Does a person have to be a licensed funeral director in order to transport a body?

• A. No
• B. Yes
• C. Only if transporting out of state
• D. Only if the body is a certain weight

Answer: (A)

The main idea is who is allowed to move a deceased person from one place to another. In New York, the actual transportation of a body can be done by someone authorized by the funeral establishment and under the supervision of a licensed funeral director. The license is not required for the transport itself as long as the proper paperwork and safeguards are in place—death certificate, disposition authorization, an appropriate container, and compliance with health and safety rules. Hence, you do not have to be a licensed funeral director to transport a body. Options about transporting out of state or the body’s weight aren’t the determining factors here; the key point is authorization and supervision.