Licensure by Reciprocity

PURPOSE: This rule outlines procedures for obtaining an embalmer or funeral director license by reciprocity. (1) Applications for a Missouri embalmer’s or funeral director’s license by reciprocity shall be made on the forms provided by the board and shall be accompanied by the applicable fee. Application forms are available from the board office or the board’s website at http://pr.mo.gov/embalmers.asp. (2) Any person holding a valid unrevoked and unexpired license to practice embalming or funeral directing in another state or territory is eligible to obtain licensure by reciprocity by meeting the following requirements of the board: (A) Evidence satisfactory to the board that the reciprocity applicant holds a valid, unrevoked, and unexpired license as an embalmer or funeral director in another state having substantially similar requirements to the requirements for licensure as either an embalmer or funeral director in this state including a copy of his/her original license issued by the other state; (B) Proof of his/her educational and professional qualifications, which shall be substantially equivalent to the requirements existing in Missouri at the time s/he was originally licensed; (C) A certificate of state endorsement from the examining board of the state or territory in which the applicant holds his/her license showing the grade rating upon which his/ her license was granted, a statement whether the reciprocity applicant has ever been subject to discipline or if there are any complaints pending against the reciprocity applicant and a recommendation for licensure in Missouri; (D) Evidence sufficient to the board that the applicant has achieved a passing score on the National Board Examination– Arts if applying for a funeral director’s license or the National Board Examination–Sciences if applying for an embalmer’s license; (E) The reciprocity applicant will be required to successfully complete the Missouri Law examination. If an applicant by reciprocity has received either an embalmer or funeral director license from the board for which the Missouri Law examination was required, that applicant will be exempt from taking the Missouri Law examination for the second license; (F) A completed application for licensure for reciprocity provided by the board; and (G) Payment of applicable fees including the fee charged by the Missouri State Highway Patrol for a criminal history background check, as required by the board. (3) Applicants eligible to apply for a reciprocal license as an embalmer or funeral director pursuant to section 324.009, RSMo, shall provide— (A) A certificate of state endorsement from the examining board of the state or territory in which the applicant holds his/her license showing the grade rating upon which his/ her license was granted, a statement whether the reciprocity applicant has ever been subject to discipline or if there are any complaints pending against the reciprocity applicant, and a recommendation for licensure in Missouri; (B) The reciprocity applicant will be required to successfully complete the Missouri Law examination. If an applicant by reciprocity has received either an embalmer or funeral director license from the board for which the Missouri Law examination was required, that applicant will be exempt from taking the Missouri Law examination; (C) A completed application for licensure for reciprocity provided by the board; and (D) Payment of applicable fees including the fee charged by the Missouri State Highway Patrol for a criminal history background check, as required by the board. (4) Licensure by reciprocity may be given only for like license(s). An embalmer licensed in another state may obtain an embalmer license by reciprocity, but not a funeral director license unless that person is licensed as a funeral director in another state. A funeral director licensed in another state may obtain a funeral director license by reciprocity, but not an embalmer license unless that person is licensed as an embalmer in another state. (5) Applications for reciprocity licensure shall be completed and received by the board at least thirty (30) days prior to the date the candidate plans to sit for the Missouri Law examination and shall be accompanied by the applicable fee. Applications are deemed complete upon submission of any and all requisite forms required by the board, payment of requisite fees, and submission of all materials required by this rule or supplemental materials requested by the board. Application forms can be obtained from the board office or the board’s website at http://pr.mo.gov/embalmers.asp. (6) The board shall determine the sufficiency of the materials provided in the application for reciprocity and shall have the authority to make the final determination as to the standards and qualifications of the various states from which the applicants may be accepted by reciprocity and may reject any applicant on any lawfully permitted grounds. (7) All certificates, registrations, and licenses, or duplicate copies thereof, issued by the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors shall be displayed at all times in a conspicuous location accessible to the public in the office(s) or place(s) of business, for inspection by any duly authorized agent of the board. (8) The rules in this division are declared severable. If any rule, or section of a rule, is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction or by the Administrative Hearing Commission, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or by the Administrative Hearing Commission. AUTHORITY: section 333.051, RSMo Supp. 2025, and sections 333.091 and 333.111, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 120-2.040. Original rule filed Oct. 17, 1975, effective Oct. 28, 1975. Amended: Filed Aug. 16, 1976, effective Dec. 11, 1976. Emergency rule filed Nov. 9, 1978, effective Nov. 20, 1978, expired Feb. 11, 1979. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Nov. 8, 1978, effective Feb. 11, 1979. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Jan. 13, 1982, effective April 11, 1982. Amended: Filed Sept. 5, 1990, effective March 14, 1991. Amended: Filed March 4, 1991, effective July 8, 1991. Amended: Filed Feb. 1, 1994, effective July 30, 1994. Amended: Filed Dec. 22, 1997, effective June 30, 1998. Amended: Filed Nov. 1, 2001, effective April 30, 2002. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Dec. 31, 2003, effective July 30, 2004. Moved to 20 CSR 2120-2.040, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed Jan. 30, 2007, effective July 30, 2007. Amended: Filed July 22, 2009, effective Jan. 30, 2010. Amended: Filed Dec. 30, 2025, effective June 30, 2026. *Original authority: 333.051, RSMo 1965, amended 1981, 1998, 2011, 2018; 333.091, RSMo 1965, amended 1981, 2009, 2011; and 333.111, RSMo 1965, amended 1981, 1993, 1995.