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Texas Mortuary Law Exam Study Guide

Study by answering: unofficial questions on Texas mortuary law, each answer naming its section.

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By what day must a death certificate be filed with the local registrar for a death that occurs in Texas?

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Exam mode: 50 questions, 120 minutes, 38 right to pass (75%).

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Texas Funeral Service Commission. Bank checked October 15, 2026.

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Death records, permits and transport 12

  • A body arrives in Texas with a burial-transit permit issued under the law of the state where the death occurred. What must a Texas cemetery do with that permit? Answer: Accept it as authorization for burial. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 193.008
  • A body held more than 24 hours is kept by refrigeration alone. In what temperature range must it be maintained? Answer: 34 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Source: 25 Tex. Admin. Code 181.4
  • A certificate of fetal death must be filed for a fetus of what weight? Answer: 350 grams or more. Source: 25 Tex. Admin. Code 181.7
  • A funeral director assumes custody of a body. Within what time must the report of death go to the local registrar? Answer: 24 hours. Source: 25 Tex. Admin. Code 181.2
  • An unembalmed body is to be shipped by common carrier. How must it be enclosed? Answer: In an air-tight metal casket in a strong outer case, or a sound casket in an air-tight metal-lined case. Source: 25 Tex. Admin. Code 181.3
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Death records, permits and transport, continued

  • Apart from a justice of the peace or medical examiner acting as coroner, on whose written order may remains be removed from a cemetery? Answer: The State Registrar or a designee. Source: 25 Tex. Admin. Code 181.6
  • By what day must a death certificate be filed with the local registrar for a death that occurs in Texas? Answer: The 10th day after the death. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 193.003
  • For which of these must a funeral director obtain a burial-transit permit? Answer: Cremating the body. Source: 25 Tex. Admin. Code 181.2
  • How long after death may a body be held or be in transit before it must be refrigerated, embalmed or sealed in a seepage-proof container? Answer: 24 hours. Source: 25 Tex. Admin. Code 181.4
  • How long does an attending physician have to complete the medical certification after receiving the death certificate? Answer: Five days. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 193.005
  • The medical certification cannot be completed on time. When may final disposition of the body be made? Answer: When the person responsible for the medical certification specifically authorizes it. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 193.005
  • Who is required to obtain and file the death certificate? Answer: The person in charge of interment or of removing the body from the registration district. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 193.002

The Commission, licenses and the provisional program 17

  • A license has been expired for 14 months. Besides paying fees and completing continuing education, what must the person do to renew? Answer: Retake and pass the applicable examination. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.165
  • A license has been expired for 60 days. What renewal fee does the statute set? Answer: One and a half times the normal renewal fee. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.165
  • A person takes the State Mortuary Law Examination. Within what time must the person apply for licensure before the score is invalidated? Answer: 6 months. Source: 22 Tex. Admin. Code 203.5
  • The Commission finds a violation at a funeral establishment. How often is the establishment inspected after that? Answer: Annually, until it is found free of violations. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.157
  • For how long is a provisional license valid before it must be renewed? Answer: 12 consecutive months. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.3045
  • How long is a term on the Texas Funeral Service Commission? Answer: Six years. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.054
  • How many hours of continuing education must an actively practicing funeral director or embalmer obtain every two-year renewal period? Answer: 16. Source: 22 Tex. Admin. Code 203.8
  • How many members sit on the Texas Funeral Service Commission? Answer: Seven. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.051
  • How many provisional license holders may receive credit for work done on any one body? Answer: Not more than two. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.303
  • How old must an applicant be for a Texas funeral director's or embalmer's license? Answer: At least 18. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.253
  • Of the 45 cases in the provisional funeral director program, how many must be complete cases under the Commission's rule? Answer: At least 10. Source: 22 Tex. Admin. Code 203.6
  • The provisional license program must include assisting with at least how many cases? Answer: 45. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.303
  • Under the Commission's rule, when does the two-year period of a funeral director's or embalmer's license begin? Answer: On the first day of the licensee's birth month. Source: 22 Tex. Admin. Code 203.1
  • What does "personal supervision" require under Chapter 651? Answer: The physical presence of a funeral director or embalmer where and when the service is provided. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.306
  • What grade must an applicant attain on the written examination given by the Commission? Answer: At least 75 percent. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.253
  • What must a provisional license holder tell a family when conducting funeral arrangements? Answer: That the holder is provisionally licensed and works under a funeral director's personal supervision. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.303
  • With no violation on record, how often must a licensed funeral establishment be inspected? Answer: At least once every three years. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.157

Establishments, first call and consumer documents 17

  • A funeral director contracts to direct a burial in Texas. Who must be present when the casket is placed in the grave? Answer: The funeral director or an agent of the funeral establishment. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.4085
  • A funeral director must direct the pickup of a dead human body. At whose direction may a body be transferred without one? Answer: A justice of the peace or other law enforcement official. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.401
  • A funeral establishment must have access to rolling stock consisting of at least what? Answer: One motor hearse. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.351
  • A violation occurs in a funeral establishment. Who is ultimately responsible for compliance with the mortuary laws and may be charged? Answer: The funeral director in charge. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.403
  • An unlicensed employee on a removal unexpectedly meets a family member. What may the employee say? Answer: Who the employer is, plus any disclosure the law requires. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.401
  • Apart from the public junior college exception, where may a funeral establishment NOT be located? Answer: On tax-exempt property or in a cemetery. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.351
  • Besides the funeral establishment's own, whose name, mailing address and telephone number must a purchase agreement state? Answer: The Texas Funeral Service Commission's. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.406
  • For how long must copies of price lists and signed agreements be kept and made available to the Commission on request? Answer: Two years. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.460
  • The funeral director in charge of an establishment changes. Within how many days must the Commission be notified under its rule? Answer: 15 days. Source: 22 Tex. Admin. Code 203.22
  • How many adult caskets must a funeral establishment's merchandise display include? Answer: At least five. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.351
  • How must the least expensive casket in the display be shown? Answer: Full-size, in the same general manner as the other full-size caskets. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.351
  • In Chapter 651, what is a "first call"? Answer: The beginning of a funeral director's relationship and duty to take charge of a body. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.001
  • Must a Texas funeral establishment be owned by a person licensed under Chapter 651? Answer: No. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.351
  • One person may be funeral director in charge of several establishments under the same ownership only if no establishment is more than how far from any other? Answer: 100 miles. Source: 22 Tex. Admin. Code 203.22
  • What must a funeral director give each prospective customer when funeral services are discussed? Answer: A copy of the brochure prepared by the Commission. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.404
  • What must the inside of each casket contain under the Commission's rule, unless the family or religious or cultural norms oppose it? Answer: A durable, waterproof identification of the deceased. Source: 22 Tex. Admin. Code 203.29
  • Who must sign a funeral establishment's purchase agreement? Answer: The funeral director making the arrangements. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.406

Prohibited practices and penalties 11

  • A caller asks a funeral home for prices by telephone. What does Chapter 651 require? Answer: General price information within a reasonable time. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.454
  • A funeral director tells a family that asking about cost shows a lack of respect for the deceased. Under Chapter 651, what is that? Answer: A violation of the chapter. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.459
  • A justice of the peace lets a funeral establishment take custody of a body. May the establishment embalm it? Answer: Not until the person responsible for the arrangements gives permission. Source: 22 Tex. Admin. Code 203.33
  • A person authorized to make the arrangements asks an establishment to release a body to another funeral home. What does Chapter 651 require? Answer: Promptly surrendering the body. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.456
  • A person fails to pay an administrative penalty or post a bond in the time required. For how long must the Commission suspend the license? Answer: Six months. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.558
  • A person holds himself out as a funeral director without a license. What class of offense is that under Section 651.602? Answer: A Class B misdemeanor. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.602
  • In what form may permission to embalm be given under Chapter 651? Answer: Express written or oral permission. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.457
  • Permission to embalm cannot be obtained. Over what period must a documented reasonable effort to obtain it be made before embalming? Answer: At least three hours. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.457
  • Section 651.455 bars misleading statements about a casket's airtight or watertight properties and about which other quality of funeral merchandise? Answer: Its preservative qualities in delaying decomposition. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.455
  • Soliciting business for a funeral establishment is a violation unless the solicitation is made under what? Answer: A permit issued under Chapter 154 of the Finance Code. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.454
  • What is the largest administrative penalty the Commission may assess for each violation? Answer: $5,000. Source: Texas Occupations Code 651.552

Control of disposition, embalming and cremation 14

  • A decedent's will gives directions for the disposition of the remains. When are they carried out? Answer: Immediately, without the necessity of probate. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 711.002
  • A person with the right to control disposition makes no arrangements. The right ends before the earlier of which two days? Answer: The 6th day after notice of the death or the 10th day after the death. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 711.002
  • The authorizing agent discloses a pacemaker on the cremation authorization form. Who must ensure it is removed before the remains reach the crematory? Answer: The funeral director. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 716.154
  • By what method may a crematory establishment ship cremated remains? Answer: One with internal tracking and a signed delivery receipt. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 716.155
  • Cremated remains go unclaimed with no instructions. What is the earliest day after the cremation on which the establishment may dispose of them? Answer: The 121st day. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 716.302
  • The decedent left no written directions for the disposition itself. Who has first priority to control the disposition of the remains? Answer: The person designated in a written instrument signed by the decedent. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 711.002
  • In the Texas order of priority to control disposition, who comes directly after the surviving spouse? Answer: Any one of the surviving adult children. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 711.002
  • Relatives of equal standing dispute who controls the disposition. Who resolves the dispute? Answer: A court with jurisdiction over probate proceedings for the decedent. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 711.002
  • Under the Commission's embalming standards, the dilute arterial solution may never contain less than what share of formaldehyde or an approved substitute? Answer: 1.0%. Source: 22 Tex. Admin. Code 203.32
  • Until which anniversary of a cremation must a crematory establishment keep its record of that cremation on file? Answer: At least the fifth. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 716.251
  • When may a Texas crematory cremate the remains of more than one person in the same chamber at once? Answer: When the authorizing agent of each deceased person authorizes it in writing. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 716.153
  • Which of these ranks ahead of the executor or administrator of the estate in the right to control disposition? Answer: A surviving adult sibling. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 711.002
  • Who may waive the waiting period for cremation in writing? Answer: A justice of the peace or medical examiner of the county of death, or a court. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 716.004
  • Without a waiver, how long after the time of death must a Texas crematory wait before cremating? Answer: 48 hours. Source: Texas Health and Safety Code 716.004

How this list was compiled: Texas Occupations Code Chapter 651 (https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/OC/htm/OC.651.htm) and Health and Safety Code Chapters 193, 711 and 716, read on October 15, 2026 on the Texas Legislature's statutes site; the Texas Funeral Service Commission's rules in 22 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 203 and the vital statistics rules in 25 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 181, read the same day in the public copy at Cornell's Legal Information Institute (https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/texas/title-22/part-10/chapter-203). These are the laws and rules the Commission lists on its Laws and Rules page (https://tfsc.texas.gov/laws-rules). The scope follows Occupations Code 651.255(2), which names what the state's own written examination covers. 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 Texas statutes and the Texas Administrative Code, which are public. Nothing is taken from the Commission's examination or from any study guide or other practice test.

How it works

This unofficial study guide for the Texas Mortuary Law Exam is 71 practice questions of our own, each answered with the section of Texas law behind it. Not affiliated with the Texas Funeral Service Commission.

Read the full guide

What is here, and what is not

Five topics from Occupations Code Chapter 651, Health and Safety Code Chapters 193, 711 and 716, and the rules in 22 TAC 203 and 25 TAC 181. Prepaid funeral law (Finance Code Chapter 154) is not asked.

  • A death certificate is filed by the 10th day after the death (Health and Safety Code 193.003).
  • Cremation waits 48 hours from the time of death unless a justice of the peace, medical examiner or court waives it (716.004).
  • A provisional license lasts 12 months, renews once, and takes at least 45 cases (Occupations Code 651.303, 651.3045).

Questions and answers

Is there a study guide for the Texas mortuary law exam?

The Commission's Laws and Rules page links the statutes, its rules and a compilation of relevant Texas state laws. This page is unofficial practice on those laws: 71 questions, each naming its section so you can read it there.

How many questions are on the Texas Mortuary Law Exam?

The Commission's provisional license application packet, updated December 6, 2021, describes a 50-question, open-book, computerized exam taken online within a two-hour block. Check the Commission's site for the current format.

What score passes the Texas Mortuary Law Exam?

22 TAC 203.5(n) requires a passing score of at least 75%, and the exam must be passed before a provisional license is issued. A score is invalidated if no license application follows within 6 months.

What laws does the Texas mortuary law exam cover?

By Occupations Code 651.255(2): laws applicable to vital statistics pertaining to dead human bodies, and local and state rules and laws on the preparation, transportation, care and disposition of dead human bodies.

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