New Jersey does not reduce neatly to one generic “mortician license” checklist. New Jersey is not a simple funeral-director-only page: the official Board regulates mortuary science, and the state rules define education, internship, exams, fees, and continuing education. Start by choosing the license type that matches the work you want to do, then verify the current application packet with State Board of Mortuary Science of New Jersey.
Licensing rules can change. Treat this page as a planning guide, not legal advice. State Board of Mortuary Science of New Jersey is the final authority.
Quick Answer
New Jersey mortuary science licensure requires a board application, high school evidence, college and ABFSE mortuary science education, a one- or two-year internship under a New Jersey preceptor, National Board Exam passage, the Board’s Mortuary Jurisprudence exam, the Board practical exam, and the required fees.
Which New Jersey License Do You Need?
| Likely license | Who it fits | Education signal | Supervised-work signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practitioner of Mortuary Science | People engaging in New Jersey mortuary science, embalming, or funeral directing practice. | N.J.A.C. 13:36-3.1 requires high school or equivalent, plus either at least two years of approved college and one year of ABFSE-approved mortuary science school, or at least three years of approved college and one year of ABFSE-approved mortuary science school. | A certificate from a New Jersey preceptor must show a one-year or two-year practical-training internship under N.J.A.C. 13:36-2. |
New Jersey License Paths
Practitioner of Mortuary Science
Who this is for: People engaging in New Jersey mortuary science, embalming, or funeral directing practice.
Education: N.J.A.C. 13:36-3.1 requires high school or equivalent, plus either at least two years of approved college and one year of ABFSE-approved mortuary science school, or at least three years of approved college and one year of ABFSE-approved mortuary science school.
Exams: National Board Examination; Mortuary Jurisprudence examination; Board practical examination.
Supervised work: A certificate from a New Jersey preceptor must show a one-year or two-year practical-training internship under N.J.A.C. 13:36-2.
Cases or reports: Intern reporting rules are in Subchapter 2; failure by a preceptor to file required reports is professional misconduct.
Fees and renewal: Application fee $50; initial license fee $350 in the first year of a biennial cycle or $175 in the second; practical exam $75; licensure exam $125; intern registration $75. Biennial practitioner renewal is $350; CE rule requires 10 credit hours per biennial licensing period.
Planning note: The Board applications page exists but did not return extractable text during this batch; rule sections were used for requirements and fees.
What Can Delay Your New Jersey License?
- New Jersey’s education rule distinguishes two-year-plus-mortuary-school and three-year-plus-mortuary-school routes.
- Do not skip the preceptor documentation; practical training must be certified under the New Jersey intern rules.
- CE is structured: 10 hours biennially, including preneed, ethics, and New Jersey law/rules components.
Official New Jersey Links
- Official Board homepage.
- Official applications page; extraction returned blank, so rules were used for text facts.
- Qualification rule for licensure.
- New Jersey fee rule.
- Biennial CE rule.
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 New Jersey salary data - state wage context before committing
- View the Market Map - compare New Jersey with nearby states
- Back to license requirements by state - compare rules before relocating
Sources and Method
This page was rebuilt from official New Jersey 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.