Apprenticeships

Completing an apprenticeship is the primary way that Funeral Service Practitioners (FSP) and Embalmers become licensed in the state of Oregon.

All apprentices must be working at a licensed Oregon facility under the supervision of a licensee who has been licensed for at least one year prior to the beginning of the apprenticeship. Supervisors may not supervise more than three apprentices of any type at one time.

To apply for an Apprentice License, visit our Applicant Portal.

Funeral Service Practitioner (FSP) Apprentices work a minimum of 1440 hours within a 12 month period under the direct supervision of a licensed FSP. They must assist in the planning of at least 25 funerals or dispositions per year through some form of direct contact with the family or representative of the deceased.

Information/Documentation Required to Apply:

In accordance with OAR 830-011-0020(5), each applicant must submit the following:

Completed application through Applicant Portal.
Appropriate fee.
Copy of birth certificate.
Satisfactory proof of high school graduation or equivalency.

If an apprentice applicant does not have a high school diploma:

The applicant must present satisfactory evidence that they possess the equivalent of a high school education received in private, public, or trade school, or
Must successfully pass the high school equivalency test (General Education Development Test) given by the local high school, or some similar equivalency test conducted by a similar agency.

Accepted forms of proof: certified copies or scanned and photo copies of high school diploma, transcripts or equivalent, or higher degree.

Additionally, each applicant must provide the following:

Name of intended supervisor
Photo of the Applicant
10 Years of Residential History
10 Years of Employment History
Documentation related to any prior convictions or administrative actions, if applicable
Verification of any other Professional Licenses that you hold, in Oregon or any other states/jurisdictions

Licenses are valid for up to 1 year. Licenses expire on December 31. The initial license fee is $50, and renewing the license is $25.

An FSP apprentice must keep a log book on the premises of the licensed facility where he or she is supervised, showing all arrangements made or participated in by the apprentice.

FSP Apprentice Log Samples: PDF | Word

Please note- an FSP Apprenticeship and an Embalmer Apprenticeship can run concurrently.

An intern apprentice is any student enrolled in an accredited funeral service education program who is serving his/her three-month internship under the supervision of a licensed combination funeral service practitioner/embalmer at a participating licensed funeral establishment. Intern apprentices shall serve their apprenticeships in accordance with the internship guidelines established by an accredited funeral service education program. Intern apprentices are required to intern at a funeral home for 15 hours per week.

Minimum Qualifications:

Must be enrolled in an accredited funeral service education program.

Information Required to Apply:

In accordance with OAR 830-011-0020(5), each applicant must submit the following:

Completed application through Applicant Portal.
Appropriate fee.
Copy of birth certificate.
Satisfactory proof of high school graduation or equivalency.

If an apprentice applicant does not have a high school diploma:

The applicant must present satisfactory evidence that they possess the equivalent of a high school education received in private, public, or trade school, or
Must successfully pass the high school equivalency test (General Education Development Test) given by the local high school, or some similar equivalency test conducted by a similar agency.

Accepted forms of proof: certified copies or scanned and photo copies of high school diploma, transcripts or equivalent, or higher degree.

Additionally, each applicant must provide the following:

Name of intended supervisor
Photo of the Applicant
10 Years of Residential History
10 Years of Employment History
Documentation related to any prior convictions or administrative actions, if applicable
Verification of any other Professional Licenses that you hold, in Oregon or any other states/jurisdictions

Licenses are valid for up to 3 months. Licenses expire on June 30, unless special arrangements are made to accommodate summer internships. The license fee is $25.

Embalmer Apprentices work a minimum of 1440 hours within a 12 month period under the direct supervision of a licensed embalmer. They also must assist with a minimum of 35 embalmings (not restricted to a 12 month period.)

Information Required to Apply:

In accordance with OAR 830-011-0020(5), each applicant must submit the following:

- Completed application through Applicant Portal.
- Appropriate fee.
- Copy of birth certificate.
- Satisfactory proof of high school graduation or equivalency.
Accepted forms of proof: certified copies or scanned and photo copies of high school diploma, transcripts or equivalent, or higher degree.
Additionally, each applicant must provide the following:
- Name of intended supervisor
- Photo of the Applicant
- 10 Years of Residential History
- 10 Years of Employment History
- Documentation related to any prior convictions or administrative actions, if applicable
- Verification of any other Professional Licenses that you hold, in Oregon or any other states/jurisdictions

Licenses are valid for up to 1 year. Licenses expire on December 31. The initial license fee is $50, and renewing the license is $25.

An embalmer apprentice must maintain a log book of embalmings under supervision, with accurate and current entries, and the apprentice and his or her supervisor must furnish this record to the Board upon request.

Embalmer Apprentice Log Samples: PDF | Word

Please note- an FSP Apprenticeship and an Embalmer Apprenticeship can run concurrently.

Apprenticeships

Funeral Service Practitioner Apprentice

Intern Apprentice

Embalmer Apprentice