(a) The board shall issue a license to practice embalming to an applicant who:

(1) Is of good moral character;

(2) Is eighteen years of age or over;

(3) Is a citizen of the United States or is eligible for employment in the United States;

(4) Has a high school diploma or its equivalent;

(5) Has completed one of the following education requirements, as evidenced by a transcript submitted to the board for evaluation:

(A) (i) Has an associate degree from an accredited college or university; or

(ii) Has successfully completed at least sixty semester hours or ninety quarter hours of academic work in an accredited college or university toward a baccalaureate degree with a declared major field of study; and (iii) Has graduated from a school of mortuary science, accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, Inc., which requires as a prerequisite to graduation the completion of a course of study of not less than twelve months; or

(B) Has a bachelor degree in mortuary science from an accredited college or university;

(6) Has completed a one-year apprenticeship, under the supervision of a licensed embalmer and funeral director actively and lawfully engaged in the practice of embalming and funeral directing in this state, which apprenticeship consisted of:

(A) Diligent attention to the work in the course of regular and steady employment and not as a side issue to another employment; and

(B) The apprentice taking an active part in:

(i) The operation of embalming not less than thirty-five dead human bodies; and

(ii) Conducting not less than thirty-five funeral services;

(7) Passes, with an average score of not less than seventy-five percent, the following examinations:

(A) The National Conference of Funeral Services examination at a testing site provided by the national conference, which passage is a condition precedent to taking the state law examination;

(B) The state law examination administered by the board, which examination must be offered at least twice each year; and

(C) Any other examination required by the board; and

(8) Has paid all the appropriate fees.

(b) A license to practice embalming issued by the board prior to July 1, 2012, shall for all purposes be considered a license issued under this section: Provided, That a person holding a license issued prior to July 1, 2012, must renew the license pursuant to the provisions of this article.