No person may conduct, maintain, manage, or operate a cremation facility unless licensed to do so by the board. The board may issue a license to practice as a cremationist after the applicant has satisfied all of the following requirements:

(1) Is at least 21 years of age.

(2) Is a citizen of the United States or legally present in this state.

(3) Is a high school graduate or the equivalent.

(4) Has successfully completed a crematory operator training course approved by the board.

(5) Has completed a course in universal precaution and blood-borne pathogens approved by the board.

(6) Has submitted a completed application and supporting documents, as required by the board, and a fee established by the board that does not exceed three hundred dollars ($300).

(7) Has successfully completed an examination on Alabama funeral service laws and rules.

(8) Has submitted to the board a form, sworn to by the applicant, that contains the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of the applicant, and two complete sets of fingerprints, for completion of a criminal history background check. The board shall submit the fingerprints to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency for a state criminal history record check. The fingerprints shall be forwarded by the agency to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history record check. Costs associated with conducting a criminal history background check shall be paid by the applicant. The board shall keep information received pursuant to this subsection confidential, except that information received and relied upon in denying the issuance of a cremationist license may be disclosed if necessary to support the denial.

(b) Each new employee of a crematory required to be licensed under this section shall be certified within one year after his or her employment. A copy of all certified cremationist certificates shall be posted in the crematory and available for inspection at any time.

(c) Each funeral establishment performing cremation shall certify by affidavit to the board that each cremationist conducting cremations at the funeral establishment has satisfied all requirements of this chapter to be licensed as a cremationist and received adequate and appropriate training or experience in the practice of cremation.