MOREHEAD, Ky. — Approximately 25 licensed funeral directors and embalmers from the region gathered at the Morehead Conference Center on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, for a continuing education program hosted by the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky (FDAK).
The four-hour educational program brought funeral service professionals together for training on workplace safety, state regulations, and changes to Kentucky's preneed funeral laws.
Among those attending were staff members of Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals and Michael R. Gray Funeral Homes, both of which maintain locations in Morehead and serve families in surrounding counties.
Three Areas of Professional Training
The afternoon program featured three educational sessions covering issues relevant to the daily operations of funeral homes and the responsibilities of licensed funeral service professionals.
OSHA, Bloodborne Pathogens, and Hazard Communication
The first session, held from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., was presented by Lee Gohmann, a funeral service educator.
The training addressed Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, bloodborne pathogens, and workplace hazard communication.
Funeral service professionals can encounter potentially infectious materials and hazardous chemicals while performing their duties, particularly during the preparation and embalming of human remains.
Understanding workplace safety requirements and appropriate protective measures helps safeguard funeral home employees and promotes responsible professional practices.
Changes and Updates from the Kentucky Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors
The second session, held from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., was presented by Jonathan Rideout of the Kentucky Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
The presentation focused on changes and updates involving the state regulatory agency responsible for overseeing licensed funeral directors, embalmers, and funeral establishments.
The board administers licensing requirements, enforces applicable laws and regulations, and oversees continuing education requirements for funeral service professionals throughout the Commonwealth.
Understanding Changes to Kentucky's Preneed Funeral Law
The final session, held from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., addressed changes to Kentucky's preneed funeral law.
Presented by Sidney Fogle and Mark Crawford of the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky, the session focused on an important component of funeral service: arrangements made by individuals before their deaths.
Preneed funeral arrangements allow individuals to make decisions about their funeral services in advance, potentially reducing the emotional and financial burdens placed on surviving family members.
Because such arrangements can involve contractual obligations, advance payments, and consumer protections, funeral directors must remain informed about applicable state laws and regulatory changes.
Continuing Education Required Under Kentucky Law
Continuing education is not simply an optional professional development opportunity for Kentucky's licensed funeral directors and embalmers.
Under Kentucky Revised Statute 316.130, licensed funeral directors and embalmers generally must complete a minimum of 12 hours of board-approved continuing education every two years as a condition of license renewal.
At least six of those hours must be obtained through live, interactive, in-person educational programs.
The requirement is intended to help ensure that funeral service professionals remain knowledgeable about changing laws, health and safety requirements, professional practices, and other matters affecting the funeral service industry.
Certain exceptions are provided under state law, including an exemption from the continuing education requirement for the first license renewal following initial licensure.
The Morehead program was advertised as offering four in-person continuing education credits, pending approval, for licensees in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee.
A Profession That Requires Ongoing Education
For many families, their interaction with a funeral director comes during one of the most difficult periods of their lives.
While the public generally sees funeral professionals arranging visitation services, coordinating funerals, and assisting grieving families, much of their work takes place behind the scenes.
Funeral directors and embalmers must navigate an extensive range of professional responsibilities, including health and safety requirements, legal documentation, regulatory compliance, the care and preparation of human remains, and the administration of funeral arrangements.
Continuing education programs help funeral service professionals stay informed as industry standards, regulations, and legal requirements evolve.
The Morehead gathering was part of the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky's 2026 Fall Continuing Education program, with additional sessions scheduled in Florence, Gilbertsville, and Bowling Green through November 4.
For the funeral professionals who serve Morehead and surrounding communities, the event provided an opportunity to strengthen their professional knowledge while fulfilling state licensing requirements.
The training also serves as a reminder that the work of a funeral director does not begin when a family calls for assistance, nor does professional education end when a license is issued. Maintaining the knowledge and skills necessary to serve families is an ongoing responsibility.
Source: Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky 2026 Fall Continuing Education program; Kentucky Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors; KRS 316.130. Attendance information provided to The Morehead Minute. Photo generated by A.I.