Texas State Mortuary Law Exam (2026)
Complete Q&A Guide
Licensing & Supervision
Sponsor requirement for provisional licensee: Minimum of 2 years licensed.
Provisional license duration: Minimum 12 months, maximum 24 months.
Funeral Director in Charge (FDIC): Responsible for compliance with all mortuary,
health, and vital statistic laws.
Continuing Education: 16 hours every 2 years, including 2 hours each of vital statistics,
Texas law, and ethics.
Continuing Education (non-practicing): 6 hours required for renewal.
Personal Supervision: Requires the physical presence of a funeral director at the
specified time and place of service.
Funeral Home Operations
Funeral Directing begins at the 'First Call'.
Funeral Directing ends when entombment, inurnment, permanent transport, or final
interment services are complete.
GPL/Retail Price List: Must be presented to any person upon request and physically
handed to a prospective customer before showing merchandise.
Consumer Information Brochure ('Facts about Funerals'): Must be presented at the
same time as the GPL.
Casket Requirements: Minimum of five adult caskets, two full-size, one must be the least
expensive and displayed in the same manner as others.
Commercial Embalming Establishments: Must designate an embalmer in charge and
cannot do business for the general public.
Prep Room: Funeral homes must have a fully functional prep room regardless of their
use of a commercial embalming establishment.
Cremation & Final Disposition
Cremation Definition: Irreversible process of reducing remains to bone fragments via
direct flame, heat, and evaporation; includes pulverization.
Cremation Timeline: Cannot occur within 48 hours of death without a waiver from a
justice of the peace, medical examiner, or court order.
Required Authorization: Cremation authorization form signed by the agent and a death
certificate/record indicating cremation is allowed.
Complete Q&A Guide
Licensing & Supervision
Sponsor requirement for provisional licensee: Minimum of 2 years licensed.
Provisional license duration: Minimum 12 months, maximum 24 months.
Funeral Director in Charge (FDIC): Responsible for compliance with all mortuary,
health, and vital statistic laws.
Continuing Education: 16 hours every 2 years, including 2 hours each of vital statistics,
Texas law, and ethics.
Continuing Education (non-practicing): 6 hours required for renewal.
Personal Supervision: Requires the physical presence of a funeral director at the
specified time and place of service.
Funeral Home Operations
Funeral Directing begins at the 'First Call'.
Funeral Directing ends when entombment, inurnment, permanent transport, or final
interment services are complete.
GPL/Retail Price List: Must be presented to any person upon request and physically
handed to a prospective customer before showing merchandise.
Consumer Information Brochure ('Facts about Funerals'): Must be presented at the
same time as the GPL.
Casket Requirements: Minimum of five adult caskets, two full-size, one must be the least
expensive and displayed in the same manner as others.
Commercial Embalming Establishments: Must designate an embalmer in charge and
cannot do business for the general public.
Prep Room: Funeral homes must have a fully functional prep room regardless of their
use of a commercial embalming establishment.
Cremation & Final Disposition
Cremation Definition: Irreversible process of reducing remains to bone fragments via
direct flame, heat, and evaporation; includes pulverization.
Cremation Timeline: Cannot occur within 48 hours of death without a waiver from a
justice of the peace, medical examiner, or court order.
Required Authorization: Cremation authorization form signed by the agent and a death
certificate/record indicating cremation is allowed.
