North Dakota does not reduce neatly to one generic “mortician license” checklist. North Dakota is a board-contact-first state: the public application page gives the intern and reciprocity signals, while Chapter 43-10 is the legal framework for funeral service practitioners. Start by choosing the license type that matches the work you want to do, then verify the current application packet with North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service.
Licensing rules can change. Treat this page as a planning guide, not legal advice. North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service is the final authority.
Quick Answer
North Dakota’s official application page tells candidates to contact the Board before submitting applications. The intern embalmer route requires age 18, good moral character, high school or GED, at least 30 semester hours before intern registration, acceptance by an accredited mortuary science college, 60 semester hours for licensure, both ICFSEB sections after graduation, the North Dakota State Rules Test, reports during internship, forms, and fees.
Which North Dakota License Do You Need?
| Likely license | Who it fits | Education signal | Supervised-work signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intern Embalmer | People starting the North Dakota supervised path toward funeral service practice. | Applicant must be 18, of good moral character, have high school or GED, complete at least 30 semester hours at an accredited college or university, and be accepted by an accredited college of mortuary science. The Board page says 60 semester hours are required for licensure. | The Board page references an intern period with reports filed with the Board; contact the Board before submitting applications. |
| Funeral Practitioner by Reciprocity | Applicants already licensed in another state who want North Dakota funeral practitioner authority. | The application page focuses on good standing in another state with an equivalent examination system and standard. | Reciprocity depends on current good standing and equivalent standards rather than a new intern route. |
North Dakota License Paths
Intern Embalmer
Who this is for: People starting the North Dakota supervised path toward funeral service practice.
Education: Applicant must be 18, of good moral character, have high school or GED, complete at least 30 semester hours at an accredited college or university, and be accepted by an accredited college of mortuary science. The Board page says 60 semester hours are required for licensure.
Exams: Both sections of the ICFSEB / Conference exam after mortuary college graduation; North Dakota State Rules Test.
Supervised work: The Board page references an intern period with reports filed with the Board; contact the Board before submitting applications.
Cases or reports: Reports are filed with the Board during the intern period.
Fees and renewal: The application page says to file the proper forms and pay required fees; current amounts were not listed in the extracted page. North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-10 includes license term, renewal, and continuing education sections; confirm current details with the Board.
Planning note: The Board explicitly asks applicants to contact it before submissions.
Funeral Practitioner by Reciprocity
Who this is for: Applicants already licensed in another state who want North Dakota funeral practitioner authority.
Education: The application page focuses on good standing in another state with an equivalent examination system and standard.
Exams: North Dakota Rules examination.
Supervised work: Reciprocity depends on current good standing and equivalent standards rather than a new intern route.
Cases or reports: Not listed for reciprocity in the extracted application page.
Fees and renewal: Applicant must file the proper form and pay required fees. North Dakota renewal rules apply after licensure; verify current CE and fee details with the Board.
Planning note: Use direct Board confirmation before relying on reciprocity, because the application page is brief.
What Can Delay Your North Dakota License?
- North Dakota’s official page says to contact the Board before submitting applications; do that before paying fees or starting a timeline.
- Do not assume 30 semester hours is the full education requirement; the Board page separately says 60 hours are required for licensure.
- The public page does not expose all fee and renewal details in extractable text, so leave those to the Board rather than guessing.
Official North Dakota Links
- Official North Dakota Funeral Board homepage.
- Official application forms page for intern embalmer and reciprocity.
- North Dakota Century Code Chapter 43-10 funeral service practitioners.
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 North Dakota salary data - state wage context before committing
- View the Market Map - compare North Dakota with nearby states
- Back to license requirements by state - compare rules before relocating
Sources and Method
This page was rebuilt from official North Dakota 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.