Bill > A05172

This bill creates a new pathway for becoming a licensed funeral director in New York by establishing funeral directing apprenticeships as an alternative to traditional licensing examinations. The apprenticeship program would be one to four years long and led by a licensed funeral director, designed for individuals who have already completed a collegiate-level funeral service education. The apprenticeship must include a specialized curriculum covering topics like embalming techniques, funeral arrangement procedures, regulatory compliance, ethics, and industry best practices. To participate, applicants must be accepted into the program and will receive a registration certificate. Upon successfully completing the apprenticeship, individuals will be issued a completion certificate that qualifies them to be licensed as a funeral director and undertaker/embalmer. The Department of Health will develop the criteria for these apprenticeships, create an application process, and certify the programs. The bill aims to provide an additional, more practical route to professional licensure in the funeral directing field, offering aspiring funeral directors hands-on training under the guidance of experienced professionals. The act will take effect 180 days after becoming law.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5172