Ohio does not reduce neatly to one generic “mortician license” checklist. Ohio’s official pages are concise but strict: both individual licenses require degree proof, apprenticeship completion, exam verification, and current background checks before the online license application can move forward. Start by choosing the license type that matches the work you want to do, then verify the current application packet with Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
Licensing rules can change. Treat this page as a planning guide, not legal advice. Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors is the final authority.
Quick Answer
Ohio has separate funeral director and embalmer licenses. Both require age 18, a bachelor’s degree, a certified apprenticeship, current BCI/FBI background checks, and the Ohio Laws and Rules exam; the funeral director path uses NBE Arts, while the embalmer path adds a mortuary science degree and NBE Sciences.
Which Ohio License Do You Need?
| Likely license | Who it fits | Education signal | Supervised-work signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funeral Director | People seeking Ohio funeral-directing authority without embalmer authority. | Bachelor’s degree in any field. | Certified Funeral Director Apprenticeship. |
| Embalmer | People seeking Ohio embalming authority. | Bachelor’s degree in any field plus a mortuary science degree. | Certified Embalmer Apprenticeship. |
Ohio License Paths
Funeral Director
Who this is for: People seeking Ohio funeral-directing authority without embalmer authority.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in any field.
Exams: NBE Arts Exam; Ohio Laws and Rules Exam.
Supervised work: Certified Funeral Director Apprenticeship.
Cases or reports: Apprenticeship completion is documented through termination of apprenticeship documents in eLicense.
Fees and renewal: Funeral Director License Fee $200 plus $3.50 transaction fee. Ohio’s two-year CE compliance period begins January 1 of odd-numbered years and ends December 31 of the following even-numbered year.
Planning note: Newly licensed funeral directors are exempt from CE for the first two-year compliance period.
Embalmer
Who this is for: People seeking Ohio embalming authority.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in any field plus a mortuary science degree.
Exams: NBE Sciences Exam; Ohio Laws and Rules Exam.
Supervised work: Certified Embalmer Apprenticeship.
Cases or reports: Apprenticeship completion is documented through eLicense.
Fees and renewal: Embalmer License Fee $200 plus $3.50 transaction fee. Same two-year CE compliance cycle as funeral director, with first-renewal CE exemption for newly licensed embalmers.
Planning note: Background checks are valid for 12 months; expired checks must be redone during apprenticeship.
What Can Delay Your Ohio License?
- Ohio funeral director and embalmer paths look similar, but the embalmer path adds a mortuary science degree and NBE Sciences.
- Board approval is presented and voted on at a Board meeting before the license number is issued.
- BCI/FBI background checks expire after 12 months for licensing purposes.
Official Ohio Links
- Official Board homepage.
- Official funeral director requirements and fees.
- Official embalmer requirements and fees.
- Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4717.
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 Ohio salary data - state wage context before committing
- View the Market Map - compare Ohio with nearby states
- Back to license requirements by state - compare rules before relocating
Sources and Method
This page was rebuilt from official Ohio 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.