Florida does not reduce neatly to one generic “mortician license” checklist. Florida is a paperwork-heavy state because the same Division page covers individual licenses, business licenses, interns, apprentices, provisional licenses, temporary licenses, preneed sales, and renewals. Start by choosing the license type that matches the work you want to do, then verify the current application packet with Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services.
Licensing rules can change. Treat this page as a planning guide, not legal advice. Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services is the final authority.
Quick Answer
Florida separates funeral director, embalmer, intern, apprentice, and combination funeral director and embalmer routes. Plan around the Florida law and rules exam, the correct internship or apprenticeship category, fingerprinting, and a board review timeline that can run beyond the initial 30-day completeness check.
Which Florida License Do You Need?
| Likely license | Who it fits | Education signal | Supervised-work signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funeral Director | People who sell, plan, arrange, direct, supervise, or take charge of at-need funeral services in Florida. | Florida statutes and application materials should be checked for the current degree route; the 2025 national table references ABFSE education or an approved mortuary science route for funeral director licensing. | Florida uses a funeral director intern route for supervised learning under a licensed Florida funeral director. |
| Embalmer | People who disinfect or preserve dead human bodies by replacing body fluids with preserving and disinfecting chemicals. | The 2025 national table and Florida materials point applicants to an approved mortuary science route; verify the current embalmer application packet. | Florida has embalmer apprentice and embalmer intern categories. The Division states an embalmer apprentice may serve up to three years, with possible extension under certain circumstances; an embalmer intern works 40 hours per week for 50 weeks within the 52-week period after issuance. |
| Funeral Director and Embalmer Combination License | People who want to hold both funeral director and embalmer authority in Florida at the same time. | Use the official combination application and confirm whether your mortuary science education satisfies both sides of the license. | Florida has a concurrent intern route for people fulfilling both funeral director and embalmer internship requirements. |
Florida License Paths
Funeral Director
Who this is for: People who sell, plan, arrange, direct, supervise, or take charge of at-need funeral services in Florida.
Education: Florida statutes and application materials should be checked for the current degree route; the 2025 national table references ABFSE education or an approved mortuary science route for funeral director licensing.
Exams: Florida law and rules examination; NBE Arts or other exam route as required by the application.
Supervised work: Florida uses a funeral director intern route for supervised learning under a licensed Florida funeral director.
Cases or reports: The licensing page links intern and apprentice reports, including quarterly training reports; confirm the current report form before starting supervised work.
Fees and renewal: Application fee is listed as $562 in year 1 or $374.50 in year 2; renewal is $380 biennially, due August 31 of odd-numbered years. Biennial renewal on August 31 of odd-numbered years, with online renewal and continuing education system links on the Division page.
Planning note: The Division says initial application review occurs within 30 days, but completed applications can take additional time and may need Board action.
Embalmer
Who this is for: People who disinfect or preserve dead human bodies by replacing body fluids with preserving and disinfecting chemicals.
Education: The 2025 national table and Florida materials point applicants to an approved mortuary science route; verify the current embalmer application packet.
Exams: Florida law and rules examination; NBE Sciences or other exam route as required by the application.
Supervised work: Florida has embalmer apprentice and embalmer intern categories. The Division states an embalmer apprentice may serve up to three years, with possible extension under certain circumstances; an embalmer intern works 40 hours per week for 50 weeks within the 52-week period after issuance.
Cases or reports: Intern/apprentice report forms are linked from the official licensing page and should be kept current.
Fees and renewal: Application fee is listed as $562 in year 1 or $374.50 in year 2; renewal is $380 biennially, due August 31 of odd-numbered years. Biennial renewal on August 31 of odd-numbered years.
Planning note: The supervising embalmer must be physically present or on the premises when the intern performs embalming tasks.
Funeral Director and Embalmer Combination License
Who this is for: People who want to hold both funeral director and embalmer authority in Florida at the same time.
Education: Use the official combination application and confirm whether your mortuary science education satisfies both sides of the license.
Exams: Florida law and rules examination; NBE Arts and Sciences as applicable.
Supervised work: Florida has a concurrent intern route for people fulfilling both funeral director and embalmer internship requirements.
Cases or reports: The Division links quarterly training and intern/apprentice report forms for documenting supervised work.
Fees and renewal: Application fee is listed as $722 in year 1 or $534.50 in year 2; renewal is $380 biennially. Biennial renewal on August 31 of odd-numbered years.
Planning note: The concurrent internship must meet the separate requirements for funeral director internship and embalmer internship.
What Can Delay Your Florida License?
- Do not treat a Florida intern, apprentice, provisional, temporary, and full license as interchangeable; the Division lists separate categories and fees.
- Applications need enough lead time before a Board meeting. The Division notes that completed applications must be ready at least 25 days before a scheduled Board meeting to be considered.
- Fingerprinting is mandatory for almost all licenses issued by the Division.
Official Florida Links
- Official Division homepage.
- Licensing categories, application links, fees, renewal schedules, fingerprinting, and review timing.
- Chapter 497 Florida Statutes.
- Public licensee database referenced by the Division.
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 Florida salary data - state wage context before committing
- View the Market Map - compare Florida with nearby states
- Back to license requirements by state - compare rules before relocating
Sources and Method
This page was rebuilt from official Florida board, state agency, statute, rule, application, fee, and lookup sources found with AnySearch, search-layer, and direct source extraction. Source notes are stored in data_sources/licensing/state-licensing-sources.json; structured facts are stored in data_sources/licensing/state-licensing-requirements.json.