PA STATE FUNERAL BOARD-
EMBALMING AND LAWS 2025
QUESTIONS COMPLETE
Student Trainee - CORRECT ANSWER>>>must have completed 2 years of college/Liberal arts
(or integrated course of study) and be accepted for matriculation at a mortuary college or
university
Resident Intern - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Their training should take place in a funeral
establishment in the Commonwealth under the supervision of a qualified preceptor
Preceptor - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Licensed and qualified funeral director in good standing
with the Board may supervise 1 intern for every 35 funerals completed in the year before the
request. By accepting the position of FD is required to fulfill duties set out by the board,
otherwise may result in suspension or revocation of license.
Widow/Widower License - CORRECT ANSWER>>>A license given to the Widow/Widower of
a licensed funeral director and renewal to the estate of the deceased for a period not to exceed 3
years
Time Limitations on the Widow/Widower License - CORRECT ANSWER>>>The
Widow/Widower License is without time limitation, if the widow/widower remains unmarried
and has written notice of intent to continue practice
Upon Death of Licensee - CORRECT ANSWER>>>The Board must be informed within 10
days of deceased's death and request application
When should a Widow/Widower License be filed? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>The license
should be filed within 30 days of the deceased's death. Widow/er must include death certificate
and marriage certificate
How long can a funeral home hold on to deceased remains? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Funeral
home may not retain a dead human body for a total of more than 10 days without special
permission from the board
Where should remains be held after 24 hours? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Remains held 24
hours beyond death shall be embalmed or sealed, or kept under refrigeration.
Temperature Range for Cooler - CORRECT ANSWER>>>35-40 Degrees Fahrenheit
How long after removal from refrigeration should remains be brought to their method of
disposition? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Remains shall be buried, cremated or entombed within
5 hours of removal from refrigeration
1
, What is the maximum time for viewing an unembalmed body? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>Public should not view an unembalmed body kept in refrigeration over 36 hours
How long after death can human remains be cremated? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>The dead
Human body may be cremated any time after 24 hours beyond the time of death. Body may be
taken to the crematory before that with written instruction
How long can an embalmed body be kept in a receiving vault? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>A
properly embalmed body may remain in a receiving vault for a period not exceeding 30 Days
Who issues disinterment/re-interment permits? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>A disinterment/re-
interment permit is issued by the local registrar
How long disinterment/re-interment permit valid? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>A disinterment/re-
interment permit is valid for 72 hours.
How many days within completion of Prepaid Burial Contract report filed? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>A completed Prepaid Burial Contract Report must be filed within 30 days of the
completion date
Who issues the permits to exhume a dead human body? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>A permit to
exhume a dead human body is issued by the Court of competent jurisdiction.
Unclaimed Bodies - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Bodies which remain unclaimed for 36 hours
after death shall fall under the jurisdiction of the Human Gift Registry and shipped in accordance
with its procedures.
How thick should the lumber be on bodies being transported? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>Except for bodies shipped by air, embalmed bodies shall be shipped by placing
the casket in a box of strong lumber not less than 7/8 inches thick
Why would an Order of Disinterment be gotten? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>If the remains are
going to be exposed to view
What is the distance from the natural surface of the ground to the top of the Outer Case (Vault)?
- CORRECT ANSWER>>>The vault should be 1.5 feet (18 inches) from the natural surface of
the ground
What is the distance from the natural surface of the ground to the top of a casket (not contained
in an outer case or vault)? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>The Casket not placed in an outer case
(vault) may be no less than 2 feet (24 inches) from the natural surface of the ground
What is the maximum amount of time after a person's death that a death certificate should be
filed? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>A death certificate must be filed within 96 hours of death
2
EMBALMING AND LAWS 2025
QUESTIONS COMPLETE
Student Trainee - CORRECT ANSWER>>>must have completed 2 years of college/Liberal arts
(or integrated course of study) and be accepted for matriculation at a mortuary college or
university
Resident Intern - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Their training should take place in a funeral
establishment in the Commonwealth under the supervision of a qualified preceptor
Preceptor - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Licensed and qualified funeral director in good standing
with the Board may supervise 1 intern for every 35 funerals completed in the year before the
request. By accepting the position of FD is required to fulfill duties set out by the board,
otherwise may result in suspension or revocation of license.
Widow/Widower License - CORRECT ANSWER>>>A license given to the Widow/Widower of
a licensed funeral director and renewal to the estate of the deceased for a period not to exceed 3
years
Time Limitations on the Widow/Widower License - CORRECT ANSWER>>>The
Widow/Widower License is without time limitation, if the widow/widower remains unmarried
and has written notice of intent to continue practice
Upon Death of Licensee - CORRECT ANSWER>>>The Board must be informed within 10
days of deceased's death and request application
When should a Widow/Widower License be filed? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>The license
should be filed within 30 days of the deceased's death. Widow/er must include death certificate
and marriage certificate
How long can a funeral home hold on to deceased remains? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Funeral
home may not retain a dead human body for a total of more than 10 days without special
permission from the board
Where should remains be held after 24 hours? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Remains held 24
hours beyond death shall be embalmed or sealed, or kept under refrigeration.
Temperature Range for Cooler - CORRECT ANSWER>>>35-40 Degrees Fahrenheit
How long after removal from refrigeration should remains be brought to their method of
disposition? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Remains shall be buried, cremated or entombed within
5 hours of removal from refrigeration
1
, What is the maximum time for viewing an unembalmed body? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>Public should not view an unembalmed body kept in refrigeration over 36 hours
How long after death can human remains be cremated? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>The dead
Human body may be cremated any time after 24 hours beyond the time of death. Body may be
taken to the crematory before that with written instruction
How long can an embalmed body be kept in a receiving vault? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>A
properly embalmed body may remain in a receiving vault for a period not exceeding 30 Days
Who issues disinterment/re-interment permits? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>A disinterment/re-
interment permit is issued by the local registrar
How long disinterment/re-interment permit valid? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>A disinterment/re-
interment permit is valid for 72 hours.
How many days within completion of Prepaid Burial Contract report filed? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>A completed Prepaid Burial Contract Report must be filed within 30 days of the
completion date
Who issues the permits to exhume a dead human body? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>A permit to
exhume a dead human body is issued by the Court of competent jurisdiction.
Unclaimed Bodies - CORRECT ANSWER>>>Bodies which remain unclaimed for 36 hours
after death shall fall under the jurisdiction of the Human Gift Registry and shipped in accordance
with its procedures.
How thick should the lumber be on bodies being transported? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>Except for bodies shipped by air, embalmed bodies shall be shipped by placing
the casket in a box of strong lumber not less than 7/8 inches thick
Why would an Order of Disinterment be gotten? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>If the remains are
going to be exposed to view
What is the distance from the natural surface of the ground to the top of the Outer Case (Vault)?
- CORRECT ANSWER>>>The vault should be 1.5 feet (18 inches) from the natural surface of
the ground
What is the distance from the natural surface of the ground to the top of a casket (not contained
in an outer case or vault)? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>The Casket not placed in an outer case
(vault) may be no less than 2 feet (24 inches) from the natural surface of the ground
What is the maximum amount of time after a person's death that a death certificate should be
filed? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>A death certificate must be filed within 96 hours of death
2
