Funeral Service Exam | Funeral Service Exam Preparation Help

This overview includes information to help you prepare for the Funeral Service National Board Exam, or NBE. You’ll find details about eligibility, the test format, registration, costs, test-day expectations, scoring, retakes, and study resources.

Exam Background and Purpose

The Funeral Service National Board Exam is developed by The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, also known as The Conference. The exam is used by licensing agencies as part of the process for evaluating candidates who are seeking licensure as funeral directors and/or embalmers.

The NBE measures knowledge and skills related to funeral service arts, funeral service sciences, legal and regulatory responsibilities, embalming, restorative art, funeral arranging, and other areas of entry-level funeral service practice.

Test Overview

The NBE is divided into two separately administered sections: NBE-Arts and NBE-Sciences. Each section contains 170 multiple-choice questions. Of those questions, 150 are scored and 20 are unscored pretest questions. The pretest questions are mixed into the exam, so candidates should answer every question.

The exam includes the following areas:

NBE-Arts: Funeral Arranging and Directing (51 questions) — This area covers arrangement conferences, disposition options, funeral rites and ceremonies, service planning, and professional responsibilities related to funeral directing.
NBE-Arts: Funeral Service Marketing/Merchandising (21 questions) — This area covers funeral service products, merchandise, pricing, consumer information, and related business practices.
NBE-Arts: Funeral Service Counseling (19 questions) — This area covers grief, communication, family interaction, and support for people experiencing loss.
NBE-Arts: Legal and Regulatory Compliance (35 questions) — This area covers laws, regulations, documentation, authorization, consumer protection, and professional compliance responsibilities.
NBE-Arts: Cemetery/Crematory/Other Dispositions (24 questions) — This area covers cremation, cemetery procedures, alternative disposition methods, and related service responsibilities.
NBE-Sciences: Embalming (62 questions) — This area covers embalming theory, chemicals, procedures, case analysis, preservation, disinfection, and preparation of the body.
NBE-Sciences: Restorative Art (34 questions) — This area covers facial features, restoration methods, cosmetics, modeling, anatomical guides, and visible presentation of the deceased.
NBE-Sciences: Other Preparation of the Deceased (28 questions) — This area covers preparation procedures, handling of remains, identification, dressing, casketing, and related technical responsibilities.
NBE-Sciences: Funeral Service Sciences (26 questions) — This area covers anatomy, pathology, microbiology, chemistry, public health, and other science topics related to funeral service practice.

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Eligibility Requirements

To take the NBE-Arts and/or NBE-Sciences, candidates must meet The Conference’s eligibility requirements. Candidates may become eligible by graduating from an ABFSE-accredited or affiliated mortuary science program, or by meeting state eligibility requirements and having the state board where they are seeking licensure submit eligibility directly to The Conference.

Eligibility can depend on the exam section, education background, state board requirements, and licensing path. Candidates should review the current NBE Candidate Handbook and confirm requirements with their school or state licensing board before applying.

Costs and Payment Options

The current NBE fee is charged separately for the NBE-Arts section and the NBE-Sciences section. Candidates may pay for the sections together or separately.

Fees, refund rules, payment methods, score-release fees, and retake costs can change, so candidates should check The Conference’s current instructions before submitting an application.

Registration/Times/Locations

Candidates apply through The Conference. After eligibility is verified and the application is processed, The Conference releases an Authorization to Test to Pearson VUE. Candidates then schedule their exam appointment through Pearson VUE.

The NBE-Arts and NBE-Sciences sections are administered separately by computer at approved Pearson VUE testing locations. Testing availability, appointment times, and test center rules can vary, so candidates should schedule early and carefully review their confirmation information.

Test Scores

The NBE-Arts and NBE-Sciences are scored separately. Each section is reported as pass or fail. The NBE uses scaled scoring, and the passing standard is a scaled score of 75.

Candidates receive an unofficial result after testing. Official results are released to the licensing board or boards selected during the application process. Passing numerical scores are generally released only to regulatory boards for licensing purposes.

Retaking the Funeral Service Exam

Candidates who do not pass a section may retake the failed section. A new application and payment are required for each retake.

Candidates must wait before retaking a failed NBE-Arts or NBE-Sciences section. Retake rules can change, and state licensing boards may have additional requirements, so candidates should review the current NBE Candidate Handbook before applying again.

What Should I Expect on Test Day?

On test day, follow the instructions from The Conference and Pearson VUE. In general, you should be prepared to:

Arrive at the testing center early.
Bring the required forms of identification.
Make sure your first and last name match your exam application.
Follow all check-in and security procedures.
Store or leave behind prohibited personal items.
Agree to the required exam security and nondisclosure rules.
Use only materials allowed by the testing program.
Manage your time carefully and answer every question.

Personal items such as phones, watches, bags, notes, study materials, food, drinks, and personal calculators are typically restricted. A calculator may be built into the computer program for NBE-Arts and NBE-Sciences, but candidates should not bring their own calculator.

How Can I Prepare for the Funeral Service Exam?

Start by reviewing the current NBE content outline. The Arts section focuses on funeral arranging, merchandising, counseling, legal compliance, and disposition practices. The Sciences section focuses on embalming, restorative art, preparation of the deceased, and funeral service sciences.

Then build a study plan around your weaker section. If the Arts section is harder for you, spend more time on funeral directing, legal rules, counseling, and disposition procedures. If the Sciences section is harder, focus on embalming, anatomy, pathology, microbiology, chemistry, restorative art, and preparation procedures.

Practice questions are useful because they help you apply funeral service knowledge the way it may appear on the exam. After each practice session, review missed questions carefully so you understand the law, procedure, science concept, counseling principle, or professional responsibility behind the correct answer.

NBE, National Board Exam, NBE-Arts, NBE-Sciences, The Conference, and related funeral service examination terms are associated with The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards is not involved with or affiliated with Mometrix Media LLC or StudyGuideZone.com, nor does it endorse or sponsor any products or services offered by Mometrix Media LLC or StudyGuideZone.com.