(1) Every person not previously licensed in this state as a funeral director, desiring to engage in the practice or business of funeral directing, shall make application to the board, along with a nonrefundable fee as set by the board.
(2) The application shall contain the name of the applicant, showing that the applicant: Has attained eighteen (18) years of age;
(3) Is a citizen of the United States or an individual enumerated in 8 U.S.C. § 1622(b);
(4) Is of good moral character;
(5) Is properly protected against communicable diseases, either through immunization or education;
(6) Has graduated from a high school or has earned a GED(R) recognized by a state education department;
(7) Has successfully completed a program of study in funeral service education consisting of no less than thirty (30) semester hours, forty-five (45) quarter hours or the equivalent from a school accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education and evidenced by an official transcript; and
(8) Has completed two (2) years of apprenticeship in the presence of and under the direction and supervision of a licensed funeral director. An associate's degree from a college accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education may be substituted for one (1) year of apprenticeship.