Nursing home administrators are in charge of the day-to-day operations of long-term care facilities, including hospitals and residential care homes. They must be licensed by their state’s department of health or similar agency before they can work in a nursing home. Requirements for obtaining a license vary from state to state, but typically include completing an education program, passing an exam and submitting an application fee. Once you have obtained your nursing home administrator license, it must be renewed annually by paying a renewal fee—the same process as when initially applying for the license.

License For Nursing Home Administrator

1. Overview

To become a nursing home administrator, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited school. You will also need to complete all state education requirements and pass the licensing exam for your state.

To work as a nursing home administrator, you must be at least 18 years old.

2. Requirements

An administrator must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. The program of study must include at least 30 semester hours in nursing, including courses in psychology, sociology and business administration.

The National Council on the Aging (NCOA) offers the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) credential to professionals who meet specified requirements. To earn this credential, an applicant must complete a 20-hour course of study on aging-related topics such as home maintenance and safety; emergency preparedness; financial management; legal issues relating to long term care facilities; nutrition and meal planning; environmental factors affecting health outcomes for older adults; end-of-life decision making and grief rituals.

To become licensed by either state board listed above or NCOA requires that an individual submit proof they’ve passed two nationally recognized exams: The Certified Nursing Assistant exam administered by Pearson Vue Testing Centers (CNA), which costs $65 per test date plus proctoring fees if applicable ($20-$25). Candidates must also pass Aide Training & Assessment for Student Nurses (ATAS) exam administered through ProctorU ($395).

3. License Renewal

• Source: The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
• Note: The requirements for renewal vary by state. To find the specific requirements for your state, visit the NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR LICENSING website. Some states also provide this information in their Nursing Home Administrator Licensing Guidelines and Nursing Home Administrator Licensing Regulations.

4. Licensing requirements for nursing home administrators vary from state to state and each license must be renewed annually. Learn about licensing and renewal requirements in your state.

Licensing requirements for nursing home administrators vary from state to state, and each license must be renewed annually. Learn about licensing and renewal requirements in your state.

The following information may help you understand the process of becoming a nurse or other health care professional in your state:

If you have questions about becoming an administrator, talk with someone at the department of health services or board of nursing in your area before taking any steps toward licensure.

Closing

A nursing home administrator license is required in most states and must be renewed annually. Licensing requirements vary from state to state and each license must be renewed annually. Learn about licensing and renewal requirements in your state.