(a)(1) Before October 1, 2018, every licensed funeral director, licensed embalmer, and licensed operator shall pay annually a fee for renewal of his or her license. The renewal fees shall be set by the board at a rate not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for licensed embalmers and funeral directors and five hundred dollars ($500) for licensed operators.

(2) Commencing on October 1, 2018, every license or registration issued by the board under this chapter shall be renewed biennially upon submission by the licensee or registrant of a renewal application and a renewal fee established by board rule, not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), for each licensed cremationist, embalmer, funeral director, and funeral establishment.

(b) All licenses granted under this chapter shall expire on October 1, following their issuance or renewal, and shall become invalid unless renewed as provided in this section and other requirements of the board are met. In addition to payment of a renewal fee, each licensee shall satisfy continuing education requirements prescribed by rule of the board pursuant to subsection (c). There shall be no proration of licenses.

(c)(1) Commencing in 2014, and for each licensing period thereafter, the board may require persons seeking renewal of a cremationist, embalmer, or funeral director license under this chapter to complete board approved continuing education of not less than eight hours biennially. The board may approve continuing education providers and courses offered by institutions of higher learning, specialty societies, associations, or professional organizations or by other organizations the board deems appropriate.

(2) Any person who holds an inactive license or who is over the age of 65, with at least 10 years of experience in the funeral service industry, is exempt from the continuing education requirement.

(3) An embalmer who is also a licensed funeral director and who completes the continuing education requirements for funeral directors is not required to complete additional continuing education requirements.

(4) Continuing education providers shall pay a biennial administrative fee established by board rule, not exceeding two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

(5) The board may promulgate rules to implement and ensure compliance with this section.

(d) The board shall publish on or before August 1 of the expiration year, in printed form, electronic image, in an online publication, or on the website of the board that is accessible to each licensed funeral director, licensed embalmer, licensed cremationist, and licensed establishment, notice that his or her renewal fee is due and payable and that, if such fee is not paid by September 30 of that year, the license shall expire. Information regarding license renewal dates and fees shall be available in electronic format on the website of the board.

(e) At the time, or before, a licensee changes place of employment, residence address, or makes any other change in status which is of record at the board office, the licensee shall report such change of status, by a method prescribed by the board, to the executive director.