Qualifying for a Funeral Director’s License in Illinois

It is no secret that the funeral industry – like so many industries in the United States – is facing a shortage of workers. The good news, however, is that those statistics show that colleges that specialize in funeral service education have shown a steady increase in their enrollment numbers. 

Enrollment Numbers

There are currently 58 accredited mortuary institutions and programs across the country. According to the American Board of Funeral Service Education, there was an almost 25 percent increase in enrollment in 2021 compared to 2020. The board anticipates that the numbers for 2022 will be even higher.

And this increase comes none too soon, as more than 60 percent of funeral directors have said they plan on retiring within the next five years. Additionally, in an industry that has traditionally been dominated by men, more women are graduating from funeral service education programs, making up more than 70 percent of recent graduate statistics.

Requirements to Become a Funeral Director in Illinois

There are more than 20,000 members of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). When it comes to requirements to work as a funeral director, each state has its own requirements.

In Illinois, the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing and Disciplinary Board oversees the licensing and regulation of funeral directors. In order to be licensed in the state, the applicant must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Complete one academic year (successfully) in a college or university, and complete a minimum one-year funeral direction and embalming course (successfully) at an institution that is approved by the state.
• Study for at least one year under a funeral director who is licensed by the state of Illinois. The applicant must have been working as an intern during this time.
• Be well-versed in all approved measures to prevent the spread of disease, as well as be properly protected against communicable diseases via means approved and adopted by the medical community.
• Pass an exam by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)

Contact a Cook County Professional License Defense Attorney

There are many issues that can arise during this process. If you are denied a license or have other issues during the application process, contact a Chicago funeral director defense license.

Once you are licensed, there are specific rules and regulations set by the Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing and Disciplinary Board that must be adhered to. This is also the board that investigates complaints made against a funeral director.  If you need legal assistance regarding your funeral director license, call Williams & Nickl, LLC at 312-335-9470 today.

Sources:

https://www.ifda.org/page/becoming_funeral_director

https://abc7chicago.com/mortuary-school-funeral-industry-jobs/12220302/