IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING COURSES
New License Renewal Requirements for Morticians, Courtesy Cards, Registered Crematory Operators, Funeral Directors, and Surviving Spouses
As the result of Senate Bill 5 and House Bill 28, passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 2021, (codified in Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. § 1-225) law now mandates that all applicants for renewal of licenses, certifications, , and permits for health occupations, including Morticians, Funeral Directors, Courtesy Cards, Registered Crematory Operators, and Surviving Spouses, are required to complete an Implicit Bias Training Program approved by the Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program within the Maryland Department of Health.
Because this requirement becomes effective as of April 1, 2022, it affects Morticians, Courtesy Cards, Registered Crematory Operators, Funeral Directors, and Surviving Spouses who wish to renew their license beginning in 2022 and 2023. This requirement applies only to the first renewal cycle after April 1, 2022. Some of the approved training programs do not offer a
certificate of completion, and some training programs only offer a certificate of completion if you pay a fee.
ALTHOUGH YOU MUST COMPLETE ONE OF THE OFFERED PROGRAMS, YOU WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION TO THE MARYLAND STATE MORTICIANS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS BOARD. THE IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING PROGRAM CLASSES DO NOT QUALIFY FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS.
Morticians, Courtesy Cards, Registered Crematory Operators, Funeral Directors, and Surviving Spouses
Morticians, Courtesy Cards, Registered Crematory Operators, Funeral Directors, and Surviving Spouses who are scheduled to renew their license in 2022 must complete the program as a condition of license renewal. Those who are scheduled to renew their license in 2023 must complete the program as a condition of license renewal. During your respective renewal period you will be asked to “Attest” to the fact that you completed the implicit bias training program. If you have not completed the implicit bias training program, or if you do not attest to completing the implicit bias training program, you will not qualify for a license or permit renewal. You must complete the implicit bias training program to be eligible for your license renewal and will only need to complete the program one time.
Note: This law applies not just to the Maryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors, but to all health occupation licensees and certificate holders in Maryland.
Course Availability
The implicit bias training program must be approved by the Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program within the Maryland Department of Health. Other courses are not approved.
The list of approved courses may be accessed at:
https://health.maryland.gov/mhhd/Documents/MHHD%20Implicit%20Bias.pdf
Please retain written proof of program completion indefinitely. It must be presented to the
Board upon request.
If you have any questions, please contact the Board Office at 410-764-4792 or by email at mdh.bomfd@maryland.gov.
