645—101.2(156) Requirements for licensure.
	101.2(1) The applicant will be eligible to apply for a license to practice mortuary science by the board pursuant to subrule 101.2(2) when the applicant has completed the educational requirements and examination requirements, followed by a completed internship as prescribed below, in the following alphabetical order:
	a. 	Educational qualifications.
	(1)	A minimum of 60 hours of college credit as indicated on the transcript from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum of a 2.0 or “C” grade point average. The 60 college semester hours will not include any technical mortuary science course; and
	(2)	A program in mortuary science from a school accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education; and
	(3)	A college course of at least one semester hour or equivalent in current Iowa law and rules covering mortuary science content areas including, but not limited to, Iowa law and rules governing the practice of mortuary science, cremation, vital statistics, cemeteries and preneed services.
	b. 	Examination requirements. The board will accept a certificate of examination issued by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, Inc., indicating a passing score on both the arts and sciences portions of the examination.
	c. 	Internship requirements as outlined in rule 645—101.3(147,156).
	101.2(2) The applicant will complete an online application packet on the Iowa board of mortuary science website and pay the nonrefundable application fee.
	a. 	If licensed in another jurisdiction, the applicant will complete the licensure by endorsement application. Submit a license verification document that discloses if disciplinary action was taken in the jurisdiction where the applicant was most recently licensed.
	b. 	An application that is not completed according to guidelines will not be reviewed by the board.
	c. 	A person who is licensed in another jurisdiction but who is unable to satisfy the requirements of licensure by endorsement may apply for licensure by verification, if eligible, in accordance with rule 645—19.1(272C).
	d. 	An application will not be considered until official copies of the academic transcripts have been directly transmitted from the college to the board office that demonstrate the applicant has completed a program at an approved college of mortuary science.
	e. 	Licensees who were issued their initial licenses within six months prior to the renewal will not be required to renew their licenses until the renewal month two years later.
	f. 	Incomplete applications that have been on file in the board office for more than two years will be:
	(1)	Considered invalid and will be destroyed; or
	(2)	Maintained upon written request of the candidate. The candidate is responsible for requesting that the file be maintained.
	101.2(3) Foreign-trained funeral directors will:
	a. 	Provide an equivalency evaluation of their educational credentials by International Education Research Foundation, Inc.	The professional curriculum must be equivalent to that stated in these rules. A candidate will bear the expense of the curriculum evaluation.
	b. 	Provide a copy of the certificate or diploma awarded to the applicant from a mortuary science program in the country in which the applicant was educated.
	c. 	Receive a final determination from the board regarding the application for licensure.
	d. 	Successfully complete a college course of at least one semester hour or equivalent in current Iowa law and rules covering mortuary science content areas including, but not limited to, Iowa law and rules governing the practice of mortuary science, cremation, vital statistics, cemeteries and preneed.
[ARC 7813C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]