ℹ️ Independence notice: This is an independent guide — not the official WV Board of Funeral Service Examiners. We do not provide or approve CE courses. For the official list of approved providers and forms, visit wvfuneralboard.wv.gov or call (304) 558-0302.
In This Guide:
CE Requirements at a Glance
West Virginia requires all licensed funeral directors, embalmers, and funeral service licensees to complete continuing education as a condition for license renewal. This guide covers everything you need to know to stay compliant.
Who Needs Continuing Education?
CE is required for anyone holding an active WV license in the following categories:
- Licensed funeral directors
- Licensed embalmers
- Funeral service licensees (combined funeral director + embalmer)
- Crematory operators (separate requirements — see section below)
CE is NOT required for:
- Inactive license holders (you must notify the Board of inactive status)
- Funeral director emeritus or embalmer emeritus (age 65+ with 10+ years experience — see Exemptions section)
- Apprentices (not yet licensed)
How Many Hours Do You Need?
| License Type | CE Hours Required | Renewal Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Funeral Director | 7 hours | Every 2 years (biennial) |
| Embalmer | 7 hours | Every 2 years (biennial) |
| Funeral Service Licensee | 7 hours | Every 2 years (biennial) |
| Crematory Operator | As required by Board (see below) | Every 2 years (biennial) |
All 7 hours must be completed before your renewal deadline. Hours are reported to the Board through CE Broker.
What Topics Qualify?
CE courses must be relevant to the practice of mortuary science. The Board approves courses in areas including:
- Funeral service ethics
- OSHA safety and compliance
- FTC Funeral Rule compliance
- Preneed planning and contracts
- Embalming techniques and restoration
- Grief counseling and bereavement support
- Funeral home management and marketing
- Green burial and alternative disposition
- Organ and tissue donation
- Mental health awareness in funeral service
- WV funeral laws and regulations
Courses whose primary purpose is to promote, sell, or market specific products or services to funeral homes generally do not qualify for CE credit.
Online vs. In-Person
Good news: all 7 required hours can be completed online in West Virginia. You don't need to attend in-person seminars or travel to conferences (though those count too).
Online CE
- Complete at your own pace from anywhere
- All 7 hours eligible for online completion
- Courses typically range from 1 to 4 hours each
- Results reported to CE Broker automatically (for most providers)
- Cost: typically $7–$15 per credit hour
In-Person CE
- State and national funeral service conferences
- WV Cemetery & Funeral Association events
- NFDA and state association seminars
- Local Board meetings (may count — verify with the Board)
- Often provide networking and hands-on learning
Approved CE Providers
The Board approves CE providers and courses on a biennial basis. All courses must be approved by the Board before they can be counted toward your renewal.
| Provider | Format | Website |
|---|---|---|
| APEX Continuing Education | Online and mail | apexces.com |
| Elite Learning (Colibri Healthcare) | Online | elitelearning.com |
| WebCE | Online | webce.com |
| National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) | Online and in-person | nfda.org |
| WV Cemetery & Funeral Association | In-person events | wvcfa.org |
| Selected Morticians of WV | In-person events | Contact directly |
APEX offers a popular 7-hour course package for WV renewal that includes Funeral Service Ethics, OSHA Essentials, and Creative Marketing — fulfilling all requirements in one bundle for about $50.
Important: Always verify with the Board that a specific course is currently approved before completing it. The approved provider list can change each renewal cycle. Contact the Board at (304) 558-0302 or check the approved list on CE Broker.
How to Submit CE Credits
Most approved online providers automatically report your completed hours to CE Broker, which the WV Board uses to track compliance. Here's the process:
- Complete your approved CE courses before the renewal deadline
- Verify your hours appear in CE Broker (cebroker.com) — most providers report within 1 to 2 weeks
- If a provider doesn't report automatically, you may need to submit your completion certificates to the Board directly
- When you submit your biennial renewal application, the Board will verify your CE hours through CE Broker
Keep copies of all completion certificates for your records. If there's ever a discrepancy, you'll need proof that you completed the required hours.
Renewal Deadlines
WV funeral licenses are renewed biennially on a staggered schedule, with the renewal deadline of July 1.
Renewal deadline:
July 1 (every 2 years, staggered by the Board)
What happens if you miss the deadline:
The Board charges a late fee for non-renewal. If your license remains expired for an extended period, you may need to apply for reinstatement, which can require additional steps and fees.
Pro tip:
Don't wait until the last month to complete your CE. Online courses take just a few hours, and completing them early avoids the stress of a deadline crunch. Many funeral directors complete their CE in January or February of their renewal year to get it out of the way.
Exemptions
Two categories of licensees are exempt from CE requirements:
Emeritus Status
Under WV Code §30-6-14(c), any licensed embalmer or funeral director who is:
- Age 65 or older, AND
- Has at least 10 years of experience as a licensed embalmer or funeral director
...is entitled to apply for emeritus status. An embalmer emeritus or funeral director emeritus is exempt from all continuing education requirements while retaining all rights and privileges of their license.
To apply for emeritus status, contact the Board and pay the applicable fee.
Inactive Status
If you don't plan to practice actively, you can place your license on inactive status by notifying the Board and paying a fee. Inactive licensees are exempt from CE but cannot practice funeral directing, embalming, or cremation while inactive.
To reactivate an inactive license, you'll need to meet the current CE requirements and apply for reinstatement.
CE for Crematory Operators
Crematory operator CE works differently from funeral director and embalmer CE. Rather than a set number of hours per cycle, crematory operators must complete CE under two conditions:
1. New equipment:
When new cremation equipment is installed, the operator must be trained on that specific equipment before using it.
2. Regulatory changes:
If the Board determines that industry regulations have changed significantly, it may require additional training with a 9-month completion window.
Crematory operators must maintain records of all CE completed and make them available during Board inspections.
Becoming a CE Provider in West Virginia
If you want to offer CE courses for WV funeral professionals, you must apply for Board approval:
- Submit an application to the Board at least 45 days before the first scheduled presentation
- The course content must be relevant to the practice of mortuary science
- The Board evaluates applications based on the presenter's educational qualifications, experience, resources, past performance, and program content
- Approval is granted biennially — you must reapply each cycle
- There is no application fee for CE provider approval (unless under specific Board provisions)
The Board can revoke approval immediately if it determines the provider cannot deliver a quality course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Licensing Topics
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Need Help With CE Requirements?
For the official list of approved CE providers, renewal forms, and specific questions about your CE status, contact the WV Board of Funeral Service Examiners.
Visit Official Board Website →(304) 558-0302