas, suspicious, unattended, or violent deaths must be reported to the local medical
examiner or justice of the peace before embalming. Embalming without notification violates state
law.
2. A funeral home hires a new embalmer who has not yet completed continuing education (CE)
for license renewal. What is the legal requirement?
A. The embalmer cannot practice until CE is completed
B. CE can be completed anytime during the year
C. The funeral home can allow practice under supervision without CE
D. CE is optional
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Texas law requires licensed embalmers to maintain CE requirements for licensure.
Practicing without CE compliance is a violation of the Texas Funeral Service Commission rules.
,3. A family requests an unlicensed person to perform embalming at a funeral home. What is
the correct legal action?
A. Refuse and ensure embalming is done by a licensed embalmer
B. Allow it if supervised by a licensed embalmer
C. Allow it only for minor preparation
D. Allow it with family consent
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Only licensed embalmers may perform embalming in Texas. Unlicensed individuals
cannot legally perform this work, even under supervision.
4. A funeral director is asked to cremate a decedent, but the family cannot provide a valid
cremation authorization. What must the director do?
A. Refuse cremation until proper legal authorization is obtained
B. Proceed if family verbally agrees
C. Cremate after notarizing a verbal statement
D. Delay cremation for at least 24 hours
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Texas law requires valid, written cremation authorization signed by the proper person
(usually the next of kin) before cremation. Verbal consent or notarization without proper
authorization is not legally sufficient.
5. During a license inspection, a funeral home’s records are found incomplete regarding
embalming chemicals used. What is the legal requirement?
A. Maintain detailed records of embalming fluids and procedures for the mandated period
B. Record only the date and decedent’s name
,C. Only record chemicals if requested by the family
D. Record verbally for internal use
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Texas law requires funeral homes to maintain complete records of embalming chemicals
and procedures for regulatory inspection and public protection.
6. A funeral director prepares a decedent for viewing and discovers a communicable disease.
What action is required?
A. Follow OSHA guidelines and report to the appropriate public health authority if required
B. Proceed as usual
C. Only inform the family
D. Delay preparation for one week
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Texas law requires precautions for communicable diseases, and certain diseases must be
reported to health authorities. OSHA standards and proper protective measures must be followed.
7. A funeral home stores a decedent’s body beyond the legally allowed timeframe without
refrigeration. What is the regulatory consequence?
A. Violation of state regulations, subject to fines and disciplinary action
B. No action if family agrees
C. Only a warning is required
D. License suspension only after repeated offenses
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Texas law mandates proper storage and refrigeration of human remains. Noncompliance
is a regulatory violation with penalties, regardless of family consent.
, 8. A decedent’s death is unattended, and there is no physician signature on the death
certificate. What must a funeral director do before proceeding?
A. Notify the justice of the peace or medical examiner to certify the cause of death
B. Complete the certificate based on family statements
C. Embalm immediately
D. Wait for the funeral to be scheduled
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Unattended deaths require official certification by the justice of the peace or medical
examiner. Completing a death certificate without proper certification is illegal.
9. A family requests embalming of a decedent who died from an infectious disease. What is
required by law?
A. Use proper protective measures and document the disease; follow public health guidance
B. Embalm normally
C. Only notify the family
D. Delay embalming indefinitely
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Texas law and public health regulations require the use of PPE and specific handling
procedures for infectious diseases to prevent occupational exposure.
10. A funeral director receives a decedent from out-of-state. Which documentation is legally
required before transportation in Texas?
A. Proper death certificate and transport permit
B. Only family authorization
