(a) An individual shall obtain an apprentice license from the Board before beginning an apprenticeship in this State.

(b) (1) A mortician apprentice shall have an apprentice sponsor who:

(i) Is a licensed mortician whose license is in good standing with the Board; and

(ii) Is employed by the same funeral establishment that employs the apprentice.

(2) A funeral director apprentice shall have an apprentice sponsor who:

(i) Is a licensed mortician or funeral director whose license is in good standing with the Board; and

(ii) Is employed by the same funeral establishment that employs the apprentice.

(3) An apprentice may have more than one apprentice sponsor.

(c) (1) An applicant for an apprentice license shall:

(i) Pay to the Board a fee set by the Board; and

(ii) Submit a letter from the director of the mortuary science program in which the applicant is enrolled that:

1. Includes the seal of the school; and

2. Verifies that the applicant is actively enrolled in the program.

(2) When applying for license renewal, a licensed apprentice shall submit to the Board a letter from the director of the mortuary science program in which the licensed apprentice is enrolled that:

(i) Includes the seal of the school; and

(ii) Verifies that the licensed apprentice is actively enrolled in the program.

(d) (1) (i) Before an individual appears before the Board for approval of an apprentice license, the individual shall be enrolled in or have graduated from a mortuary science program at a school accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service or approved by the Board, with a 2.0 grade point average or higher that is verified with a certified copy of the college transcript, if the individual has a grade point average.

(ii) A licensed apprentice who was enrolled in a mortuary science program at the time the license was granted shall remain enrolled in the program for the duration of the apprenticeship unless the licensed apprentice graduates.

(2) The applicant and a licensed mortician or licensed funeral director shall appear before the Board to seek the Board’s approval for an apprentice license for the applicant.

(3) On termination of the sponsor-apprentice relationship, both the sponsor and the apprentice shall independently notify the Board in writing of:

(i) The date of termination;

(ii) The name, date of death, date of service, and evidence of the service for each decedent for whom a funeral service was conducted under subsection (e)(1)(i) of this section in which the apprentice participated; and

(iii) The name, date of death, date of the preparation for disposition, and a copy of the decedent’s filed death certificate for each decedent for whom the apprentice assisted in accordance with subsection (e)(1)(ii) of this section.

(4) Prior approval must be granted by the Board before a change of sponsorship occurs.

(e) (1) The practical experience of an apprentice shall include:

(i) Participation in at least 20 funerals;

(ii) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, assistance in the preparation and embalming of at least 20 dead human bodies for final disposition; and

(iii) Completion of at least 1,000 working hours in a licensed funeral establishment under the direct supervision of the apprentice sponsor.

(2) For an apprentice funeral director, the practical experience under paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection may not include embalming.

(3) For purposes of paragraph (1)(iii) of this subsection, direct supervision may include instruction by a licensed mortician or funeral director employed or supervised by the apprentice sponsor that is observed in person by the apprentice sponsor.

(f) While the license is effective, an apprentice license authorizes the licensee to assist a licensed mortician or funeral director in the practice of mortuary science or funeral direction only as part of a training program to become a licensed mortician or funeral director.