2005 California Business and Professions Code Sections 7640-7650 Article 3. Embalmers

7640.  An embalmer is one who is duly qualified to disinfect or
preserve human remains by the injection or external application of
antiseptics, disinfectants or preservative fluids; to prepare human
bodies for transportation which are dead of contagious or infectious
diseases; and to use derma surgery or plastic art for restoring
mutilated features; and who is duly licensed as an embalmer under the
laws of the State of California.
7641.  It is unlawful for any person to embalm a body, or engage in,
or hold himself or herself out as engaged in practice as an
embalmer, unless he or she is licensed by the bureau.  However, this
section shall have no effect on students and instructors of embalming
in embalming colleges approved by the bureau.
7642.  An application for an embalmer's license shall be written on
a form provided by the bureau, verified by the applicant, and
accompanied by the fee fixed by this chapter.
7643.  In order to qualify for a license as an embalmer, the
applicant shall comply with all of the following requirements:
   (a) Be over 18 years of age.
   (b) Not have committed acts or crimes constituting grounds for
denial of licensure under Section 480.
   (c) Furnish proof showing completion of a high school course or
instead he or she may furnish the bureau with evidence that he or she
has been licensed and has practiced as an embalmer for a minimum of
three years within the seven years preceding his or her application
in any other state or country and that the license has never been
suspended or revoked for unethical conduct.
   (d) Have completed at least two years of apprenticeship under an
embalmer licensed and engaged in practice as an embalmer in this
state in a funeral establishment which shall have been approved for
apprentices by the bureau and while so apprenticed shall have
assisted in embalming not fewer than 100 human remains; provided,
however, that a person who has been licensed and has practiced as an
embalmer for a minimum of three years within the seven years
preceding his or her application in any other state or country and
whose license has never been suspended or revoked for unethical
conduct shall not be required to serve any apprenticeship in this
state.
   (e) Have successfully completed a course of instruction of not
less than one academic year in an embalming school approved by the
bureau and accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service
Education.
7646.  The bureau shall require the applicant to pass an
examination, which shall include the following subjects:
   (a) Theory and practice of embalming.
   (b) Anatomy, including histology, embryology and dissection.
   (c) Pathology and bacteriology.
   (d) Hygiene, including sanitation and public health.
   (e) Chemistry, including toxicology.
   (f) Restorative art, including plastic surgery and demisurgery.
   (g) Laws, rules and regulations of the bureau, including those
sections of the Health and Safety Code which pertain to the funeral
industry.
7647.  The bureau shall examine applicants for embalmer's licenses
at least once annually.
   Examinations shall be held at such times and places as may be
determined by the bureau.
   Notice of the time and place of such examinations shall be given
as determined by the bureau.
7647.5.  Where a hearing is held to determine whether an application
for a license should be granted, the proceeding shall be conducted
in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part
1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the bureau
shall have all of the powers granted therein.
7648.  No embalmer's license is assignable, and only the licensee
may engage in the practice of embalming under the license.
7649.  Except as provided in Section 102805 of the Health and Safety
Code, whenever the name of any licensed embalmer is subscribed to
any certificate, the purport of which is that he or she has performed
any act mentioned in the certificate, the licensed embalmer shall
actually sign his or her name thereto.
7650.  From time to time, the bureau may examine the requirements
for the issuance of licenses to embalmers in other states of the
United States and cause a record to be kept of those states in which
standards are maintained for embalmers, not lower than those provided
in this chapter.