BMS Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield BMS facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A state law prohibits the scattering of cremated remains in public parks. A family requests this service. The funeral director should: → Inform the family of the legal prohibition and assist with lawful alternatives
2. Which of the following is an example of 'bundling' that violates the FTC Funeral Rule? → Requiring customers to purchase a package rather than individual items
3. The social phenomenon of 'death cafés,' which began in the UK and spread internationally, is primarily intended to: → Create community spaces where people can discuss death openly without agenda
4. During the manufacture of caskets, kapok is employed as → a padding material
5. Which of the following aftercare services is considered a best practice for funeral homes to support long-term bereavement needs? → Hosting or referring families to community grief support groups
6. Which federal law specifically addresses the rights of veterans regarding burial and funeral benefits? → Title 38 of the United States Code
7. A funeral home advertises a 'complete funeral for $995' but adds numerous required fees at the arrangement conference. This practice violates which rule? → FTC Funeral Rule's prohibition on deceptive pricing
8. In restorative art, the term 'excision' refers to what procedure? → Surgically removing damaged or necrotic tissue
9. A preneed funeral contract is funded through an irrevocable trust. What does 'irrevocable' mean for the consumer in this context? → The funds cannot be withdrawn or redirected by the purchaser once placed in trust
10. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, if a consumer selects a third-party casket, the funeral home may charge a handling fee only if: → The fee and any other consequences are disclosed in advance on the price list
11. One-site injection and drainage is referred to as: → one point injection
12. Under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, funeral homes are required to offer which vaccine to employees who have occupational exposure to blood? → Hepatitis B
13. A body with severe trauma to the right side of the face would be best positioned in the casket with: → Right side turned slightly away from viewers to present the less-damaged left profile
14. What role does the modifying agent in embalming fluid serve? → It buffers the solution to control the rate and quality of tissue firming
15. At autopsy, diffuse alveolar damage with hyaline membrane formation is the hallmark lesion of: → Acute respiratory distress syndrome
16. When embalming a body with advanced decomposition, the embalmer should prioritize: → Hypodermic and surface embalming in addition to arterial treatment
17. Which of the following, when applied to a deceased person's body, is unethical? → All of the above
18. The principle of 'fidelity' in funeral service ethics means the funeral director must: → Keep promises and fulfill commitments made to client families
19. What does the term 'index' (or 'strength') refer to when describing embalming fluid? → The percentage of formaldehyde in the concentrate
20. What is the correct mortuary science term for placing cremated remains into an urn? → Inurnment
21. In grief support, 'active listening' primarily involves: → Reflecting feelings, maintaining eye contact, and minimizing interruptions
22. Which of the following best describes 'green' or 'natural' burial? → Using a biodegradable casket and no embalming fluid to minimize environmental impact
23. When a family member expresses anger at the funeral director for a perceived minor error, the most therapeutically appropriate response is: → Recognize the anger as displaced grief and respond with empathy
24. When a family requests a graveside service only, the funeral director's primary responsibility is to: → Coordinate with the cemetery for setup, access, and committal timing
25. According to John Bowlby's attachment theory applied to grief, intense grief reactions are most directly linked to: → The disruption of a significant attachment bond by death
26. A funeral home advertises 'lowest prices in the county' without substantiation. Under the FTC Act, this could constitute: → Unfair or deceptive trade practice
27. Adipocere formation in a decomposed body is characterized by: → Saponification of body fat into a soap-like substance
28. What is the funeral director's primary ethical obligation when meeting with a bereaved family for an arrangement conference? → Providing full disclosure of prices and service options
29. What is the typical direction of eyebrow growth? → Obliquely upward and outward
30. What is the purpose of a trocar during the cavity embalming process? → To aspirate gases and fluids from body cavities