Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Initial Licensing Requirements, Process, Fees, Statutes and Administrative Rules for Nursing Home Administrators.
No application is complete until all required documentation and fees are received. Every question on the application must be answered. All documents and photos become a permanent part of your file and cannot be returned. You will be notified in writing by this office if any additional documentation is required to complete your application. The board office must be notified IMMEDIATELY of anything which changes or affects, in any way, a response given in your application. Failure to do so could result in the denial of the application or revocation of licensure. EXAMPLES: changes of address, employment, licensure status in another state, or an incorrect answer to a question.
Examination:
- Holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and majored in health care administration, health services administration, or an equivalent major, or has credit for at least 60 semester hours in subjects, as prescribed by rule of the board, which prepare the applicant for total management of a nursing home and has completed a college-affiliated or university-affiliated internship of at least 650 hours with a board-approved preceptor in a skilled nursing facility that has at least 60 beds.
OR
- Holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and majored in health care administration, health services administration, or an equivalent major, or has credits for at least 60 semester hours in subjects, as prescribed by rule of the board, which prepare the applicant for total management of a nursing home and has fulfilled the requirements of a 1,000-hour nursing home administrator-in-training program prescribed by the board.
OR
- Holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and has fulfilled the requirements of a 2,000-hour nursing home administrator-in-training program prescribed by the board.
OR
- Holds a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and has 1 year of management experience allowing for the application of executive duties and skills, including the staffing, budgeting, and directing of resident care, dietary, and bookkeeping departments within a skilled nursing facility, hospital, hospice, assisted living facility with a minimum of 60 licensed beds, or geriatric residential treatment program and, if such experience is not in a skilled nursing facility, has fulfilled the requirements of a 1,000-hour nursing home administrator-in-training program prescribed by the board.
In order to establish supervised direct management experience, the applicant must prove that, while under the supervision of a licensed nursing home administrator, he or she performed in the role of an executive manager, performing the same duties and skills expected of a Florida licensed nursing home administrator including, at a minimum, the primary direction of all facility departments of:
- Human resources, including recruiting, selecting, staffing, educating and developing managers so goals of each department are accomplished, and conducting performance appraisals for all department managers;
- Resident care;
- Dietary;
- Accounting/bookkeeping, including budgeting and internal controls:
- Life safety;
- Maintenance and housekeeping; and,
- Therapies programs.
All duties performed by an applicant under this paragraph must be performed within a skilled nursing facility, hospital, hospice, or assisted living facility with a minimum of 60 licensed beds, or geriatric residential treatment program of at least 60 beds. Each applicant who claims one year’s supervised direct management experience would be individually reviewed by the full board to determine if that applicant’s experience meets the requirements of this rule. If, however, such experience is not in a skilled nursing facility the applicant must complete the requirements of a 1,000-hour nursing home administrator-in-training program approved by the board.
Endorsement:
- Holds a valid active license to practice nursing home administration in another state of the United States.
- Has successfully completed a national examination.
- Has passed an examination on the laws and rules of this state governing the administration of nursing homes.*
- Has worked as a fully licensed nursing home administrator for 2 years within the 5-year period immediately preceding the application by endorsement.
*Notice to applicants regarding the Laws and Rules Examination
Temporary License:
A temporary license may be issued one time only to an applicant who has filed an application for licensure by endorsement and has paid the fee for the next laws and rules examination offered in this state. An application for a temporary license must be submitted along with the appropriate fee and work experience as a fully licensed nursing home administrator for 2 years within the 5-year period immediately preceding application for a temporary license.
A temporary license shall be valid for the nursing home administrator applicant only at the facility for which it is issued and shall not be transferred to another facility or to another applicant. An applicant shall not be eligible to reapply for a temporary license or an extension of a temporary license. The applicant must take and pass the next laws and rules examination offered in this state following issuance of a temporary license. The temporary license is valid until the results of the examination are certified by the board and the applicant is notified.
Applicants with Health History
If you answer “yes” to any of the health history questions on the application, please submit supporting documentation including the relevant dates and circumstances of such treatment and/or addiction along with the names and addresses of the medical practitioners or hospitals who performed such treatment.
Applicants with Discipline History
Applicants with prior disciplinary actions are required to submit the following:
Board Actions – Certified copies of document(s) relative to any disciplinary action taken against any license. The documents must come from the agency that took the disciplinary action and must be certified by that agency.
Self-Explanation – A detailed description of the circumstances surrounding your disciplinary action and a thorough description of the rehabilitative changes in your lifestyle since the time of the disciplinary action which would enable you to avoid future occurrences. It would be helpful to include factors in your life, which you feel may have contributed to your disciplinary action, what you have learned about yourself since that time, and the changes you have made that support your rehabilitation.
Applicants with Criminal History
Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following:
Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.
Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.
Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in their own words describing the circumstances of the offense. Include in your letter the date of the original offense, the charge, and the jurisdiction where it occurred.
Health Care Fraud; Disqualifications for License, Certificate, or Registration
Effective July 1, 2012, Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), provides that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:
- Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed. Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
- For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
- For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
- For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
- Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
- Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
- Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
- Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.
Please download, print and complete the paper application and submit along with your fees to the address listed below:
Florida Board of Nursing Home Administrators
P. O. Box 6330
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6330
Examination:
The following document is required in order to complete your application:
- An official copy of your transcript(s) submitted directly to the board office.
One year of managerial experience:
- Letter from employer(s) confirming experience.
- Copy of original signed and dated job description.
- Facility organizational chart.
College-affiliated or University-affiliated internship program:
- Letter from College or University confirming completion of 650 hour minimum internship at a Skilled Nursing Facility with a minimum of 60 beds.
Administrator-in-Training Program:
- Completed appropriate forms in application packet pertaining to the Administrator-in-Training Program.
Endorsement:
The following documents are required in order to complete your application:
- An official copy of your transcript(s) submitted directly to the board office.
- License verification from any state that licensure has been held, regardless of the current status of that license.
- Official record of passing national examination score, submitted directly from the state of licensure or NAB.
- Letter from employer(s) confirming experience.
- Copy of original signed and dated job description.
- Facility organizational chart.
Within 7-14 days of receipt of your application, the board office will notify you of the status of your application and any remaining required documents that need to be submitted.
Make certified checks or money orders payable to the “Department of Health.”
Examination:
| Examination Fee | $250.00 |
| Initial Licensure Fee | $500.00 |
| Unlicensed Activity Fee | $5.00 |
| TOTAL FEE | $755.00 |
Endorsement:
| Initial Licensure Fee | $500.00 |
| Unlicensed Activity Fee | $5.00 |
| TOTAL FEE | $505.00 |
Temporary License:
| Application Fee | $325.00 |
| Licensure Fee | $150.00 |
| TOTAL FEE | $475.00 |
Click on Chapter or Section Number to View
Florida Statutes
Chapter 468, Part II: Nursing Home Administrators
Chapter 456: Health Professions and Occupations: General Provisions
Chapter 400, Part II: Nursing Homes and Related Health Care Facilities
Chapter 415, Parts: Adult Protective Services
Chapter 765, Parts I, II, III and IV: Health Care Advance Directives
Chapter 120: Administrative Procedure Act
Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.)
Rules: Chapter 64B10: (Board of Nursing Home Administrators Rules)
Rules: Chapter 64E11: (Division of Environmental Health – Food Hygiene)
Rules: Chapter 64E16: (Division of Environmental Health – Biomedical Waste)
Rules: Chapter 59A4: (Agency for Health Care Administration – Minimum Standards for Nursing Homes)
