Connecticut does not reduce neatly to one generic “mortician license” checklist. Connecticut is not the same as neighboring Massachusetts: DPH publishes an embalmer-focused application hub, while the funeral director route is in Chapter 385. Start by choosing the license type that matches the work you want to do, then verify the current application packet with Connecticut Department of Public Health, Board of Examiners of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
Licensing rules can change. Treat this page as a planning guide, not legal advice. Connecticut Department of Public Health, Board of Examiners of Embalmers and Funeral Directors is the final authority.
Quick Answer
Connecticut separates embalmer and funeral director licensure in statute. Embalmer applicants need ABFSE mortuary science education, NBE Arts and Sciences, one year of full-time paid apprenticeship under a licensed embalmer, 50 embalmed or assisted human bodies, the Connecticut laws/regulations exam, and a practical exam. Funeral director applicants need approved education, prescribed examination, one year of full-time practical training under a licensed embalmer or funeral director, and the Connecticut law/regulations exam.
Which Connecticut License Do You Need?
| Likely license | Who it fits | Education signal | Supervised-work signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embalmer | People seeking Connecticut authority to embalm. | Associate degree in mortuary science from an ABFSE-accredited institution. Applicants with a mortuary science diploma must also hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, including at least 6 semester or 9 trimester hours in listed funeral-service-related business, counseling, ethics, or psychology areas. | One year of full-time paid employment under supervision of a licensed embalmer. |
| Funeral Director | People seeking Connecticut authority to engage in funeral directing. | Program of education approved by the Board with consent of the Commissioner of Public Health. | One year of practical training and experience in full-time employment under personal supervision of a licensed embalmer or funeral director. |
| Registered Apprentice | People completing Connecticut’s supervised practical training before embalmer or funeral director licensure. | Apprentices register with DPH under Chapter 385 and the applicable DPH application instructions. | Apprenticeship is full-time, practical, supervised experience; an establishment may employ no more than two registered apprentice embalmers and one registered apprentice funeral director without Board approval. |
Connecticut License Paths
Embalmer
Who this is for: People seeking Connecticut authority to embalm.
Education: Associate degree in mortuary science from an ABFSE-accredited institution. Applicants with a mortuary science diploma must also hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, including at least 6 semester or 9 trimester hours in listed funeral-service-related business, counseling, ethics, or psychology areas.
Exams: NBE Arts and Sciences; Connecticut state laws/regulations examination; Connecticut practical examination.
Supervised work: One year of full-time paid employment under supervision of a licensed embalmer.
Cases or reports: The apprentice must have embalmed or assisted in embalming at least 50 human bodies; the supervisor submits the verification form directly to DPH.
Fees and renewal: DPH lists a $210 initial application fee, $115 embalmer renewal fee, and $210 reinstatement fee. Connecticut Chapter 385 requires 6 CE hours during each registration period, including 2 hours in federal and state funeral service law.
Planning note: Applicants within six months of completing apprenticeship may apply for the Connecticut laws/regulations examination.
Funeral Director
Who this is for: People seeking Connecticut authority to engage in funeral directing.
Education: Program of education approved by the Board with consent of the Commissioner of Public Health.
Exams: Examination prescribed by DPH with consent of the Board; Connecticut state law and regulations examination.
Supervised work: One year of practical training and experience in full-time employment under personal supervision of a licensed embalmer or funeral director.
Cases or reports: The statute focuses on satisfactory proof of the one-year practical training period; verify current DPH forms before starting.
Fees and renewal: The statute and DPH fee table list a $210 application fee; DPH lists a $235 funeral director renewal fee. Same 6-hour annual registration-period CE rule applies to licensees, including 2 law hours.
Planning note: Funeral director examinations are held semiannually and at other times determined by DPH.
Registered Apprentice
Who this is for: People completing Connecticut’s supervised practical training before embalmer or funeral director licensure.
Education: Apprentices register with DPH under Chapter 385 and the applicable DPH application instructions.
Exams: State examination timing depends on the target license.
Supervised work: Apprenticeship is full-time, practical, supervised experience; an establishment may employ no more than two registered apprentice embalmers and one registered apprentice funeral director without Board approval.
Cases or reports: Embalmer apprenticeship verification includes a body list submitted directly by the supervisor.
Fees and renewal: Verify current apprentice permit fee in DPH’s online system. Verify apprentice permit timing with DPH.
Planning note: Use the DPH apprentice permit page before beginning work so time counts correctly.
What Can Delay Your Connecticut License?
- Connecticut’s DPH page is branded around embalmer licensure, but funeral director requirements still exist separately in Chapter 385.
- Embalmer applicants need both a laws/regulations examination and a practical examination, not just the NBE.
- If using the diploma-plus-bachelor route, the bachelor’s coursework must include funeral-service-related business, ethics, counseling, or psychology content.
Official Connecticut Links
- Official board page.
- DPH embalmer licensure hub with fee table and related links.
- Official embalmer education, exam, apprenticeship, body-count, documentation, and application fee page.
- Connecticut Chapter 385 statutes for embalmers and funeral directors.
Plan Your Next Step
If you are still choosing a school or deciding whether this state is worth the move, model the time and money path before you apply:
- Compare mortuary schools - tuition, completion, and program fit
- Run the ROI Calculator - tuition, lost income, and payback timing
- Check Connecticut salary data - state wage context before committing
- View the Market Map - compare Connecticut with nearby states
- Back to license requirements by state - compare rules before relocating
Sources and Method
This page was rebuilt from official Connecticut board, agency, statute, rule, application, fee, renewal, and lookup sources found with AnySearch, search-layer, direct source extraction, and PDF text extraction where needed. Source notes are stored in data_sources/licensing/state-licensing-sources.json; structured facts are stored in data_sources/licensing/state-licensing-requirements.json.