DHHS Internet Website - Public Health

Funeral Directing and Embalming
Continuing Education

1. Complete at least 16 hours of approved continuing competency hours during the preceding 24-month period.
2. Take the Jurisprudence Examination at least 1 time every 10 years.

Acceptable Continuing Competency Topic Areas: The Board does not approve continuing competency programs/activities. In order for a continuing competency activity/program to be accepted for renewal or reinstatement of a license, the activity must include one or a combination of the following topic areas:

1. Communication/Media;
2. Counseling/Arbitration;
3. Customer relations;
4. Disaster training;
5. Embalming practice;
6. Funeral directing practice;
7. Management (stress/personnel/business);
8. Marketing/advertising;
9. Personal development; or
10. Pre-need.

Continuing Competency Hour/Credit Calculations. The following provides the hour/credit calculations:

1. Academic Credit: All 16 hours of continuing competency hours per a biennial renewal period may be obtained through academic credit; hours are calculated as follows:
   1. 1 semester hour of academic credit equals 15 continuing competency hours; and
   2. 1 quarter hour of academic credit equals 10 continuing competency hours;

2. Home Study: A maximum of 8 hours of continuing competency hours per a biennial renewal period may be obtained through home study programs.

3. Continuing Education Workshops: All 16 hours of continuing competency hours per a biennial renewal period may be obtained through continuing education workshops; hours obtained are calculated as follows:
   1. 60 minutes of participation equals 1 continuing competency hour. Credit will not be awarded for breaks and meals.

4. Jurisprudence Examination: 4 hours of continuing competency hours will be granted for licensees receiving a score of 75% or above on the jurisprudence examination. A licensee must take the jurisprudence examination at least 1 time every 10 years.

5. Tours: A maximum of 4 hours of continuing competency credit per a biennial renewal period may be obtained through a funeral directing and embalming related tour. Hours are calculated as follows:
   1. 60 minutes of tour participation equals 1 continuing competency credit.

6. Exhibits/Displays: A maximum of 4 hours of continuing competency hours per a biennial renewal period may be obtained through a funeral directing and embalming related exhibit/display. Hours are calculated as follows:
   1. If a continuing education workshop provides an exhibit or display area, a licensee may earn 1 continuing competency credit per workshop for viewing the exhibits/displays.

7. District/State/National Association Meetings: A maximum of 8 hours of continuing competency hours per a biennial renewal period may be obtained through attendance as a District, State, or National Association Meeting. Hours are calculated as follows:
   1. 60 minutes of participation constitutes 1 continuing competency credit. Only 1 hour may be obtained per meeting.

Continuing EducationWorkshop Criteria: To be considered acceptable for continuing competency, a continuing education workshop must meet the following criteria:

1. The program must be at least 60 minutes in duration;
2. The program's objectives must relate to the topic areas defined in 172 NAC 67-008.03;
3. Presenters of programs must be qualified by education, experience or training;
4. Continuing Education Workshops must be open to all Funeral Directors and Embalmers licensed by Nebraska who meet the pre-requisites for the program; and
5. The program provider must have a process for verifying attendance and issue a certificate of attendance.
   1. Each certificate must include the following:
      1. Program name;
      2. Name of the participant and his or her license number;
      3. Provider's name;
      4. Date the program began and ended; and
      5. Number of hours received by the licensee.

Criteria for a Home Study Program: To be considered acceptable, a home study program must meet the following criteria:

1. The home study program's objectives must relate to the topic areas defined in 172 NAC 67-008.03.

2. The program author(s) of home study programs must meet the following qualifications:
   1. Have experience in the content and subject matter;
   2. Have expertise in teaching and instructional methods suitable to subject presented; and
   3. Have suitable academic qualifications, certification credentials, and/or experience for subject presented;
3. There must be a post-test.

Licensee Responsibilities:  The licensee is responsible for:

1. Maintaining documentation of attending a continuing competency program/activity and the program/activity outline.
2. If the licensee is a presenter, maintaining documentation of his/her presentation and the program/activity outline. A presenter may receive credit for only the initial presentation during a renewal period. Credit will not be given for subsequent presentations of the same program.
3. Submitting to the Department, on the renewal form, attestation of meeting the continuing competency requirements. The completed form must include the following information:
   1. The title of the program/activity;
   2. The number of hours of approved continuing competency credit received for each program/activity;
   3. The date(s) of the continuing competency program/activity;
   4. The location of the continuing competency program/activity; and
   5. The name of the provider of the continuing competency program/activity.