(a) An applicant for a provisional license must meet the eligibility requirements of Occupations Code, §651.302 and shall submit to a criminal background check. Upon written application, the Commission shall waive the requirements of Occupations Code, §651.302(a)(2) and (b)(2) for a period not to exceed 12 months to an applicant who is otherwise qualified. This education waiver may be granted only to a person who has never held a provisional license issued by the Commission.     
      (b) An applicant who is enrolled in an accredited mortuary college must have the college forward a letter of enrollment prior to a provisional license being issued. A provisional license holder who was granted an education waiver under Occupations Code §651.302(c) must have the college forward a letter of enrollment prior to a provisional license being renewed. An applicant or a provisional license holder who has completed coursework but is not a certified graduate may hold a provisional license if the person has the college forward a letter stating the person has filed for graduation and provide an expected graduation date within 3 months.     
      (c) If a school or college or mortuary science loses its accreditation, a student who is enrolled and actively attending classes related to mortuary science will be considered to have graduated from an accredited school or college of mortuary science for the purpose of complying with Occupations Code §651.253, if the student graduates within 12 months of the loss of accreditation.     
      (d) A provisional license holder may work only in a funeral establishment or commercial embalming establishment licensed by the Commission. All work must be performed under the direct and personal supervision of a duly licensed funeral director or embalmer, depending on the provisional license.     
      (e) The provisional funeral director program may not be served in a commercial embalming establishment.     
      (f) A provisional license holder must maintain employment with a funeral establishment or commercial embalming establishment, as applicable, throughout the provisional license period. A provisional license holder must notify the Commission where he/she is employed and if he/she changes employer. If the license holder is not employed, the Commission will cancel the provisional license.     
      (g) A provisional license is valid for a term of 12 consecutive months. If a provisional license holder fails to complete the license requirements in the 12-month license period, the holder's license may be renewed for an additional 12 months, for a maximum term of 24 months.     
      (h) Notwithstanding subsection (g) of this section, if a provisional license holder who was granted an education waiver under Occupations Code §651.302(c) fails to complete the license requirements in the maximum 24-month license period, the holder's license may be renewed for up to an additional 12 months, for a maximum term of 36 months. The license will be extended only for the number of months the provisional license holder was not enrolled in mortuary school.     
      (i) Fees will not be refunded to a provisional license holder who fails to complete the program.     
      (j) The Commission shall exit a provisional license holder from the program at any time during the license term if the license holder shows he/she has met the eligibility requirements of Occupations Code §651.253.     
      (k) Upon the completion of the provisional license program, the provisional license holder shall submit the Commission promulgated Exit Application and all required documentation to the Commission. The Commission shall verify the information received to ensure the provisional licensee has met all requirements. All information submitted is subject to inspection.     
      (l) Once the Commission confirms licensing requirements have been met, the Commission shall issue to the provisional license holder a written affidavit to be executed by the Funeral Director in Charge or the Embalmer in Charge, as applicable, which attests to the proficiency of the provisional license holder.     
      (m) Prior to issuing a regular license, the Commission must receive the affidavit described by subsection (1) of this section and the fees required for regular licensure.     
      (n) Examination Requirements.      
        (1) An applicant for full licensure as a funeral director from the certificate program must pass the Texas State Board Examination as described in Occupations Code, §651.255.       
        (2) An applicant for full licensure who holds an Associate of Applied Science degree is required to pass either or both of the examinations as described in Occupations Code, §§651.255 - 651.256, depending on the license type being sought.       
        (3) Prior to being issued a provisional license, an applicant must pass the State Mortuary Law Examination administered by the Commission. If a person fails to submit an application for licensure within 6 months of taking the Mortuary Law Examination, the score is invalidated and the person must retake and pass the exam prior to licensure.       
        (4) A passing score of at least 75% is required for each examination described in paragraphs (1) - (3) of this subsection.       
      (o) A person who fails to submit an application within 6 months after submitting to a criminal background check may be required to submit to a subsequent background check.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §203.5 adopted to be effective October 18, 2015, 40 TexReg 7065; amended to be effective October 6, 2016, 41 TexReg 7716; amended to be effective October 3, 2019, 44 TexReg 5625