• 78 questions

CA Funeral Director License Practice Test

Unofficial questions on California funeral law, sorted by the exam outline, each answer naming its section.

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Within how many days of receipt must preneed money be placed in trust with a trustee?

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. Bank checked October 15, 2026.

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Disposition authorizations 9

  • A decedent left written directions for disposition. Besides being clear and complete, what must be true for them to bind the survivors? Answer: Payment was arranged so the survivors need pay nothing. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7100.1
  • The decedent left no directions of their own. Who stands first in the order of the right to control disposition of the remains? Answer: An agent under a power of attorney for health care. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7100
  • Directions for disposition are found in a will that has not been offered for probate. What does the Health and Safety Code require? Answer: They are carried out immediately. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7100.1
  • From whom does the funeral director obtain the facts for the death certificate, other than the medical and health data? Answer: The person or source best qualified to supply them. Source: California Health and Safety Code 102790
  • No relative can be found, and the public administrator has written notice of the facts. After how long without action may the funeral director control the disposition? Answer: Seven days. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7100
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Disposition authorizations, continued

  • The person with the right to control disposition has been charged with murdering the decedent, and the funeral director knows it. What happens to the right? Answer: It passes to the next of kin in the statutory order. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7100
  • Who prepares the certificate of death and registers it with the local registrar? Answer: The funeral director, or a person acting in lieu of one. Source: California Health and Safety Code 102780
  • With no health care agent and no spouse, a decedent leaves three competent adult children. Who holds the right to control disposition? Answer: The majority of the surviving competent adult children. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7100
  • Within how many days after death must each death be registered with the local registrar, and in any case before disposition? Answer: Eight calendar days. Source: California Health and Safety Code 102775

Disposition documents 8

  • After an interment or cremation, within how many days is the first copy of the endorsed permit returned to the local registrar? Answer: 10 days. Source: California Health and Safety Code 103080
  • Before a cremation, what must a funeral establishment obtain from the person with the right to control disposition? Answer: A signed declaration of specific instructions for the cremated remains. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7685.2
  • Before a funeral contract is entered into, the written memorandum must itemize charges for which merchandise, as selected? Answer: The casket, an outside receptacle and clothing. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7685.2
  • How is authorization to embalm secured in California? Answer: On the bureau's form to accept or decline embalming, in its exact wording. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1214
  • What does the bureau's embalming authorization form tell the signer about the law? Answer: That embalming is not required by law. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1214
  • What must appear on the first page of any contract for goods and services offered by a licensee? Answer: The bureau's current address, telephone number and name. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7685.3
  • What two things must happen before anyone disposes of human remains in California? Answer: A death certificate is filed and a permit for disposition is obtained. Source: California Health and Safety Code 103050
  • Without a permit for disposition, for how long may a body be temporarily held pending disposition? Answer: Not more than eight calendar days after death. Source: California Health and Safety Code 103070

Disposition planning and compliance 29

  • A caller asks for casket prices by telephone. What does Section 7685 require? Answer: The prices and identifying features are given by telephone. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7685
  • A closing funeral establishment needs prior written approval to transfer its preneed agreements to a successor located how far away? Answer: 60 or more miles away. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7737
  • A family supplies its own casket. What handling fee may the funeral director charge for it? Answer: None. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7685.1
  • A funeral director advertises in a newspaper. Besides the director's own license number, what must the advertisement include? Answer: The name and license number of the funeral establishment, and its city or community. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1204
  • A funeral establishment designates a licensed funeral director to manage it. Within how many days must the designation be reported to the bureau? Answer: Ten days. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1204
  • A funeral establishment knowingly fails to give the survivor a copy of a paid preneed agreement it holds. What civil fine does it face? Answer: Three times the cost of the agreement or $1,000, whichever is greater. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7745
  • A licensed funeral establishment keeps a website. What must it post there, unless its homepage links to the general price list under the word "price"? Answer: The list of goods and services required on its general price list, and that the list is available on request. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7685
  • A trustor demands in writing the return of a revocable preneed trust before any services are furnished. What is returned? Answer: The corpus and accrued income, less a revocation fee. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7737
  • Before a contract for services is drafted, what must the licensee give the consumer to keep? Answer: A copy of the consumer guide for funeral and cemetery purchases. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7685.5
  • Before drafting a contract, what must every funeral establishment present to the survivor about preneed agreements? Answer: A statement of whether it holds any preneed agreement for the deceased. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7685.6
  • Besides the price, what must an individual casket price tag show? Answer: The thickness of metal or type of wood, with interior and color. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7685.1
  • How must caskets and alternative containers regularly offered for sale be shown? Answer: Physically in the casket selection room, or photographically. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1258.1
  • How often must an employee who consults with families to arrange services receive documented training in the applicable laws, unless the employee passed the funeral director's examination? Answer: At least once every three years. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7635
  • If individuals and not a bank or trust company serve as trustee of a preneed trust, how many must there be? Answer: Not less than three. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7736
  • If the Bureau has not audited the serviced account sooner, for how long is the completed preneed disclosure statement kept? Answer: Seven years from the date it was made. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1277.5
  • May a funeral director charge an additional fee for handling or embalming a body because death was due to a contagious or infectious disease? Answer: No. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7685.1
  • The price range statement must differentiate between the range for caskets and the range for what? Answer: Alternative containers. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1258.1
  • Trust income may establish a reserve for a revocation fee. What is the largest reserve allowed? Answer: 10 percent of the corpus of the trust. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7735
  • Under what condition may a licensed funeral director conduct the activities of a funeral director? Answer: As an employee or the sole proprietor of a licensed funeral establishment. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7619.3
  • What education must an applicant for a California funeral director's license have? Answer: An associate of arts or science degree, or the equivalent, or higher. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7619
  • What must a preneed contract require of all money paid under it? Answer: That it be held in trust until the contract is fulfilled. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7735
  • What must be filed for the trustee to deliver a preneed trust to the funeral establishment? Answer: Evidence of the beneficiary's death and that the merchandise and services were furnished. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7737
  • What must the price list tell the survivor who is handling the arrangements about preneed agreements? Answer: That the survivor may receive a copy before any contract is drafted. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7685
  • What must the statement at the beginning of the casket price list say about caskets with protective features? Answer: There is no evidence that such a casket will preserve human remains. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1258
  • When must a California funeral director provide the written or printed list of prices? Answer: Upon beginning discussion of prices or of the goods and services offered. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7685
  • Where on the general price list must the statement about receiving a copy of a preneed agreement appear? Answer: On the first page, separate and apart from other information. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1258.4
  • Which of these may the income of a preneed trust be used to pay? Answer: A reasonable annual fee for administering the trust. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7735
  • Withdrawals for the annual fee for administering a preneed trust may not exceed what share of the trust balance in any year? Answer: Four percent. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1265
  • Within how many days of receipt must preneed money be placed in trust with a trustee? Answer: 30 days. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7737

Facility maintenance and decedent care 9

  • A funeral establishment holds unembalmed remains. After how long must the body be refrigerated at an approved facility? Answer: Longer than 24 hours. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1223
  • A licensed funeral establishment must include either a suitable room for the storage of human remains or what? Answer: A preparation room with sanitary flooring, drainage and ventilation. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7616
  • Apart from staff, embalmers, students and public officials on duty, who may be present while remains are embalmed or prepared? Answer: Persons authorized by the person with the right to control disposition. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1221
  • How must human remains that are not in a casket be moved into or out of a funeral establishment? Answer: Covered and kept out of public view, as far as reasonably possible. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1221
  • What may an embalming, preparation or storage room contain? Answer: Only equipment and supplies needed to prepare or care for human remains. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1223
  • What must be fastened to the outside of every door leading directly into a preparation, embalming or storage room? Answer: A placard printed with the rule on private care and preparation. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1255
  • When must instruments and equipment used in embalming be cleansed and disinfected? Answer: Immediately at the conclusion of each individual case. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1216
  • Where may an embalming, preparation or storage room NOT be located? Answer: In a public storage or mini-storage facility. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1223
  • Which of these can serve as a "storage room" for human remains under the regulations? Answer: A suitable room that is not open to public access. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1223

Consumer counseling 18

  • A cemetery offers a funeral director a rebate for each interment the director sends. What is accepting it? Answer: A ground for disciplinary action. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7701
  • A licensee on whom the duty of interment falls fails to perform it within a reasonable time. What is the largest fine for that misdemeanor? Answer: $10,000. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7103
  • By whom must a funeral director cause human remains to be embalmed? Answer: A licensed embalmer, a supervised apprentice embalmer or a supervised student. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7632
  • Cremated remains may be scattered where no local prohibition exists if they are not distinguishable to the public, are not in a container, and what else? Answer: The property owner or governing agency gave written permission. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7116
  • Cremated remains scattered at sea may not be scattered within what distance of the shoreline? Answer: 500 yards. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7117
  • For how long must the written acknowledgement of the cremation process be filed and retained by the person who disposes of the remains? Answer: At least five years. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7054.7
  • From which of these may cremated remains NOT be scattered under Section 7117? Answer: A bridge or pier. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7117
  • How must a licensee keep cremated remains before their disposition? Answer: In a durable container, in a place free from exposure to the elements. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7054.6
  • How often must a rental casket insert be replaced? Answer: A new insert is used for each human remains. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1258.2
  • On whose written order may the remains of a deceased person be removed from a cemetery? Answer: The health department having jurisdiction, or the superior court of the county. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7500
  • The person lawfully entitled to custody expressly orders a licensee to surrender the remains. What must be surrendered promptly with them? Answer: The personal effects and any certificate or permit. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7706
  • Under what authority may cremated remains be removed in a durable container and kept at a residence? Answer: A permit for disposition. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7054.6
  • What allows the remains of more than one person to be cremated in the same chamber at the same time in California? Answer: Express written permission of the person entitled to control the disposition. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7054.7
  • What does the regulation require of the parts of a rental casket, including its lining? Answer: None may touch the remains unless it is disposed of with the insert and remains. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1258.2
  • What may a funeral director charge for filing a certificate of death or providing copies of it? Answer: No more than the fees set by statute. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7633
  • Which of these does Section 7694 leave lawful? Answer: General advertising. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7694
  • Which use of a casket is a ground for disciplinary action under Section 7702? Answer: Furnishing a casket previously used for human remains. Source: California Business and Professions Code 7702
  • Who issues the permit a cemetery authority needs before interred remains are removed? Answer: The local registrar of the district. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7501

Disposition coordination 5

  • A body that cannot be embalmed is to go by common carrier. What enclosure does Section 7355 accept? Answer: An airtight metal casket in a strong transportation case. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7355
  • A coroner releases remains found near the border to a funeral establishment in an adjacent state, with no death certificate yet filed. Within what time after the remains were found must the coroner file one? Answer: 72 hours. Source: California Health and Safety Code 103050
  • In the usual case, what does the Health and Safety Code require before a common carrier receives a body for transportation? Answer: Embalming by a licensed embalmer, a sound casket and a transportation case. Source: California Health and Safety Code 7355
  • Remains may go to an adjacent state without a death certificate or permit only if, among other conditions, they were found within what distance of the California border? Answer: 50 miles. Source: California Health and Safety Code 103050
  • When must a hearse or first-call car be cleansed with a suitable and effective disinfectant? Answer: Immediately after carrying remains dead of a contagious disease, or as soon as practical. Source: 16 Cal. Code Regs. 1209

How this list was compiled: California Business and Professions Code, Division 3, Chapter 12 (the Cemetery and Funeral Act) and Health and Safety Code, Divisions 7 and 102, read section by section on October 15, 2026 in the public copy at california.public.law, which gives the Legislature's own address for each section (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov) and the date it last checked it; California Code of Regulations, Title 16, Division 12 (funeral regulations), read the same day in the public copy at Cornell's Legal Information Institute (https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/title-16/division-12). The sections were first found in the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau's own book, Cemetery and Funeral Laws and Regulations, 2023 Edition (https://www.cfb.ca.gov/laws_regs/existing_laws.shtml). The six topics and their shares follow the content outline in the Funeral Director Written Examination candidate handbook the Bureau links to (https://www.cfb.ca.gov/licensee/app.shtml). Each question names its section. Licence: Own work. Every question, every wrong choice and every explanation was written for this site from the text of the section it cites. Short quoted phrases are from California's codes and regulations, which are public. Nothing is taken from the state's examination, from the examination vendor or from any study guide or other practice test.

How it works

This unofficial CA funeral director license practice test asks 78 of our own questions on the California law behind the Funeral Director Written Examination. Not affiliated with the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau or its examination vendor.

Read the full guide

What the examination covers

The candidate handbook the Bureau links to sorts the examination into three duty areas: disposition administration (60%), facility maintenance and decedent care and preparation (12%), and consumer counseling and disposition coordination (28%).

What is here, and what is not

Six topics named after the handbook's subareas, in about its proportions. Customs, veteran benefits and other non-law knowledge on the outline are not asked.

  • A death is registered within eight calendar days and before any disposition (Health and Safety Code 102775).
  • Preneed money goes into trust within 30 days; the revocation reserve is capped at 10 percent of the corpus (Business and Professions Code 7735, 7737).
  • Unembalmed remains held longer than 24 hours are refrigerated at an approved facility (16 CCR 1223).

Questions and answers

Is there a California funeral director examination study guide?

The official one is the Funeral Director Written Examination candidate handbook, linked from the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau's applications page. It lists every task and knowledge statement on the outline. This page is unofficial practice on the law behind them.

What does a California funeral law study guide need to cover?

The Cemetery and Funeral Act in the Business and Professions Code, the Health and Safety Code on disposition, death registration and permits, and the funeral regulations in Title 16. The Bureau publishes them in one book, Cemetery and Funeral Laws and Regulations.

How many questions are on the California funeral director licensing examination?

100 multiple-choice questions with a time limit of 2 hours, by the candidate handbook updated September 2023. The passing score is criterion-referenced: it is set for each form of the examination, not as a fixed percentage.

Is this also a California embalmer exam study guide?

No. The Bureau lists a separate candidate handbook for the embalmer examination, and this page follows the funeral director outline only.

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