CO Funeral Juris cheat sheet

Colorado funeral practice is governed by Title 12, Article 135 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (the "Funeral Services" article), with detailed rules adopted by the Director of the Division of Professions and Occupations within the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).

The State Board of Mortuary Science regulates funeral directors and embalmers; the Board also registers funeral establishments and crematories. Board members are appointed by the Governor and include practitioner and public members.

Licensure pathways: funeral director, embalmer, and combined funeral director/embalmer. Each requires application, fee, education, examination, and practical training; a funeral establishment must have a licensed funeral director in charge.

Continuing education: licensees must complete the Board-specified number of clock hours per renewal cycle, including required subject areas such as laws and rules; records of CE must be retained and produced on audit.

Continuing education: licensees must complete the Board-specified number of clock hours per renewal cycle, including required subject areas such as laws and rules; records of CE must be retained and produced on audit.

Disciplinary grounds include unprofessional conduct, fraud or misrepresentation in obtaining a license, practicing beyond scope, failing to maintain sanitary conditions, and failing to comply with Board orders; sanctions range from letters of admonition to revocation and fines.

Unprofessional conduct includes failing to timely furnish a death certificate or burial-transit permit information, misrepresenting prices, and aiding unlicensed practice; the Board may act on conduct occurring in other jurisdictions.

Funeral establishments and crematories must be registered, inspected, and operated under a licensed director or manager; changes of ownership, location, or name require notification or new registration with the Division.

Records: the licensee must keep records of each death, embalming, disposition, and cremation authorization for the period set by rule, and must make them available to the Division and Board on request.

Statutory anchor: C.R.S. Title 12, Article 135 governs funeral directors, embalmers, funeral establishments, and crematories; the Director of the Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA) adopts rules, and the State Board of Mortuary Science advises and disciplines.

License categories are funeral director, embalmer, and combined funeral director/embalmer; a funeral establishment must be under the charge of a licensed funeral director, and crematories must be registered and operated under Board rules.

Entry requirements combine education, examination, and practical training: applicants must pass the Board-approved examination and document apprenticeship or equivalent training before licensure; fees are set by the Division.

Continuing education must be completed each renewal cycle in the clock hours and subject areas the Board specifies, including Colorado laws and rules; certificates and records are retained and subject to audit.

Discipline: the Board may impose letters of admonition, probation, suspension, revocation, and fines for unprofessional conduct, which includes fraud in licensure, practicing beyond scope, unsanitary conditions, and violating Board orders.

Unprofessional conduct also covers misrepresentation of goods or prices, aiding unlicensed practice, failing to furnish required death-certificate or transit-permit information, and conduct disciplined in another jurisdiction.

Establishment and crematory obligations include registration, periodic inspection, a licensed director or manager in charge, and notice to the Division of changes in ownership, location, or name.

Recordkeeping: licensees must maintain records of each death, embalming, disposition, and cremation authorization for the rule-specified retention period and produce them to the Division on request.