§34-13-130. Application for issuance of apprentice's certificate; term of apprenticeship.

(a) Every person desiring to engage as an apprentice shall make application as a funeral director's apprentice or an embalmer's apprentice to the board upon a form provided by the board. The application shall state that the applicant is over the age of 16, holds a high school certificate or the equivalent, or is currently enrolled and actively working toward graduation from an accredited high school and is of good moral character. The application shall be verified by the oath of applicant and be accompanied by a fee to be established by the board, not to exceed twenty dollars ($20). The executive secretary, whenever it appears to him or her that no reason exists for the denial of an application and that the application is regular upon its face, may issue to the applicant a certificate of apprenticeship, without submitting the application to the board. If, however, any doubt exists as to the qualifications of the applicant, the application shall be submitted to the board and may be accepted or rejected by a majority of the board. The period of apprenticeship of a funeral director's apprentice or an embalmer's apprentice must be performed in Alabama under the supervision of a funeral director or embalmer, respectively, licensed by the board.

(b) The regular course of apprenticeship shall be two years, but the apprentice is entitled to two weeks time off each year, without leave of absence from the board.

(Acts 1975, No. 214, p. 705, §26; Acts 1981, No. 81-200, p. 234, §4; Acts 1981, No. 81-709, p. 1190, §1; Act 2011-623, p. 1439, §1.)