The Alabama Board of Funeral Service is the regulatory and licensing agency for the funeral profession in the state of Alabama. It was created in 1975 by Act 214 of the Alabama Legislature's Regular Session and actual office operation began in early 1976.
The Alabama Board of Funeral Services is established with 14 members, all of whom must be U.S. citizens and Alabama residents. The board is divided into two divisions:
- Funeral Division
- Composed of seven professional members (licensed embalmers or funeral directors) and two consumer members.
- The professional members must have been actively practicing their profession in Alabama for the last 10 years.
- Three professional members must be licensed embalmers, and four must be licensed funeral directors operating funeral establishments in Alabama.
- Professional members are appointed by the Governor.
- Preneed Division
- Composed of four professional members and one consumer member.
- The professional members include two licensed funeral directors and two licensed preneed sales agents employed by cemeteries. These members must have five years of experience in preneed sales or management in Alabama and must be employed by a licensed certificate holder.
- The preneed members also must hold a certificate of authority to sell preneed services and merchandise.
- Professional members are appointed by the Governor.
- Consumer Members
- These members represent the public, and they must have been Alabama residents for 10 consecutive years prior to appointment.
- They must not have held any license or certification from the board, nor be professionally or financially linked to a licensee.
- Two consumer members are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, and one by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The appointing authorities are tasked with ensuring the board reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity of Alabama.
