Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 18.39 · 43 active provisions
The definitions in this section and in chapter 68.04 RCW apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Board" means the funeral and cemetery board created pursuant to RCW 18.39.173.(2) "Director" means the director of licensing.(3) "Embalmer" means a person engaged in the profession o…
(1) It is unlawful for any person to act or hold himself or herself out as a funeral director or embalmer or discharge any of the duties of a funeral director or embalmer as defined in this chapter unless the person has a valid license under this chapter. It is unlawful for any person to establish, maintain, or operate…
(1) An applicant for a license as a funeral director shall be at least eighteen years of age and must have obtained an associate of arts degree in mortuary science or completed a course of not less than two years in an accredited college, and a one-year course of training under a licensed funeral director in this state…
(1) The two-year college course required for funeral directors under this chapter shall consist of sixty semester or ninety quarter hours of instruction at a school, college, or university accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges or other accrediting association approved by the board, with a mini…
Every application for an initial license or a license renewal under this chapter shall be made in writing on a form prescribed by the director with such information as the director requires. The director shall set license fees in accordance with RCW 43.24.086.
(1) License examinations shall be held by the director at least once each year at a time and place to be designated by the director. Application to take an examination shall be filed with the director at least fifteen days prior to the examination date. The department shall give each applicant written notice of the tim…
Every license issued shall specify the name of the person to whom it is issued and shall be displayed in his or her place of business in an area accessible to the public. No license shall be assigned, and not more than one person shall carry on the profession or business of funeral directing or embalming under one lice…
Every person engaged in the business of funeral directing or embalming, who employs an intern to assist in the conduct of the business, shall register the name of each intern with the director at the beginning of the internship, and shall also forward notice of the termination of the internship. The registration shall…
(1) An "academic intern" includes any student enrolled in an accredited college funeral service education program who is serving his or her three-month internship at a participating Washington state funeral establishment as required for graduation from the funeral service education program.(2) Academic interns shall se…
The board may recognize licenses issued to funeral directors or embalmers from other states and extend reciprocity to an applicant if the applicant furnishes satisfactory evidence that the applicant holds a valid license issued by another licensing authority recognized by the board as having qualifications for licensur…
The board shall issue a funeral establishment license to any person, partnership, association, corporation, or other organization to operate a funeral establishment, at a specific location only, which has met the following requirements:(1) The applicant has designated the name under which the funeral establishment will…
Any licensed funeral director or embalmer whose license has lapsed shall reapply for a license and pay a fee as determined under RCW 43.24.086 before the license may be issued. Applications under this section shall be made within one year after the expiration of the previous license. If the application is not made with…
The director must appoint an agent whose title is "inspector of funeral establishments, crematories, alkaline hydrolysis, and natural organic reduction facilities, funeral directors, and embalmers of the state of Washington." A person is not eligible for such appointment unless he or she has been a licensed funeral dir…
(1) A funeral and cemetery board is created. The initial appointments to the board include all members from the existing funeral directors and embalmers board and existing cemetery board with their year of expiration of term remaining the same. Subsequent to the initial appointments the board will consist of seven memb…
The board shall have the following duties and responsibilities under this chapter:(1) To be responsible for the preparation, conducting, and grading of examinations of applicants for funeral director and embalmer licenses;(2) To certify to the director the results of examinations of applicants and certify the applicant…
The director shall have the following powers and duties:(1) To issue all licenses provided for under this chapter;(2) To renew licenses under this chapter;(3) To collect all fees prescribed and required under this chapter;(4) To immediately suspend the license of a person who has been certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.3…
(1) Every licensed funeral director, his or her agent, or his or her employee shall give, or cause to be given, to the person making funeral arrangements or arranging for shipment, transportation, or other disposition of a deceased person:(a) If requested by voice, data, text, electronic, or other similar transmission,…
(1)(a) No licensed embalmer shall embalm human remains without first having obtained authorization from the individual or individuals that have the right to control the disposition under RCW 68.50.160.(b) The funeral director or embalmer shall inform the family member or representative of the deceased that embalming is…
(1) A license or endorsement issued under this chapter or chapter 68.05 RCW is required in order to operate a crematory, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction facility or conduct a cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, or natural organic reduction.(2) Conducting a final disposition without a license or endorsemen…
(1) Every licensee who pays, or causes to be paid, directly or indirectly, money, or other valuable consideration, for the securing of business is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.(2) Every person who sells, or offers for sale, any share, certificate, or interest in the business of any funeral director or embalmer, or in…
(1) A licensee shall not, in conjunction with any professional services performed for compensation under this chapter, provide financial or investment advice to any person other than a family member, represent any person in a real estate transaction, or act as an agent under a power of attorney for any person. However,…
Only a funeral establishment licensed pursuant to this chapter may enter into prearrangement funeral service contracts.
(1) Any funeral establishment selling funeral merchandise or services by prearrangement funeral service contract and accepting moneys therefore must establish and maintain one or more prearrangement funeral service trusts under Washington state law with two or more designated trustees, for the benefit of the beneficiar…
Prearranged funeral service contracts funded through insurance shall contain language which:(1) States the amount of insurance;(2) Informs the purchaser of the name and address of the insurance company through which the insurance will be provided and the name of the beneficiary; (3) Informs the purchaser that amounts p…
A funeral establishment shall not enter into prearrangement funeral service contracts in this state unless the funeral establishment has obtained a certificate of registration issued by the board and such certificate is then in force.Certificates of registration shall be maintained by funeral establishments and the fun…