Top 10 Nursing Home Administrator Certifications

Certifications are important for a nursing home administrator in the job market as they demonstrate knowledge and expertise in the field. Certified nursing home administrators have a higher level of understanding of current regulations, laws, and best practices related to long-term care. They also have proven their ability to effectively manage and lead a facility. Certification can also provide access to more job opportunities, better pay, and greater career mobility. Additionally, certifications demonstrate commitment to the profession and provide assurance that an individual has acquired specific knowledge and skills necessary for successful performance as an administrator.

This article reviews the top certifications for Nursing Home Administrators and explains how they can help to advance a nursing home administrator's career.

What are Nursing Home Administrator Certifications?

Nursing home administrator certification is a professional designation that demonstrates a nursing home administrator's knowledge and commitment to the field. It is granted by the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) and requires successful completion of an exam and other requirements. This certification provides recognition for administrators who have completed their education and training, and ensures they are knowledgeable in all aspects of nursing home administration.

Having this certification can help administrators demonstrate their competence to employers, colleagues, residents, and families. It also indicates a commitment to professional development, which can be attractive to potential employers or partners. Additionally, having the certification may lead to job opportunities with higher salaries or better benefits. Finally, being certified can help administrators stay up-to-date on regulations, best practices, and new developments in the field of long-term care administration.

Pro Tip: Make sure to research and understand the specific requirements for nursing home administrator certification in your state, as each state has its own unique set of rules and regulations. Additionally, make sure you are aware of any deadlines or time constraints that may be associated with obtaining certification.

Related: What does a Nursing Home Administrator do?

Top 10 Nursing Home Administrator Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Nursing Home Administrators today.

1. Nursing Home Administrator License

A Nursing Home Administrator License is a professional license that allows an individual to manage and operate a nursing home facility. The license is issued by the state in which the facility is located and must be renewed every two years.

In order to obtain a Nursing Home Administrator License, an individual must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate-level coursework in long-term care administration (or equivalent) from an accredited college or university. In addition, they must pass the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) exam.

The cost of obtaining a Nursing Home Administrator License varies depending on the state in which the license is being obtained. In some states, there may be additional fees associated with taking the NAB exam as well as any continuing education requirements that may be required for renewal.

Overall, it can take up to 6 months or more to obtain a Nursing Home Administrator License depending on how quickly you are able to complete all of the necessary requirements.

2. Certified Nursing Home Administrator (CNHA)

Certified Nursing Home Administrator (CNHA) is a professional credential granted by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB). The CNHA is a certification that demonstrates an individual's knowledge and expertise in the field of long-term care administration. The CNHA requires applicants to have a bachelor's degree in health administration or a related field, as well as two years of full-time experience in long-term care administration.

It typically takes between six months and one year to complete the requirements for the CNHA. Applicants must first pass an exam administered by NAB, which covers topics such as regulations, management principles, and financial operations. After passing the exam, applicants must also complete an approved course on long-term care administration from an accredited institution. Once all requirements are met, applicants will receive their CNHA certification.

The cost of obtaining the CNHA varies depending on the institution providing the coursework and other fees associated with taking the exam. Generally speaking, it can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 to obtain the certification.

3. National Association of Long Term Care Administrators Board Certification (NAB)

The National Association of Long Term Care Administrators Board Certification (NAB) is a professional certification program for long-term care administrators. It is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of knowledge and expertise in the field. The NAB certification program is administered by the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrators (NALTCA).

To become certified, an individual must meet certain eligibility requirements and complete the NAB examination. The eligibility requirements include having a minimum of two years of full-time experience in long-term care administration or management, as well as completing at least 60 hours of continuing education within the past five years.

The NAB examination consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as long-term care regulations, resident rights, personnel management, financial management, and quality assurance. The exam takes approximately four hours to complete and costs $350 to take.

Once an individual has successfully passed the NAB examination, they will receive their certification from NALTCA. This certification is valid for three years and must be renewed every three years by taking additional continuing education courses and passing a recertification exam.

4. American College of Health Care Administrators Certification (ACHCA)

The American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) is a professional association that provides certification for health care administrators. It is the only organization in the United States that offers a certification specifically for health care administrators. The ACHCA certification is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated knowledge and expertise in the field of health care administration.

To become certified, applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements and pass an examination. Eligibility requirements include having at least two years of experience in a healthcare setting, completing an accredited program in health care administration, or having completed a combination of education and experience as approved by the ACHCA.

The examination consists of multiple-choice questions related to topics such as leadership, management, legal and ethical issues, organizational behavior, finance and budgeting, human resources management, and quality improvement. The exam typically takes about four hours to complete and can be taken at any authorized testing center.

The cost for taking the ACHCA certification exam is $250 for members of the ACHCA or $350 for non-members. Once applicants have successfully passed the exam they will receive their official ACHCA Certification certificate within six to eight weeks after completion of the exam.

The benefits of becoming certified by ACHCA include increased job opportunities, recognition from peers in the field, access to exclusive networking events and continuing education opportunities, as well as potential salary increases due to increased marketability.

5. Certified Assisted Living Administrator (CALA)

Certified Assisted Living Administrator (CALA) is a professional certification program designed to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage an assisted living facility. The certification is administered by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB).

To become certified, individuals must first meet certain eligibility requirements, such as having a minimum of two years of experience in an assisted living facility and completing a minimum of 45 hours of approved continuing education courses. After meeting these requirements, applicants must then pass the CALA exam. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions covering topics related to management, administration, and regulations for assisted living facilities.

The cost for taking the CALA exam is $225 for NAB members and $275 for non-members. It typically takes about three months from the time you submit your application until you receive your results.

Once you have passed the exam, you will be awarded the Certified Assisted Living Administrator (CALA) credential. This credential is valid for five years and can be renewed by completing additional continuing education courses or retaking the exam.

6. Certified Nursing Home Executive Director (CNED)

Certified Nursing Home Executive Director (CNED) is a certification program offered by the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA). It is designed to recognize those individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to manage a nursing home. The CNED certification is awarded to those who have successfully completed the ACHCA's comprehensive examination and met all other requirements.

How long does it take to get it?

The process of obtaining the CNED certification typically takes between 6-12 months. This includes completing an application, taking the exam, and meeting all other requirements for certification.

How to get it?

In order to obtain the CNED certification, you must first complete an application with ACHCA. Once your application has been accepted, you will be required to take their comprehensive exam which covers topics such as leadership and management, financial management, human resources management, legal issues in healthcare administration, and quality assurance/performance improvement. After passing the exam, you must also meet additional requirements such as completing continuing education courses or attending professional development conferences.

How much does it cost?

The cost of obtaining the CNED certification varies depending on your individual circumstances but typically ranges from $500-$1,000 USD. This includes both the application fee and any additional fees associated with taking the exam or meeting other requirements for certification.

7. Professional in Healthcare Quality Certification (CPHQ)

The Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) is a professional certification offered by the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ). It is the most widely recognized and respected credential for healthcare quality professionals. The CPHQ certification demonstrates that an individual has the knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively manage and lead healthcare quality initiatives.

To obtain the CPHQ certification, individuals must meet certain educational requirements and pass a comprehensive exam. To be eligible for the exam, applicants must have at least two years of experience in healthcare quality management or leadership roles. Applicants must also complete an approved course in healthcare quality management or hold a degree from an accredited college or university with a major in health services administration, public health, nursing administration, or other related field.

The CPHQ exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as patient safety, risk management, performance improvement, data analysis and reporting, accreditation standards, regulatory compliance, and more. The exam takes approximately four hours to complete.

The cost of the CPHQ exam varies depending on whether you are a NAHQ member or non-member. For NAHQ members, the cost is $325; for non-members it is $425. In addition to the cost of the exam itself, there are additional fees for study materials and other resources that may be required to prepare for the exam.

Once you have passed the CPHQ exam and met all eligibility requirements, you will receive your official CPHQ certificate from NAHQ within six to eight weeks after completion of your application process.

8. Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP)

A Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) is a professional who has been certified to provide specialized care for people with dementia. The CDP certification program is designed to help those working in the field of dementia to gain knowledge and skills that will enable them to provide quality care and support for individuals living with dementia.

The CDP certification requires successful completion of an online course, which includes a comprehensive study guide, practice exams, and a final exam. The course typically takes about 8-10 hours to complete. Once the course is completed successfully, the individual must pass a written exam administered by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP).

To get certified as a CDP, you must first register with NCCDP and pay the registration fee. After registering, you will receive an email containing instructions on how to access the online course materials. Once you have completed the course and passed the written exam, you will be eligible for certification as a CDP.

The cost of becoming a CDP varies depending on your location and other factors. Generally speaking, it costs around $300-$400 for registration fees and course materials.

9. Certified Nursing Home Manager (CNHM)

Certified Nursing Home Manager (CNHM) is a certification program that is designed to provide nursing home administrators with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage and lead long-term care facilities. The CNHM program is administered by the American Association of Nurse Home Administrators (AANHA) and provides an opportunity for individuals in the field of long-term care administration to demonstrate their commitment to excellence in the profession.

The CNHM program consists of two parts: a written examination and a practical application component. The written examination tests the applicant’s knowledge of state and federal regulations, as well as best practices for managing long-term care facilities. The practical application component requires applicants to submit evidence of their experience in the field, such as letters from employers or supervisors, job descriptions, and any other relevant documents.

To obtain the CNHM certification, applicants must successfully complete both parts of the program within one year. Applicants must also pay an application fee which varies depending on whether they are applying as a first time applicant or renewing their certification. The cost for first time applicants is $350 while renewal fees are $200.

Once certified, CNHMs must maintain their certification by completing continuing education credits every three years and paying an annual maintenance fee of $50.

10. American Health Information Management Association Certification (AHIMA).

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is an international professional organization that provides certification and education to health information management professionals. AHIMA certifications demonstrate a professional's commitment to the highest standards of practice in the health information management field.

AHIMA offers several different certifications, including Certified Coding Associate (CCA), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Specialist-Physician Based (CCS-P), Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), and Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). Each certification requires passing an exam, which may take anywhere from two to six months to prepare for depending on the individual’s experience level.

To get certified, individuals must first complete the required coursework or training for their chosen certification. After completing the coursework or training, individuals must then register for and pass the corresponding exam. The cost of each exam varies depending on the type of certification being pursued; however, all exams cost between $200 and $400 USD.

Once an individual has passed their exam, they will receive their AHIMA certification. This certification is valid for three years, after which time it must be renewed by taking continuing education courses or retaking the exam.

Do You Really Need a Nursing Home Administrator Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on the individual's career goals. For those who desire to become a nursing home administrator, it is generally necessary to obtain a nursing home administrator certificate. This certification is typically earned through an accredited institution and allows individuals to demonstrate their knowledge and competency in the field of gerontology.

A nursing home administrator certificate can provide an individual with the necessary skills and qualifications needed for a successful career as an administrator. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the regulations and policies that govern long-term care facilities and helps administrators ensure compliance with all state and federal laws. In addition, the certificate also provides training in financial management, human resources management, operations management, risk management, and customer service.

Obtaining a nursing home administrator certificate may also provide networking opportunities that could lead to job offers or other career advancement opportunities. The certificate can also be helpful when applying for jobs in other areas of healthcare or related fields such as social work or public health. Finally, having a nursing home administrator certification can help individuals stand out from other applicants when applying for positions within long-term care facilities and other related organizations.

In short, obtaining a nursing home administrator certificate is not always required but it can certainly be beneficial for those interested in advancing their careers in this field. The certificate can provide individuals with the necessary knowledge and qualifications needed for success as well as open up new opportunities for job seekers looking to make their mark in the field of gerontology.

Related: Nursing Home Administrator Resume Examples

FAQs About Nursing Home Administrator Certifications

1. How do I become a Nursing Home Administrator?

Answer: To become a Nursing Home Administrator, you must complete an accredited degree program in long-term care administration, pass the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) exam, and obtain a state license.

2. What kind of degree do I need to become a Nursing Home Administrator?

Answer: You will need to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration or Long Term Care Administration to qualify for the NAB exam and obtain your state license.

3. How long does it take to get certified as a Nursing Home Administrator?

Answer: It typically takes up to two years to complete the necessary coursework and pass the NAB exam. After that, you will need to apply for your state license which can take anywhere from three months to one year depending on where you live.

4. Are there continuing education requirements for Nursing Home Administrators?

Answer: Yes, most states require that nursing home administrators maintain their certification by completing approved continuing education activities every year. The exact requirements vary by state so it is important to check with your local licensing board for more information.

5. What are the job responsibilities of a Nursing Home Administrator?

Answer: As a nursing home administrator, you would be responsible for managing all aspects of running a skilled nursing facility including budgeting, staffing, regulatory compliance, resident services, quality assurance and community outreach programs.