(a) Applicants for examination pursuant to section 3421(1) of the Public Health Law shall submit evidence of satisfactory completion of a course of collegiate-level study in funeral service, as required by section 3421(2)(b) of the Public Health Law, consisting of not less than 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits in an institution or institutions approved by the department or approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the department. The approved course of study shall consist of the following curriculum:

(c) Any applicant for examination pursuant to section 3421(1) of the Public Health Law may submit evidence that:

1. (1) prior to October 17, 1983, he/she was enrolled in a college or university approved by the State Education Department or approved by an accrediting organization recognized by the department;
2. (2) he/she completed a general course of study consisting of not less than 30 semester credits;
3. (3) such general course of study was completed by October 17, 1987; and
4. (4) he/she began funeral service study within one year of completion of such general college study.

(d) Upon submission of the evidence contained in subdivision (c) of this section, the department shall, whenever it benefits the applicant, substitute, in lieu of completion of a course of collegiate-level study in funeral service as described in subdivision (a) of this section, the satisfactory completion of the following course of study consisting of 42 2/3 semester credits or 64 quarter credits in an institution or institutions approved by the department or approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the department.