PA State Funeral Board- Embalming and Laws
1. Student Trainee: 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
2. Resident Intern: Their training should take place in a funeral establishment in
the
Commonwealth under the supervision of a qualified preceptor
3. Preceptor: 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.
4. Widow/Widower License: 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
5. Time Limitations on the Widow/Widower License: The Widow/Widower
License is without time limitation, if the widow/widower remains unmarried and
has written notice of intent to continue practice
6. Upon Death of Licensee: The Board must be informed within 10 days of
deceased's death and request application
7. When should a Widow/Widower License be filed?: The license should be filed
within 30 days of the deceased's death. Widow/er must include death certificate
and marriage certificate
8. How long can a funeral home hold on to deceased remains?: Funeral home
may not retain a dead human body for a total of more than 10 days without special
permission from the board
9. Where should remains be held after 24 hours?: Remains held 24 hours
beyond death shall be embalmed or sealed, or kept under refrigeration. 10.
Temperature Range for Cooler: 35-40 Degrees Fahrenheit
11. How long after removal from refrigeration should remains be brought to
their method of disposition?: Remains shall be buried, cremated or entombed
within 5 hours of removal from refrigeration
12. What is the maximum time for viewing an unembalmed body?: Public
should not view an unembalmed body kept in refrigeration over 36 hours
13. How long after death can human remains be cremated?: 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
14. How long can an embalmed body be kept in a receiving vault?: A properly
embalmed body may remain in a receiving vault for a period not exceeding 30 Days
1 /4
1. Student Trainee: 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
2. Resident Intern: Their training should take place in a funeral establishment in
the
Commonwealth under the supervision of a qualified preceptor
3. Preceptor: 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.
4. Widow/Widower License: 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
5. Time Limitations on the Widow/Widower License: The Widow/Widower
License is without time limitation, if the widow/widower remains unmarried and
has written notice of intent to continue practice
6. Upon Death of Licensee: The Board must be informed within 10 days of
deceased's death and request application
7. When should a Widow/Widower License be filed?: The license should be filed
within 30 days of the deceased's death. Widow/er must include death certificate
and marriage certificate
8. How long can a funeral home hold on to deceased remains?: Funeral home
may not retain a dead human body for a total of more than 10 days without special
permission from the board
9. Where should remains be held after 24 hours?: Remains held 24 hours
beyond death shall be embalmed or sealed, or kept under refrigeration. 10.
Temperature Range for Cooler: 35-40 Degrees Fahrenheit
11. How long after removal from refrigeration should remains be brought to
their method of disposition?: Remains shall be buried, cremated or entombed
within 5 hours of removal from refrigeration
12. What is the maximum time for viewing an unembalmed body?: Public
should not view an unembalmed body kept in refrigeration over 36 hours
13. How long after death can human remains be cremated?: 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
14. How long can an embalmed body be kept in a receiving vault?: A properly
embalmed body may remain in a receiving vault for a period not exceeding 30 Days
1 /4
