Funeral and Cemetery Board

About the board

Funeral and Cemetery Board members serve 4-year terms. There are 7 members, who are all Washington residents:

• 3 members who have continuously worked as licensed funeral directors and embalmers for the last 5 years
• 3 members who have actively administered or been on the board of directors for a cemetery authority for the last 5 years
• 1 member of the general public who hasn't worked in or financially benefited from the funeral and cemetery industry

The board meets about 4 times a year, including meetings at colleges with funeral director and embalmer degree programs. Members may also choose to attend outreach events or conferences.

How to serve on the board

Want to serve on the Funeral and Cemetery Board? Apply through the Governor’s boards and commissions web page.

Current board members

Meetings and minutes

See a list of future meeting dates and past meeting materials for the Funeral and Cemetery Board. To request meeting materials in an alternative format, email funerals@dol.wa.gov or call 360-664-1555.

All meetings are held virtually through Microsoft Teams. Board members attend online only, not in-person. You may attend virtually or in-person. For those who want to attend in-person, we provide a meeting room to view a livestream of the meeting. You can participate in the meeting through either attendance option. Please contact DOLBoards@dol.wa.gov with any questions.

The in-person options are held at our Business and Professions Division, located at:
405 Black Lake Blvd
Olympia, WA 98502
Map and directions

Upcoming meetings

Past meetings

Board policies

Read various policies from the Funeral and Cemetery Board.

Annual report documents

Funeral establishments no longer need to file balance sheets and profit and loss statements with their annual reports.

This policy will be implemented by July 1, 2014 and will be in effect until the Board formally adopts administrative rules.

Washington State Funeral and Cemetery Board, 5/6/2014

Related laws and rules

• Annual statement requirements [WAC 308-49-170(2)]

Funeral establishment advertising

Using P.O. box numbers in funeral establishment advertising is not:

• False, deceptive, or misleading advertising
• Unprofessional conduct

Washington State Funeral and Cemetery Board, 8/10/2010

Related laws and rules

• Unprofessional Conduct - Acts or conditions that constitute (RCW 18.235.130)

Recognized subject categories

The following college course subjects meet the educational requirements outlined in RCW 18.39.045.

Social science

(Subjects with ** can apply as both a social science and a behavioral science course.)

• American cultural studies
• American Indian studies
• Anthropology**
• Asian American studies
• Communications
• Economics
• Environmental studies
• Forest resources
• Geography
• Government
• History**
• Human services
• International studies
• Linguistics
• Music
• Political science
• Psychology*
• Religion
• Social studies
• Social work
• Sociology**
• Speech communications
• Urban design and planning
• Women studies

Behavioral science

• Anthropology
• History
• Liberal studies
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Women studies

Elective courses

• Behavioral sciences (see list above)
• Public speaking
• Counseling
• Business administration and management
• First aid

Washington State Funeral and Cemetery Board, 11/6/2012. Policy 18.39.045-1

Related laws and rules

• College course requirements (RCW 18.39.045)

Qualifying activities for interns and sponsor responsibilities

The following tasks give interns the appropriate experience to help them get licensed as funeral directors or embalmers. Interns must complete these activities during their internships.

Funeral director intern activities

1. Receive initial notification of death.
2. Remove remains from place of death.
3. Wear protective clothing/observe universal precautions.
4. Get the identity of remains/place identification on remains.
5. Comply with embalming/refrigeration regulations.
6. Observe funeral arrangements.
7. Conduct an arrangement conference.
8. Gather vital statistic information.
9. Compose obituary/death notices.
10. Get authorizations for embalming, cremation, release, etc.
11. Get a burial transit permit.
12. Complete a Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected.
13. Plan and coordinate service and disposition details.
14. Present and explain a general price list.
15. Present and explain a casket price list.
16. Present and explain an outer burial container price list.
17. Determine financial responsibility.
18. Document and remove personal effects.
19. Complete and file a death certificate.
20. Get certified copies of a death certificate.
21. Explain FTC requirements.
22. Explain Social Security and Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.
23. Help with visitation.
24. Help with funeral/memorial or graveside service.
25. Receive and arrange flowers.
26. Set up a viewing room.
27. Make disposition arrangements.
28. Have appropriate licensing.
29. Keep information confidential.
30. Coordinate funeral service participants (clergy, military, etc.).
31. Prepare and present honorariums/gratuities.
32. Conclude service and dismiss attendees.
33. Arrange casket/urn settings.
34. Confirm the identity of the decedent before disposition.
35. Complete the disposition of cremated human remains.

Embalmer intern activities

1. Wear protective clothing/universal precautions.
2. Get the identity of the decedent.
3. Bathe and disinfect remains.
4. Get or verify embalming authorization.
5. Place and position the deceased on an embalming table.
6. Relieve rigor mortis.
7. Clean and inventory personal effects.
8. Perform pre-embalming case analysis.
9. Select and mix embalming fluids.
10. Shave the deceased.
11. Set features.
12. Make an incision.
13. Locate and raise vessels for injection/drainage.
14. Inject vessels.
15. Establish fluid distribution.
16. Establish drainage.
17. Treat discolorations, bruises, and lacerations.
18. Suture incisions.
19. Perform autopsy repair (thoracic/abdominal).
20. Cranial autopsy repair.
21. Aspirate and inject/treat cavities.
22. Trocar button/suture.
23. Suture an autopsy incision.
24. Cosmetize remains.
25. Dress remains.
26. Restorative art.
27. Inject tissue filler.
28. Dispose of biohazardous waste.
29. Hypodermic treatment.
30. Place remains in a casket/container.
31. Treat orifices.
32. Groom hands and nails.
33. Remove medical devices/implants.
34. Post-embalming cleanup.
35. Wrap and/or pouch remains.

Sponsor responsibilities

Sponsors are responsible for providing meaningful evaluation during internships and must ensure their interns also meet these expectations:

• Keep information confidential
• Follow laws, rules, and regulations for funeral service and business operations
• Follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards
• Follow laws, rules, and regulations for pre-arrangement sales and funding contracts
• Be aware of changes in funeral service law
• Apply an understanding of funeral service law

Washington State Funeral and Cemetery Board, 11/6/2012, revised 8/5/14

Related laws and rules

• Registration - Renewal - Notice of Termination - Fees (RCW 18.39.120)
• Course of training - Funeral director interns (WAC 308-48-150)
• Course of training - Embalmer interns (WAC 308-48-160)

Related laws

• Embalmers—Funeral directors (Chapter 18.39 RCW)