NC Funeral Juris
North Carolina Funeral Service Licensure Examination
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Cheat sheet
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ExploreCommon mistakes
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ExploreAbout this exam
The North Carolina Funeral Service Licensure Examination is the assessment pathway tied to licensure by the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service (NCBFS), the body that regulates funeral service practice in the state. The Board describes its mission as safeguarding public health, safety, and welfare by ensuring that individuals and entities licensed for the practice of funeral services in North Carolina are duly qualified. It has served the state since 1901, when it began with appointments from the NC State Board of Health; today's Board members are appointed by the Governor and the General Assembly. The Board is not a government agency, but it is governed by Chapter 90 of the NC General Statutes. This guide is for candidates preparing for licensure, including funeral director, embalmer, and establishment-related applicants, plus trainees building toward eligibility. Content spans funeral service laws and rules under Chapter 90 and Board rules, funeral directing practice, embalming science and practice, preneed funeral contracts and preneed program services, cremation and hydrolysis, and business establishment licensure and regulatory compliance. Because the Board publishes applicant resources covering license types, steps to licensure, forms, fees, and exams, preparation should start there: confirm your license type and required steps, review the statutes and rules, check continuing education listings for subject coverage, and read Board advisories, newsletters, and disciplinary actions for real-world compliance themes. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Board.
What you'll study
About NC Funeral Juris preparation
Is the NCBFS a state government agency?
No. The Board states plainly that it is not part of the government, but it is governed by Chapter 90 of the NC General Statutes. That distinction matters for candidates: the Board derives authority from statute and adopts rules, yet it operates as a separate licensing body. Read Chapter 90 and Board rules together, since exam content in the laws and rules domain draws on both.
What deadlines should licensees and applicants track?
The Board lists three: license and permit renewals are due February 1, annual preneed reports are due March 31, and monthly cremation reports are due on the 10th of the following month. These dates are frequently tested in the preneed and cremation domains, and they matter operationally once you are licensed. Verify current dates on the Board site before relying on them.
How much continuing education is required, and can hours carry over?
The Board states that licensees need 5 hours of continuing education, and you may roll over up to 5 CEU to the next year. Because the rollover cap equals the annual requirement, careful candidates plan so that unused hours are not forfeited. Review the Board's continuing education listings to see which subjects are offered and how they map to the exam domains.
How hard is the exam, and what trips candidates up?
The Board does not publish a pass rate, duration, question count, or passing score, so treat any specific figure you hear as unverified. The most common failure pattern in licensing exams of this type is uneven coverage: candidates over-study embalming science and under-study preneed contracts, cremation and hydrolysis, and establishment compliance, which together carry substantial weight.
What is the best study order?
Start with Chapter 90 and Board rules, because every other domain assumes that framework. Then work through preneed contracts and preneed program services, followed by cremation and hydrolysis, since both are rule-heavy and deadline-driven. Follow with business establishment licensure and compliance, then funeral directing practice, and finish with embalming science, reviewing it in short repeated cycles rather than one long block.
When does the Board meet, and can the public attend?
The Board generally meets on the second Wednesday of each month, and it does not meet in July. Meetings are open to the public and are streamed live on YouTube. The next meeting listed is November 18, 2026, at 9:00 AM at the Board office, 1033 Wade Avenue, Suite 108, Raleigh, NC 27605. Agendas are posted, and attending is a practical way to learn how rules are applied.
How do I contact the Board with a question?
Call (919) 733-9380 or email [email protected]. Staff are available Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm, and the Board notes that if staff are unavailable you should call the main number. The office is at 1033 Wade Avenue, Suite 108, Raleigh, North Carolina 27605. Confirm application requirements directly with staff before submitting forms or fees.
What should I do if I find a discrepancy in study material?
Trust the Board's published statutes, rules, and forms over any third-party guide, including this one. The Board maintains pages for administrative rulemaking, advisories and newsletters, and disciplinary actions and rulings, all of which reflect current expectations. If a practice question conflicts with the source text, set it aside and re-read the governing rule rather than memorizing the conflict.