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.

Funeral Service Practitioner Apprentice

Funeral Service Practitioner (FSP) Apprentices work a minimum of 1440 hours within a 12 month period the direct supervision of a licensed FSP. They must directly assist with a minimum of 25 funerals or dispositions in the course of the year.

Minimum Qualifications:

Must be at least 18 years old.
Must possess an associates degree or higher in any field OR be scheduled to complete an associates degree or higher before the completion of the apprenticeship.

Documents Required to Apply:

Application for Oregon Funeral Service Practitioner Apprentice Certificate
Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate
Transcripts showing proof of an Associates Degree or Higher
Written statement and accompanying documentation for any background information disclosed on the application, if applicable (see application for additional information)

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

Embalmer Apprentice

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

Minimum Qualifications:

Must be at least 18 years old.
Must have graduated from an accredited school of Funeral Service Education OR be scheduled to graduate before the completion of the apprenticeship.

Documents Required to Apply:

Application for Oregon Embalmer Apprenticeship Certificate
Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate
Transcripts showing proof of graduation from an accredited funeral service education school.
Written statement and accompanying documentation for any background information disclosed on the application, if applicable (see application for additional information)

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

Combination Funeral Service Practitioner/Embalmer Apprentice

Combination Funeral Service Practitioner (FSP)/Embalmer Apprentices complete both the FSP and the Embalmer apprenticeships concurrently. They work under the direct supervision of a combination FSP/Embalmer. They must work for a minimum of 1440 hours within a 12 month period. They must directly assist with a minimum of 25 funerals or dispositions in the course of the year, and they must assist with a minimum of 35 Embalmings (not restricted to a 12 month period.)

Minimum Qualifications:

Must be at least 18 years old.
Must have graduated from an accredited school of Funeral Service Education OR be scheduled to graduate before the completion of the apprenticeship.

Documents Required to Apply:

Application for Embalmer Apprenticeship Certificate and Funeral Service Practitioner Certificate
Certified Copy of a Birth Certificate
Transcripts showing proof of graduation from an accredited funeral service education school.
Written statement and accompanying documentation for any background information disclosed on the application, if applicable (see application for additional information)

Licenses are valid for up to 1 year. Licenses expire on December 31. The initial license fee is $100, and renewing the license is $50.

Combination Funeral Service Practitioner/Embalmer Apprentices must keep both a FSP Apprentice log AND a Embalmer Apprentice log.

Intern Apprentice

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.

Documents Required to Apply:

Application for Oregon Apprentice Intern Certificate
Written statement and accompanying documentation for any background information disclosed on the application, if applicable (see application for additional information)

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.