Nursing Home Administrator Licensure Requirements Snapshot

Pennsylvania Licensure Requirements

Individuals licensed by the state board who engage in the planning, organizing, directing and control of the operation of a nursing home.

Educational Requirement: 

The applicant must satisfy one of the following educational pathways for licensure:

• Master’s degree in enumerated fields from an accredited college/university.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university and completion of the Board approved 120-hour program (if nor part of the bachelor's degree program). 
• 2 academic years of college-level study (30 credits per year) at an accredited college/university and completion of the Board approved 120-hour program.
• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse and completion of the Board-approved 120-hour program. 
• A high school diploma and completion of the Board approved 120-hour program.
  

3 Hours (for initial licensure) 

Applicants must complete 3 hours of Board-approved education in child abuse recognition and reporting for initial licensure. 

Examination Requirement: 

2 Examinations (National and State).

An applicant must pass the National Exam, which contains 2 sections:

Core of Knowledge Exam for Long Term Care Administrators (CORE) and The Line of Service Exam - Nursing Home Administrators (NHA).

The applicant must also pass the State Based Licensing Exam (Pennsylvania NHA).

Experience: 

6 Months to 3 Years of Experience Required (Based on level of education)

All experience must be as an assistant administrator.  Please review section 39.5(b) of the Board’s regulations for the specific timing requirements for the experience.

The applicant must satisfy one of the following experience pathways for licensure:

1. Master’s degree in:

• nursing home administration, OR
• in another academic area with an emphasis in related health facility administration (for example, nursing, social work, rehabilitation services and social gerontology), OR
• in hospital administration, OR
• in public health administration

• 6 months of full-time experience, such as being a as a Department Head, in the administration of a nursing home or a related health facility,*  during the 5 years immediately preceding the date of application. (§39.5(b)(4)(i) and (ii)(A) of the regulations) OR
• Completed a Board-approved AIT Program during the 2 years immediately preceding the date of application. (§39.5(b)(4)(i) and (ii)(B) of the regulations). 

Completion of 120 clock hour program is recommended.

2. Bachleor's degree and completion of 120 clock hour program or a baccalaureate degree in nursing home administration or its equivalent that incoporated the 120-hour clock hour program and

• served as a full-time assistant administrator* in a nursing home or related health facility during the 9 months immediately preceding the date of application (§39.5(b)(3)(i), (ii) and (iii)(A) of the regulations).
• served as a full-time assistant administrator* in a nursing home or related health facility, 1,000 hours of which in the practice of nursing home administration* during 18 months of the 5 years immediately preceding the date of application (§39.5(b)(3)(i), (ii) and (iii)(B) of the regulations) OR
• completion of 1,000 hour Board approved AIT program* during the 2 years immediately preceding the date of application (§39.5(b)(3)(i), (ii) and (iii)(C) of the regulations.

• served as a full-time assistant administrator* in a nursing home or related health facility during the 18 months immediately preceding the date of application (§39.5(b)(1)(i), (ii) and (iii)(A) of the regulations) OR
• 3 years of full-time supervisory experience in a nursing home or related health facility, 1,000 hours in the practice of nursing home administration during the 5 years immediately preceding the date of application (§39.5(b)(1)(i), (ii) and (iii)(B) of the regulations).

• 6 months experience as a full-time director of nursing and 12 months immediately proceeding application as a full-time assistant administrator* in a nursing home or related health facility during the 18 months immediately preceding the date of application (§39.5(b)(2)(i), (ii) and (iii)(A) of the regulations) OR
• 2 years of experience as a full-time director of nursing in a nursing home or related health facility, 1,000 hours of which in nursing home administration* during the 5 years immediately preceding the date of application (§39.5(b)(2)(i), (ii) and (iii)(B) of the regulations).

• 18 months as a full-time assistant administrator* immediately preceding the date of application (§39.5(b)(5)(i), (ii) and (iii)(A) of the regulations).
• 3 years of service as a full-time supervisor in a nursing home or related health facility, 1,000 hours in the practice of nursing home administration* during the 5 years immediately preceding the date of application (§39.5(b)(5)(i), (ii) and (iii)(B) of the regulations).

Continuing Education (when renewing license):

48 Hours 

48 hours of continuing education required for licensure renewal, which includes 2 hours in child abuse recognition and reporting.

Initial Licensing Fee: 

$40.00

Licensure Renewal Fee (Biennial): 

$297.00

Licensure by Endorsement & Licensure by Act 41:

Nursing Home Administrators licensed in another state may apply for a Pennsylvania license by endorsement. An endorsement applicant is required pass the State Based Licensing Exam (Pennsylvania NHA). 

Act 41 allows for portability of out-of-state professional licensees coming to work in Pennsylvania. Act 41 does this by granting all boards and commissions within the Commonwealth the authority to endorse licensees from other states, territories, or jurisdictions (with substantially equivalent licensing requirements) who are active, in good standing and without discipline against their license or criminal conviction.