Qualifications For Licensure

To practice as a nursing home administrator in Tennessee, a person must possess a license lawfully issued by the Board. Paragraphs (2) through (7) of this rule describe the six (6) categories to obtain licensure as a nursing home administrator. Combining requirements from different categories is not permitted, and will not constitute completion of licensure requirements. In addition to the requirements of this rule, all applicants, regardless of which category is used, must successfully complete the examinations required in rule 1020-01-.10 Examinations. (1) “Acceptable Management Experience,” as used in this rule, means the actual practice of health care facility administration in an inpatient health care facility with guidance and sharing of responsibility from the administrator and not related to the role of an administrative clerk. “Acceptable management experience” contemplates experience in all departments or areas of the facility, provided, however, the applicant is not required to have spent the entire five (5) years in the capacity of an assistant administrator. Responsible supervisory experience in various departments within the facility may be applied to meet the requirements of paragraph (6) of this rule, and the time spent in a board approved Administrator-In-Training (A.I.T.) program may also be counted toward these requirements. However, no more than two-thirds (2/3) of the required “acceptable management experience” can be obtained in any one area of the facility, e.g., in dietary, nursing, financial, etc. (2) Licensure by examination – A baccalaureate, masters, or doctorate degree in the area of Health Care Administration from an accredited college or university is required. The curriculum shall include a four hundred (400) hour internship taken for credit and served in a licensed long term care nursing facility. (3) Licensure by experience and education as a hospital administrator combined with a Limited Administrator-in-Training (A.I.T.) program – A baccalaureate, masters or doctorate degree from an accredited college and a four hundred (400) hour Board-approved A.I.T. program to be completed in no less than three (3) months and no more than six (6) months combined with a minimum of five (5) of the last seven (7) years as the chief executive officer of a licensed hospital is required. This individual is appointed by the governing authority and is responsible to it for the executive management of the organization according to the mission, goals and objectives that have been adopted. (a) The administrator must develop an organizational structure to provide the patient care services that are offered by the facility which is consistent with the mission and meets all applicable legal, licensure and accreditation requirements; assure that appropriate mechanisms are in place for an organized medical staff and (if applicable) a volunteer organization; also oversee long range planning and possibly even joint ventures. The GENERAL RULES GOVERNING NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATORS CHAPTER 1020-01 individual must work with community, county and state governmental agencies on a wide variety of topics. (b) In a multi-hospital organization, the chief executive officer may be directly responsible to a corporate official and may have a local advisory board or other consultative group. (4) Licensure by experience and education as an assistant/associate hospital administrator combined with a Limited Administrator-in-Training (A.I.T.) program – A baccalaureate, masters or doctorate degree from an accredited college and a four hundred (400) hour Board-approved A.I.T. program to be completed in no less than three (3) months and no more than six (6) months combined with a minimum of five (5) of the last seven (7) years as the chief operating officer of a licensed hospital is required. This individual is appointed by the chief executive officer, usually with the concurrence of the governing authority. (a) The assistant/associate administrator is directly responsible for the operation of several hospital departments and assists the administrator, as assigned, in other executive management functions. The individual must work with community, county and state governments on a wide variety of topics. (b) The assistant/associate administrator is “in charge” of the facility during the absence of the administrator and must follow its mission, goals and objectives that have been adopted. (5) Licensure by education combined with an Administrator-In-Training (A.I.T.) program – A baccalaureate, masters or doctorate degree from an accredited college combined with a Board approved A.I.T. program of at least six (6) months is required. (6) Licensure by education and experience combined with an Administrator-In-Training (A.I.T.) program – An associate degree and five (5) years of acceptable management experience in a licensed long term care facility combined with a Board approved A.I.T. program of at least six (6) months is required. (7) Licensure by reciprocity – An active license as a nursing home administrator in another state is required. (a) An applicant must demonstrate to the Board’s satisfaction a successful completion of requirements that are substantially equivalent to or exceed the requirements of paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6) of this rule; or (b) An applicant must demonstrate to the Board’s satisfaction a successful completion of requirements that are substantially equivalent to or exceed the requirements for certifi- cation by the American College of Health Care Administrators; or (c) An applicant must demonstrate to the Board’s satisfaction successful completion of NAB’s Health Service Executive (HSE) qualification; or (d) An applicant working for a minimum of five (5) of the last seven (7) years as a licensed nursing home administrator in another state in lieu of a degree or in lieu of an A.I.T. program. (8) An applicant who chooses to qualify for licensure by meeting the requirements of paragraphs (5) or (6) of this rule must obtain Board approval to begin the A.I.T. program. (a) Successful completion of the A.I.T. program as governed by rule 1020-01-.06 is a prerequisite to approval to take the licensure examination. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATORS CHAPTER 1020-01 (b) The time an applicant spends in the A.I.T. program may be credited toward the last six (6) months needed to meet the “acceptable management experience” requirement for admission to the examination. (c) The Board shall concurrently determine eligibility for both admission to the examination and commencement of the A.I.T. program upon review of both applications.