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Failed the funeral services state board twice — what am I missing?

by Megan P. 154 views3 replies
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Megan P.OP
May 27, 2026

I've been studying for my funeral services licensing exam for about four months now and I just got my second failed attempt back. I passed the NBE on the first try so I figured the state board would be easier, but apparently not. I'm scoring around 68% and need a 75% to pass. The cremation sections are killing me — I keep mixing up the regulatory requirements and the actual procedural steps.

My study routine has been pretty scattered, honestly. I read through the textbook, do some flashcards, then panic-watch YouTube videos the night before. A friend suggested I try the Funeral Services Cremation Services practice test to get used to the actual question format, which I hadn't really focused on before. Has anyone else been through multiple attempts? I'm starting to wonder if I'm just not retaining this stuff or if my study guide is outdated.

Any exam tips from people who've passed recently would be genuinely helpful. I have my third attempt scheduled in six weeks and I really can't afford another retake fee.

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James R.
May 28, 2026
Two fails before passing here — you're not alone. What finally clicked for me was doing timed practice tests instead of just reading. Your score of 68% is actually closer than it feels. The cremation questions trip everyone up because they test application, not just memorization. Try doing 20-question blocks every single day and reviewing every wrong answer before moving on. Six weeks is plenty of time if you stay consistent.
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Daniel M.
May 28, 2026
I'd really look at whether your study guide edition matches your state's current regulations. I had an older guide and some of the cremation authorization and documentation stuff had changed. Also, the Funeral Services Cremation Services 2 and Funeral Services Cremation Services 3 practice tests have different question sets — rotating through all of them helped me see patterns in how topics get tested. Are you writing out wrong answers by hand? That memory reinforcement made a huge difference for me.
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Preethi N.
May 28, 2026
Six weeks is solid. Cut the night-before cramming completely — it's just anxiety fuel at that point. Focus your last week only on cremation regulations and disinfection procedures, those show up constantly. You've already proven you can pass the NBE, so the knowledge is in there.

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