Funeral directing; licensure of a funeral director intern.

(1)(a) Any person desiring to become a funeral director intern must apply to the licensing authority on forms prescribed by rule of the licensing authority, together with a nonrefundable fee set by rule of the licensing authority not to exceed $200. A member of the United States Armed Forces, such member’s spouse, and a veteran of the United States Armed Forces who separated from service within the 2 years preceding application for licensure are exempt from the application fee. To qualify for the application fee exemption, an applicant must provide a copy of a military identification card, military dependent identification card, military service record, military personnel file, veteran record, discharge paper, or separation document that indicates such member is currently in good standing or such veteran was honorably discharged.

(b)1. Except as provided in subparagraph 2., an applicant must hold the educational credentials required for licensure of a funeral director under s. 497.373(1)(d).

2. An applicant who has not completed the educational credentials required for a funeral director license is eligible for licensure as a funeral director intern if the applicant:

a. Holds an associate degree or higher in any field from a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.

b. Is currently enrolled in and attending a licensing authority-approved course of study in mortuary science or funeral service arts required for licensure of a funeral director under s. 497.373(1)(d)2.

(c) An application must include the name and address of the funeral director licensed under s. 497.373 or s. 497.374(1) under whose supervision the intern will receive training and the name of the licensed funeral establishment where the training will be conducted.

(d) A funeral director intern may perform only the tasks, functions, and duties relating to funeral directing which are performed under the direct supervision of a licensed funeral director who has an active, valid license under s. 497.373 or s. 497.374(1). However, a funeral director intern may perform those tasks, functions, and duties under the general supervision of a licensed funeral director upon graduation from a licensing authority-approved course of study in mortuary science or funeral service arts required under s. 497.373(1)(d)2. and passage of the laws and rules examination required under s. 497.373(2)(b), if the funeral director in charge of the funeral director internship training agency, after 6 months of direct supervision, certifies to the licensing agency that the intern is competent to complete the internship under general supervision.

(2) Rules shall be adopted establishing a funeral director internship program and criteria for funeral director intern training agencies and supervisors. Any funeral establishment where funeral directing is conducted may apply to the licensing authority for approval as a funeral director intern training agency.

(3) A funeral establishment designated as a funeral director intern training agency may not exact a fee from any person obtaining intern training at such funeral establishment.

(4)(a) A funeral director intern license expires 1 year after issuance and, except as provided in paragraph (b), paragraph (c), or paragraph (e), may not be renewed.

(b) A funeral director intern who is eligible for licensure under subparagraph (1)(b)2. may renew her or his funeral director intern license for an additional 1-year period if the funeral director in charge of the funeral director intern training agency certifies to the licensing authority that the intern has completed at least one-half of the course of study in mortuary science or funeral service arts.

(c) The licensing authority may adopt rules that allow a funeral director intern to renew her or his funeral director intern license for an additional 1-year period if the funeral director intern demonstrates her or his failure to complete the internship before expiration of the license due to illness, personal injury, or other substantial hardship beyond her or his reasonable control or demonstrates that she or he has completed the requirements for licensure as a funeral director but is awaiting the results of a licensure examination. However, a funeral director intern who renews her or his license under paragraph (b) is not eligible to renew the license under this paragraph.

(d) The licensing authority may require payment of a nonrefundable fee for the renewal of any funeral director intern license. The fee shall be set by rule of the licensing authority but may not exceed the fee set pursuant to paragraph (1)(a) for an initial funeral director intern license.

(e) Upon expiration of a funeral director intern license, any intern that has completed the educational credentials required for a license as a funeral director and has applied for licensure may continue to perform the tasks, functions, and duties related to funeral directing in the manner provided in paragraph (1)(d) until a license is issued or denied, or for a period of 90 days, whichever occurs sooner.