At least how many meetings must the Board hold each year?Answer: Four. Source: G.S. 90-210.22
Family members wash a body with soap and water, privately and without pay. Is that embalming?Answer: No. Source: G.S. 90-210.20(9)
How does the statute define funeral directing?Answer: The practice of funeral service except embalming. Source: G.S. 90-210.20(13)
How long is a term on the Board of Funeral Service?Answer: Three years. Source: G.S. 90-210.18A(b)
How many Board members make a quorum?Answer: Five. Source: G.S. 90-210.22
How many members sit on the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service?Answer: Nine. Source: G.S. 90-210.18A(b)
How many of the nine Board members must be people who are not licensed under the Article?Answer: Two. Source: G.S. 90-210.18A(b)
Under the definitions, "dead human bodies" includes fetuses beyond which point?Answer: The second trimester. Source: G.S. 90-210.20(7)
When may the Board inspect a funeral establishment and its records?Answer: During normal hours of operation. Source: G.S. 90-210.23(d)
When the Board disciplines a licensee after a show cause hearing, what is the most it may recover in attorneys' fees and costs?Answer: $5,000. Source: G.S. 90-210.23(d1)
Which federal standard is the Board empowered to enforce?Answer: Funeral Industry Practices, 16 C.F.R. 453. Source: G.S. 90-210.23(e)
Which of these may a chapel, as the statute defines it, not have on its premises?Answer: A preparation room. Source: G.S. 90-210.20(6)
Which officers does the Board elect from its members?Answer: A president, a vice-president and a secretary. Source: G.S. 90-210.23(b)
Who is eligible to be appointed an Inspector of the Board?Answer: A funeral service licensee. Source: G.S. 90-210.24(a)
Show all 118 questions (104 more)
Licenses, traineeship and renewal 26
A funeral director licensed in another state applies by reciprocity. For how long must the applicant have practiced?Answer: At least three consecutive years. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(b)(1)
A funeral director trainee must have substantially assisted in directing at least how many funerals?Answer: 25. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(4)f.
A license is forfeited when it has not been renewed on or before which date?Answer: February 1. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(5)b.
A licensee first licensed before 2004 has the continuing education requirement waived after how many continuous years of licensure?Answer: 25 years. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(5)e.
A trainee leaves a supervising licensee. Within how long must the licensee file the affidavits with the Board?Answer: 30 days. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(4)b.
An applicant refuses to consent to a criminal history record check. What may follow?Answer: The Board may deny licensure. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(5)h.
Besides the entry-level examination and the examination of North Carolina law, which examination does a funeral director applicant pass?Answer: Pathology. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(1)
Does a licensee owe continuing education for the calendar year in which the license was first obtained?Answer: No. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(5)d.
For how long must a trainee's supervisor have been licensed and practicing full time?Answer: At least one year. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(4)a.
How long is the resident traineeship required for a funeral director license?Answer: 12 months. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(1)
How many hours of Board-sponsored continuing education must the Board offer each calendar year?Answer: At least 8. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(5)f.
How many hours of continuing education must a licensee complete in the year before renewal?Answer: At least 5. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(5)d.
How many resident trainees may serve under one registered supervisor at one time?Answer: Two. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(4)i.
How many surplus continuing education hours may carry over to the next year's renewal?Answer: At most 5. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(5)d.
How many times may a provisional funeral director license be renewed?Answer: Not more than two times. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(3a)
How often does a registered resident trainee report work to the Board?Answer: At least once every month. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(4)e.
On what date do licenses expire, unless the Board changes the date?Answer: December 31. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(5)a.
The required examinations must have been passed within how many years before licensure?Answer: Five years. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(1)
What does a courtesy card not allow a nonresident licensee to do?Answer: Establish a place of business here. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(b)(3)
What does the state law examination cover, as the statute words it?Answer: State law, 16 C.F.R. 453 and rules on the care of dead human bodies. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(1)
What is the application fee for a provisional funeral director license?Answer: $500. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(3a)
What is the minimum age for a funeral director license?Answer: 18. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(1)
What may the holder of an inactive license do?Answer: Renew it without continuing education. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a1)
What will the Board tell a person who asks about an applicant's examination score?Answer: Only whether the applicant passed. Source: G.S. 90-210.29B(a)
Which examination must a reciprocity applicant pass?Answer: The laws and rules exam. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(b)(1)
Which two examinations turn a provisional license into a funeral director license?Answer: The laws exam and the entry-level exam. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(a)(3a)
Funeral establishments and transport 21
A body will not reach final disposition within 24 hours of the funeral home taking custody. How must it be kept?Answer: Refrigerated at no more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Source: G.S. 90-210.27A(l)
A funeral establishment is owned by a corporation. Who must hold a funeral director or funeral service license?Answer: The president, vice-president or board chairman. Source: G.S. 90-210.27A(e)
A funeral establishment permit can no longer be renewed once it has been expired for how long?Answer: 6 months or more. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(d)(3)
A funeral home is being sold. When is the new permit application made?Answer: At least 30 days before the change. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(d)(5)
A funeral home is destroyed by a storm. For how long may the Board suspend the preparation room and reposing room requirements?Answer: Up to 2 years. Source: G.S. 90-210.27A(a1)
A funeral home trades under the name of a living person. What does the statute require?Answer: That person must be licensed. Source: G.S. 90-210.27A(f)
A majority owner dies. Within how long may the estate submit a new permit application?Answer: 180 days. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(d)(5)
A manager may oversee a principal funeral establishment and its branches and chapels within what distance?Answer: A 50-mile radius in a straight line. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(d)(1)
Does a provisional funeral director license satisfy the owner licensing requirement of G.S. 90-210.27A(e)?Answer: No. Source: G.S. 90-210.27A(e)
On taking physical custody of a body, what must a licensee affix to the ankle or wrist?Answer: A durable tag with the name and date of death. Source: G.S. 90-210.29A
The only eligible manager leaves. For how long may the funeral establishment operate without a manager?Answer: Up to 30 days. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(d)(1)
What is needed before a photograph is taken of a dead human body?Answer: Consent of the family or other authorizing agent. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(c)(9)
What must a funeral establishment do before it operates a branch or a chapel?Answer: Register it with the Board. Source: G.S. 90-210.27A(g)
What must be posted on the preparation room door?Answer: A sign that the room is private. Source: G.S. 90-210.27A(a)
What professional liability coverage must the holder of a removal and transportation permit maintain?Answer: At least $500,000. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(c)(7)
Where in a vehicle may a dead human body not be transported?Answer: In the open cargo area or the passenger area. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(c)(9)
Where must a license be displayed?Answer: In a conspicuous place in the funeral establishment. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(c)(1)
Which of these is a misleading name under the statute?Answer: A plural name for a single establishment. Source: G.S. 90-210.27A(i)
Which of these must every preparation room contain?Answer: An instrument sterilizer. Source: G.S. 90-210.27A(a)
Which of these needs no removal and transportation permit at all?Answer: A person transporting cremated remains. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(c)(6)
Who may be in the preparation room while a body is being prepared?Answer: Next of kin. Source: G.S. 90-210.27A(b)
Discipline, disclosures and offenses 15
A funeral director knowingly sells embalming fluid to a person who is not a funeral director, embalmer or resident trainee. What is the offense?Answer: A Class I felony. Source: G.S. 90-210.29C
A hospital offers a body to a funeral home. What must the funeral home do before accepting it?Answer: Ask what those with legal authority want. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(e)
A licensee committed a listed act but has not become unfit to practice. What may the Board do?Answer: Place the licensee on probation. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(e)(2)
A licensee has information that points to violence in a death. What is needed before the body is removed or embalmed?Answer: The medical examiner's permission. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(e)
Another jurisdiction suspends a person's license for conduct related to fitness to practice. What sanction does the North Carolina Board impose?Answer: An equal or greater one. Source: G.S. 90-210.25B(d)
Caskets are shown to the public in a selection room. What goes with each one?Answer: A card or brochure setting forth the price. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(e)
In which county may the Board always bring an action for an injunction?Answer: Wake County. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(g)
Insurance proceeds received exceed the funeral contract price. Within how long must the excess be refunded?Answer: 30 days of receipt. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(e)(1)
May a licensee accept payment for referring potential tissue donors to a tissue bank?Answer: No. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(e1)
May the Board accept a penalty and also revoke the license for the same matter?Answer: No, not both. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(e)(1)
What disclosure is printed on the face of that written statement?Answer: That it is provided pursuant to G.S. 90-210.25(e). Source: G.S. 90-210.25(e)
What is the largest penalty the Board may accept from a licensee in place of suspending or revoking a license?Answer: $5,000. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(e)(1)
What is the offense of practicing funeral directing without a license?Answer: A Class 2 misdemeanor. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(f)(1)
What must be given to the person making arrangements, at the time they are made?Answer: A signed written statement of the prices. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(e)
Which of these is a ground for discipline?Answer: Solicitation of dead human bodies. Source: G.S. 90-210.25(e)(1)
Preneed funeral contracts 21
A balance is payable to the estate and no representative has been appointed. Up to what amount may it be paid directly to the beneficiaries of the estate?Answer: $1,000. Source: G.S. 90-210.64(d)
A funeral establishment receiving a new preneed establishment license must obtain a surety bond of at least what amount?Answer: $50,000. Source: G.S. 90-210.67(b)
A person embezzles preneed funeral funds worth $100,000 or more. What class of felony is that?Answer: Class C. Source: G.S. 90-210.70(a)
A preneed licensee plans to transfer its assets to a successor funeral establishment. When must the Board be notified?Answer: At least 30 days before. Source: G.S. 90-210.68(c)
A purchaser directs a substitution of funeral establishment before the death of the beneficiary. To whom must the substitution be made?Answer: A preneed licensee. Source: G.S. 90-210.63(a)(1)
A willful violation of another provision of the preneed Article is what offense?Answer: A Class 1 misdemeanor. Source: G.S. 90-210.70(b)
By what date each year does a preneed licensee submit its annual report?Answer: On or before March 31. Source: G.S. 90-210.68(a1)
For how many preneed funeral establishments may a preneed sales licensee sell?Answer: One, or several under common ownership. Source: G.S. 90-210.67(a)
How may an irrevocable preneed contract generally be revoked?Answer: Generally only by court order. Source: G.S. 90-210.65(e)
In what form must a preneed funeral contract be made?Answer: In writing, on Board forms. Source: G.S. 90-210.62(b)
The purchaser of a revocable, trust-funded contract asks in writing for a refund. Within how long does the financial institution refund the entire amount?Answer: 30 days. Source: G.S. 90-210.65(a)
Under G.S. 90-210.64(a), within how long after receiving payment must the performing licensee file the certificate of performance with the Board?Answer: 10 days. Source: G.S. 90-210.64(a)
What is an inflation-proof preneed funeral contract?Answer: An agreement made without regard to future price increases. Source: G.S. 90-210.62(a)
What is the Preneed Recovery Fund for?Answer: Reimbursing purchasers for losses caused by a licensee. Source: G.S. 90-210.66(a)
Which of these is a cash advance item under the preneed definitions?Answer: Clergy honoraria. Source: G.S. 90-210.60(1a)
Which two licenses does the preneed Article create?Answer: A preneed funeral establishment license and a preneed sales license. Source: G.S. 90-210.67(a)
Who chooses whether a preneed contract is revocable or irrevocable?Answer: The purchaser. Source: G.S. 90-210.62(a)
Who must sign every preneed funeral contract?Answer: A funeral director or funeral service licensee. Source: G.S. 90-210.67(a)
With written disclosure in advance, how much of the payments on a trust-funded preneed contract may the licensee retain free of the trust?Answer: Up to 10%. Source: G.S. 90-210.61(a)(2)
Within how long after a preneed sale must the fee and a copy of the contract reach the Board?Answer: 10 days. Source: G.S. 90-210.67(d)
Within how long must a preneed licensee deposit trust-funded preneed payments?Answer: Five business days. Source: G.S. 90-210.61(a)(1)
Cremation and alkaline hydrolysis 21
A crematory is to dispose of remains on private property that is not a cemetery. What must the authorizing agent provide?Answer: The written consent of the property owner. Source: G.S. 90-210.130(c)
A form does not specify final disposition. For how long does it say the crematory will hold the cremated remains before disposing of them?Answer: 30 days. Source: G.S. 90-210.125(a)(11)
A person authorizes his or her own cremation on a preneed basis. How many witnesses sign the form?Answer: Two. Source: G.S. 90-210.126(a)
A violation of any provision of the Crematory Act is what offense?Answer: A Class 2 misdemeanor. Source: G.S. 90-210.134(c)
As a rule, human remains may not be cremated within how long after the time of death?Answer: 24 hours. Source: G.S. 90-210.129(e)
Before cremated remains are scattered, what must be done with their closed container?Answer: The remains are removed from it. Source: G.S. 90-210.130(f)
By which day of each month are the per-cremation fees for the preceding month remitted to the Board?Answer: The tenth. Source: G.S. 90-210.132(c)
For a death that occurred outside North Carolina, what must the crematory obtain first?Answer: The burial-transit or disposal permit of that place. Source: G.S. 90-210.129(c1)
For how long does a crematory licensee keep its receipts for remains delivered and released?Answer: 3 years. Source: G.S. 90-210.127
How many crematory technicians must each licensed crematory employ full time?Answer: At least one. Source: G.S. 90-210.123(d)
How must cremated remains be shipped, unless the authorizing agent authorizes otherwise in writing?Answer: By a method with an internal tracing system. Source: G.S. 90-210.129(n)
Is a crematory licensee liable for valuables delivered with the human remains?Answer: No. Source: G.S. 90-210.131(c)
May a crematory refuse remains because they are not in a casket?Answer: No. Source: G.S. 90-210.128(a)
May an authorizing agent cancel a cremation after signing the form?Answer: Yes, in writing, before it begins. Source: G.S. 90-210.125(d)
There is a dispute over releasing cremated remains. What may the crematory licensee do?Answer: Refuse to release them until it is resolved. Source: G.S. 90-210.131(e)
What is issued when a cremation is completed?Answer: A certificate of cremation. Source: G.S. 90-210.127(e)
What is the short title of Article 13F?Answer: The North Carolina Crematory Act. Source: G.S. 90-210.120
When may more than one person be cremated in the same chamber at once?Answer: Fetuses or infants of the same mother and birth. Source: G.S. 90-210.129(h)
Where may alkaline hydrolysis be performed?Answer: Only at a funeral establishment with a valid permit. Source: G.S. 90-210.136(c1)
Who is responsible for seeing that a pacemaker not approved for cremation is removed first?Answer: The authorizing agent. Source: G.S. 90-210.129(d)
Whose signature on the cremation authorization form must a crematory licensee have before cremating?Answer: An authorizing agent's. Source: G.S. 90-210.125(a)
How this list was compiled: North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 90, Article 13A (Practice of Funeral Service, https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByArticle/Chapter_90/Article_13A.html), Article 13D (Preneed Funeral Funds, https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByArticle/Chapter_90/Article_13D.html) and Article 13F (Cremations and Alkaline Hydrolysis, https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByArticle/Chapter_90/Article_13F.html), read on October 12, 2026 on the General Assembly's site, with the changes of Session Laws 2025-76. The scope follows G.S. 90-210.25(a)(1)e.3., which names what the state law examination covers, and the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service's own advice that a study of its statutes and rules prepares a candidate for the NC Laws and Rules examination (https://ncbfs.org/applicant-portal/). 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 the General Statutes, which are public. Nothing is taken from the Board's examination, from the examination vendor or from any study guide or other practice test.
How it works
This unofficial NC funeral directors practice test asks 118 of our own questions on the state law behind the NC Laws and Rules exam. Not affiliated with the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service or the examination's vendor.
Read the full guide
What the laws and rules exam covers
G.S. 90-210.25 requires an examination of North Carolina law, the federal Funeral Industry Practices standards (16 C.F.R. 453) and the rules of the Board and other agencies on the care, transportation and disposition of dead human bodies.
What is here, and what is not
Six topics from three articles of Chapter 90: Article 13A (the Board, licenses, establishments, discipline), 13D (preneed funeral funds) and 13F (the Crematory Act), as amended in 2025. The Board's rules in 21 NCAC 34 and the Funeral Rule itself are on the exam and are not asked here.
Licenses expire December 31 and are forfeited if not renewed on or before February 1 (G.S. 90-210.25(a)(5)).
Preneed trust money is deposited within five business days; up to 10% may be retained with written disclosure (G.S. 90-210.61).
No cremation within 24 hours of death, and none without a form signed by the authorizing agent (G.S. 90-210.125, 90-210.129).
Questions and answers
Is this a laws and rules practice test for funeral director candidates in NC?
Yes, for the statutes: every question is on Article 13A, 13D or 13F of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes and names its section. It is unofficial, and none of its questions comes from the examination.
What exams does a funeral director need to pass in NC?
Three, by G.S. 90-210.25(a)(1): an entry-level examination in funeral directing, the examination of North Carolina laws and rules, and an examination of pathology, each passed within the last five years. A provisional licensee needs the first two.
How many questions are on the NC funeral laws and rules exam?
The statute and the Board's applicant pages give no question count, time limit or pass mark, so this page states none. A practice exam here draws 40 questions by this site's choice, with a score and no verdict.
Is there a study guide for the NC funeral directors test?
The Board points candidates to the statutes and rules on its website, also offered as a single practice act document, and says a thorough study of them prepares a candidate. Each answer here names its section so you can read it there.