Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
- What do I have to do in order to work as a nursing home administrator in the State of Maryland?
- If I am licensed in another state, may I work until I receive my Maryland license?
- How do I become licensed in Maryland?
- How can I get a temporary license?
- What is a passing score on the national examination?
- What happens if I fail the national licensing examination?
- What is a passing score on the State's Standards examination, and what should I study?
- How often is the State's Standards examination administered?
- How can I file a complaint against a nursing home administrator? How do I file a complaint about the care rendered in a nursing home?
- Do I need a license to operate an assisted living facility in Maryland?
- How can I become certified as a preceptor in Maryland?
- How many hours of continuing education are required for renewal?
- How many continuing education hours can be carried over into the next renewal cycle?
- How many continuing education hours can be pursued via correspondence or internet?
- If I receive a flyer advertising a course that has not been approved by NAB, can I ask for individual approval?
- Can I purchase mailing labels of all nursing home administrators?
- Can I have my name removed from the mailing list that is available for purchase?
- How can I get more information?
You must be licensed by the Maryland Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators before working in Maryland. Maryland does not have a temporary or provisional license, therefore, you cannot work as the administrator of a comprehensive care facility in Maryland until all requirements are met and the Board issues the license.
No. We will assist you in receiving your Maryland license as quickly as possible. However, the Board cannot exempt you from the requirement of having a Maryland license.
- By completing the AIT program:
Most applicants for licensure are entering the field of long-term care, and must complete one year in a Board-approved Administrator-In-Training (AIT) program. To enter a program, please contact the office for a complete application packet. You must have a baccalaureate degree before entering the program, and the program must be pre-approved by the Board before beginning.
- By endorsement
If you meet the educational requirements, and have worked as a licensed nursing home administrator in another state for at least one year within the past five years, you can file an application and take the State's Standards examination. Upon an evaluation of prior experience by the Board, passage of the State's Standards exam, and final approval by the Board, a license can be issued to you. If you have less than one year of experience as a nursing home administrator, it will be necessary for you to meet the one year by either having experience in another category under COMAR 10.33.01.13, or going into a Board-approved AIT program. If your experience falls outside of the five-year time frame established by regulation, you will have to qualify for licensure by completing the full one-year AIT program and meet the other requirements for licensure.
Maryland does not have a temporary or provisional license. You must meet all requirements for licensure (experience, education, and examination) before a license can be issued ? see 3 above.
The national examination is a computer-based examination with a passing scale score of 113. Please refer to the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) website for more information on the examination. The website address is: www.nabweb.org .
If you fail the examination, you can register at any time, and submit the required fees.
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You must receive a passing score of 75% on the State exam. There are 100 multiple choice questions on this exam, and the questions are taken from the following COMAR regulation books:
1. 10.07.02 - Comprehensive Care Facilities and Extended Care Facilities - 55 questions
2. 10.07.09 - Residents' Bill of Rights: Comprehensive Care Facilities and Extended Care Facilities - 20 questions
3. 10.09.10 - Nursing Facility Services - 10 questions
4. 10.09.24 - Maryland Medical Assistance Program - 5 questions
5. 10.15.03 - Food Service Facilities - 10 questions
The State's Standards exam is now a computer-based test available online. Please refer to the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) website at www.nabweb.org for more information on the examination. Before sitting for the examination, all candidates must have already filed an application for licensure, or be in an approved AIT program.
If you have a complaint against a nursing home administrator, you can download a complaint form from this website, or contact the office for a copy of the complaint form. If you have a complaint about the care being rendered in a nursing home, you must file the complaint with the Office of Health Care Quality. You can contact that office by telephone at (410) 402-8201, or visit their website at: www.dhmh.maryland.gov/ohcq .
Assisted living facilities must be licensed through the Office of Health Care Quality (410) 402-8217. The managers/operators are certified through that office. You can visit their website at: www.dhmh.maryland.gov/ohcq .
A. The Board shall issue a certificate of qualification to be a preceptor in the AIT program if the following conditions are met:
(1) The preceptor holds and has held a license from the Board for 1 year or longer;
(2) The proposed preceptor has been satisfactorily employed in nursing home administration for a minimum of 3 years as the nursing home administrator of record;
(3) The proposed preceptor has no disciplinary action pending nor is currently under investigation by the State Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators;
(4) Persons seeking certification as preceptors in the AIT program shall submit evidence of the successful completion of a Board-approved training program for preceptors; and
(5) The proposed preceptor:
(a) Has been employed full time as a nursing home administrator of record for a minimum of 2 of the past 3 years immediately before application to precept; or
(b) Meets the following qualifications:
(i) Works on the same property as the nursing home where the AIT program will be conducted and meets the standard in Regulation .02B(7)(b) of this chapter;
(ii) Is able to demonstrate to the Board the proposed preceptor’s active, direct, and material management and daily operations of the nursing home; and
(iii) Has been actively licensed as a nursing home administrator for a minimum of 5 years immediately before application to precept.
B. If the proposed preceptor has not precepted an AIT program within the past 5 years, the proposed preceptor shall recertify as a preceptor by completing a Board-approved training program.
C. The Board may disapprove a preceptor for a training program:
(1) If the preceptor has failed to remain in compliance with this chapter; or
(2) At any time for good cause.
You must complete 40 hours of NAB approved continuing education during your two-year license renewal cycle.
No continuing education hours can be carried over into another renewal cycle.
There is no limit to the number of hours you can acquire for renewal by pursuing correspondence or internet programs. However, all continuing education courses must be approved by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB).
No, only NAB approved programs will be accepted by the Maryland Board.
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Yes, a roster is available in an Excel or Text File format only. The cost is $100.00. The check should be made payable to the BENHA.
Yes, please advise this office if you wish your name removed from the public mailing list. Your name will remain on the private mailing list maintained by this office for the purpose of mailing newsletters, regulations, and any other Board related materials that needs your attention as a licensed administrator.
More detailed information regarding the licensure process may be obtained by calling the Board office at (410) 764-4750. You can also contact us by e-mail at: CiaraJ.Lee1@maryland.gov.
Revised: January 09, 2013
