The sponsor must be physically present in the same funeral establishment as the trainee to directly supervise the trainee’s first five embalming cases. Thereafter, if the sponsor determines the trainee has demonstrated competency and professionalism, the trainee may only work if the sponsor is immediately available in person or by telecommunications.

1. (1) Allow an individual to do the work of a trainee if the individual is not registered with the board; or

2. (2) Allow an individual, who has completed the traineeship, to continue to do the work of a trainee.

   Failure to comply with this section is grounds for licensure action pursuant to SDCL 36-19-38.

The sponsor must notify the board in writing within ten days if the sponsor terminates the traineeship. If the sponsor is no longer available, the trainee may not perform any work until the trainee has applied for and received registration, and a new sponsor is designated.

The sponsor is responsible for the trainee’s actions and work in funeral service, and for ensuring the trainee completes all required reports and forms. The sponsor may not supervise more than one trainee at a time. The sponsor must display the trainee’s registration at the funeral establishment.

A sponsor may delegate supervision of a trainee to another funeral service licensee for up to thirty days to complete the traineeship requirements described in subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of § 20:45:03:02 that a trainee is unable to fulfill at the sponsor’s funeral establishment.

Any funeral service licensee may not:

Source: 51 SDR 147, effective July 6, 2025 .

General Authority: SDCL 36-19-12.1 .

Law Implemented: SDCL 36-19-18 , 36-19-21 (5), 36-19-38 (7)(13).