Health Facility Administrators Licensing Information

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Current: Health Facility Administrators Licensing Information

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General Information

Application Instructions

Administrator-in-Training Program

Examination Information

Renewal Instructions

Fee Schedule

FAQs

General Information

All Applicants

The Fair Information Practice Act: In compliance with Ind. Code 4-1-6, this agency is notifying you that you must provide the requested information, or your application will not be processed. You have the right to challenge, correct, or explain information maintained by this agency. The information you provide will become public record. Your examination scores and grade transcripts are confidential except in circumstances where their release is required by law, in which case you will be notified.
Mandatory Disclosure of U.S. Social Security Number: Your social security number is being requested by this state agency in accordance with Ind. Code 4-1-8-1 and 25-1-5- 11(a). Disclosure is mandatory, and this record cannot be processed without it. Failure to disclose your U.S. social security number will result in the denial of your application. Application fees are not refundable.
Abandon Applications: If an applicant does not submit all requirements within one (1) year after the date on which the application is filed, the application for licensure is abandoned without any action of the Board. An application submitted after an abandoned application shall be treated as a new application.
Temporary Permit Repealed (IC 25-19-1-3.5)
HFA Applicants
In addition to the completion of the AIT program, the HFA applicant must:
- Pass Indiana’s jurisprudence examination
- Pass the national examination
- Completed application with $100.00 application fee.
Please note: The Board cannot locate a preceptor for you nor do they provide a listing of health facility administrators who are qualified to act as preceptors in the State of Indiana.
Failure to submit the aforementioned information will result in the delay of your application. All positive response applications are subject to the review of the Board. You may be asked to make a personal appearance at a Board meeting to explain your response.
RCA Applicants
- Training and Licensure Requirements:
  1. Be a minimum of 21 years old
  2. Have a minimum of a high school diploma/equivalent
  3. Pass a national criminal history background check
  4. Pass Indiana’s jurisprudence exam
  5. Meet one of the following:
    - Be a licensed HFA or a registered, certified, or licensed health care practitioner under IC 16 or IC 25.
    - Have at least one (1) year of management experience:
      in health care;
      in housing;
      in hospitality; or
      providing similar services to the elderly.
      Verification of Employment form
    - Possess an associate's degree in gerontology or health care.
    - Possess a bachelor's degree or higher degree from an accredited postsecondary educational institution.
    - Complete a 100-hour specialized course in residential care facility administration that is approved by the board.
- Completed application with $100.00 application fee.
- You are not required to take and pass the NAB national exam.
Expedited Approval (IC 25-19-1-10)
- Approved NAB HSE (National Association of Long Term Care Administrators Boards Health Services Executive) license in good standing.
Failure to submit the aforementioned information will result in the delay of your application. All positive response applications are subject to the review of the Board.
Specialized Course of Study

Application Instructions

HFA by Examination
Submit the following with your online application:
1. Application Fee - $100.00: Pay by credit or debit card. All application fees are nonrefundable.
2. Criminal Background Check
3. Positive Response Documentation: If you answer "Yes" to any questions on the application, explain fully in a statement that includes all details. Include the violation, location, date, cause number, and disposition. Submit copies of court documents for each instance to support the statement.
4. Name Change Documentation: Documentation of any legal name change if your name differs from that on any of your documents. Documentation may include a copy of your marriage certificate or divorce decree.
5. Transcripts: Transcripts must show your degree.
6. AIT Program - Completion: Completion of an administrator-in-training program supervised by a board certified preceptor.
7. Verification of State Licensure(s): Verification of any registration/license/certification to practice any health-related profession or occupation in another state or territory.
8. Verification of Employment form
RCA by Examination
Submit the following with your online application:
1. Application Fee - $100.00: Pay by credit or debit card. All application fees are nonrefundable.
2. Criminal Background Check
3. Positive Response Documentation: If you answer "Yes" to any questions on the application, explain fully in a statement that includes all details. Include the violation, location, date, cause number, and disposition. Submit copies of court documents for each instance to support the statement.
4. Name Change Documentation: Documentation of any legal name change if your name differs from that on any of your documents. Documentation may include a copy of your marriage certificate or divorce decree.
5. Education Requirements: Transcripts must show your completed education. Meet one of the following:
  - Be a licensed HFA or a registered, certified, or licensed health care practitioner under IC 16 or IC 25.
  - Have at least one (1) year of management experience:
    - in health care;
    - in housing;
    - in hospitality; or
    - providing similar services to the elderly.
      Verification of Employment form - Can be uploaded to your application.
  - Possess an associate's degree in gerontology or health care.
  - Possess a bachelor's degree or higher degree from an accredited postsecondary educational institution.
  - Complete a 100-hour specialized course in residential care facility administration that is approved by the board.
Repeat Examination Application
*PLEASE WAIT TO RECEIVE THE NOTIFICATION OF THE FAILED EXAM BEFORE MAILING IN THE REPEAT EXAM*
Submit the following with you online application and make sure to indicate which examination you wish to retake in the Obtained by Method:
1. Application Fee:
  - If you are repeating the NAB or Examination - $50.00: Pay by credit or debit card. All application fees are nonrefundable.
  - If you are repeating the Indiana Jurisprudence Examination - $100.00: Pay by credit or debit card. All application fees are nonrefundable.
2. Criminal Background Check
Application by Reciprocity
If you are a licensed Health Facility Administrator or Residential Care Administrator in another State and meet the reciprocal requirements as defined in IC 25-1-21-5, submit the following with your online application:
1. Application Fee - $100.00: Pay by credit or debit card. All application fees are nonrefundable.
2. Criminal Background Check
3. Positive Response Documentation: If you answer "Yes" to any questions on the application, explain fully in a statement that includes all details. Include the violation, location, date, cause number, and disposition. Submit copies of court documents for each instance to support the statement.
4. Name Change Documentation: Documentation of any legal name change if your name differs from that on any of your documents. Documentation may include a copy of your marriage certificate or divorce decree.
5. Verification of State Licensure(s): Verification of any registration/license/certification to practice any health-related profession or occupation in another state or territory.
Substantial Equivalency Standards may include:
- Practiced in another state for at least 1 year as any of the following:
  - Licensed HFA (active and in good standing);
  - Chief executive officer of a hospital; or
  - Chief operations officer of a hospital.
- Passes Indiana’s jurisprudence examination.
- Passes the national examination.
OR
- The applicant has a NAB HSE (National Association of Long Term Care Administrators Boards Health Services Executive) license in good standing.
Provisional License
Submit the following with your online application if you meet the below listed statute:
1. Application Fee - $100.00: Pay by credit or debit card. All application fees are nonrefundable.
2. Criminal Background Check
3. Positive Response Documentation: If you answer "Yes" to any questions on the application, explain fully in a statement that includes all details. Include the violation, location, date, cause number, and disposition. Submit copies of court documents for each instance to support the statement.
4. Name Change Documentation: Documentation of any legal name change if your name differs from that on any of your documents. Documentation may include a copy of your marriage certificate or divorce decree.
5. Health Facility Verification Form: Please upload page 3 of this document to your online application.
6. Letter of Explanation: Please upload a detailed explanation as to why a provisional license is being requested. This must accompany the application for the board to consider your request.
IC 25-19-1-3.3 Provisional licenses; issuance; withdrawal
Sec. 3.3. (a) The board may issue a provisional health facility administrator license or provisional residential care administrator license to an individual for a specific licensed health facility or residential care facility if the individual has:
(1) at least two (2) years of administrative experience in a licensed health facility or residential care facility; and
(2) not been convicted of a crime that has a direct bearing on the individual's ability to practice competently in accordance with IC 25-1-21.
(b) The board may issue a provisional residential care administrator license to an individual for a specific residential care facility if the individual has:
(1) at least two (2) years of administrative experience in a residential care facility; and
(2) not been convicted of a crime that has a direct bearing on the individual's ability to practice competently in accordance with IC 25-1-21.
(c) Subject to subsection (d), the chair of the board may issue a provisional health facility administrator license or a provisional residential care administrator license to an individual who appears to be qualified.
(d) If the board determines that an individual described in subsection (c) fails to meet all applicable qualification for a provisional license described in subsection (a) or (b), the board may withdraw the provisional license.
(e) Experience that an individual gains while practicing health facility administration with a provisional license issued under this section may count toward the requirements for an administrator in training, as approved by the board.
Preceptor
The applicant to serve as preceptor shall file a new application for approval for each administrator-in-training applicant for whom the administrator desires to serve as preceptor. Submit the following with your online application:
1. Application Fee - $50.00: Pay by credit or debit card. All application fees are nonrefundable.(For each new application as preceptor)
2. Preceptor Certificate: Must meet the below requirements.
HFA Preceptor Requirements
- Hold an active HFA license in good standing.
- Complete a board approved educational program
- Meet any of the following:
  - Minimum of 2 years of work experience as an HFA
  - CEO of a CCRC; or
  - be employed as a regional manager for a health facility
  - Be approved by the Board prior to serving as the preceptor for an administrator-in-training.
Administrator in Training Facility
Submit the following with your online application:
1. Syllabus: Upload a syllabus and course load.
2. Positive Response Documentation: If you answer "Yes" to any questions on the application, explain fully in a statement that includes all details. Include the violation, location, date, cause number, and disposition. Submit copies of court documents for each instance to support the statement.
3. Board Appearance: Once this application is complete, it will require an appearance at a board meeting before approval of licensure.
Please note: Anyone wanting to enter into the AIT program does not complete this application. You will need to apply for the HFA license by exam.
Continuing Education Sponsor
Submit the following with your online application:
1. Application Fee - $100.00: Pay by credit or debit card. All application fees are nonrefundable.
2. Organization Description: Provide a brief description of your organization, including organization philosophy, objectives, and organizational chart.
3. Organization Background: Provide a brief description of the organization's background in continuing education and log term care education.
4. Brochure: A sample of advertising brochure for your program(s) for health facility administrators
5. Evaluation Sample: Description of evaluation techniques that will be utilized (attach sample) and provide a statement of how evaluations are utilized by your organization.
6. Certificate Sample: Provide a sample certificate to be awarded for completion of the program
7. Attendance: Provide a description of monitoring techniques utilized to verify attendance.
8. Records: Provide a description of record keeping system for continuing education programs to be offered and length of time records are kept.
9. Statement: Provide a statement regarding whether or not attendance at your programs are open to all health facility administrators.
Important Information:
- Sponsors of programs must file application with the board and be approved at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the first presentation.
- Approval of a sponsor will be valid for a maximum period of one (1) year. All approvals expire on January 31 of each year.
- The sponsor is responsible for monitoring attendance of programs in such a way that verification of attendance throughout the program can be reliably assured.
- Approved continuing education sponsors must retain the attendance records for a period of five (5) years, during which time the board may request review of these records.

Administrator-in-Training Program

Administrator-in-Training Program
Those completing the HFA program MAY NOT begin the administrator-in-training program until they have received written approval from the Board.
HFA AIT Program Requirements (IC 25-19-1-10)
- Requires the AIT program to be a minimum of three (3) months and a maximum of twelve (12) months.
- Wavier requests must be submitted and approved before being approved to start the AIT.
AIT Hour Requirements Defined:
- Either associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees with at least two (2) years of long-term care experience
  - Total of 680 hours
  - Of which, 200 hours may be from a state-approved, specialized course in long term care administration.
- Either associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees with no long-term care experience
  - Total of 880 hours
  - Of which, 200 hours may be from a state-approved, specialized course in long term care administration.
- High school diploma or equivalency
  - Total of 1040 hours
  - Of which, 200 hours may be from a state-approved, specialized course in long term care administration.
  - The board may waive up to 30% (or 312 hours) of the required training hours for an HFA applicant with a high school diploma/equivalency who has served in a long-term care facility department manager position, based upon criteria approved by the board, provided the applicant's experience under consideration is verifiable to the board's satisfaction.
Obtaining a Preceptor
- Please note: The Board cannot locate a preceptor for you nor do they provide a listing of administrators who are qualified to act as preceptors in the State of Indiana.
- To obtain a list of qualified administrators who have successfully completed the preceptor training through the Indiana Health Care Association, please contact Katie Niehoff with IHCA at kniehoff@ihca.org.
Waiver of the Administer-in-Training Program
HFA Applicants Only:
All wavier requests will require a personal appearance at a board meeting for approval. Please see the Board Calendar & Dates for the current meeting dates.
The board may waive up to 30% (or 312 hours) of the required 1040 training hours for an HFA applicant with a high school diploma/equivalency who has served in a long-term care facility department manager position, based upon criteria approved by the board, provided the applicant's experience under consideration is verifiable to the board's satisfaction. The 30% waiver is not off the 880 or the 680 hours listed in the Administrator-in-Training Program information above.
- HFA A.I.T. Waiver Request Form
You may satisfy the administrator-in-training requirements by completion of a residency-internship in health care administration completed as part of a degree requirement (possession of an associates or higher) that is determined by the Board to be equivalent to the administrator-in-training requirements of this state; you will be required to submit documentation of this residency-internship.
For additional information, you may contact board staff at 317-234-3022 or by e-mail at pla10@pla.in.gov.

Examination Information

National Examination

National Association of Board of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators (NAB) Examination
Once the licensure requirements have been satisfied, candidates for the NAB examination need to visit the NAB website at http://www.nabweb.org/ to apply for the appropriate examination.
Once the Professional Licensing Agency receives your results from NAB stating you have successfully passed the examination, you will receive a notice to take the Jurisprudence exam via email.
Jurisprudence Examination

Indiana Jurisprudence Examination
Please be advised that IPLA proctors the HFA Jurisprudence Exam. The Jurisprudence exam information is only given to approved applicants.
Candidates for the Indiana State Jurisprudence Examination must meet all the education and experience requirements prior to being approved to take the examination. There is not an additional fee to take the Jurisprudence exam.
Testing Accommodation Request

If you have a disability that may require some accommodation in taking the examinations, you must submit a Testing Accommodation Request Form to our office.
If you are hearing or speech impaired, you may utilize the Indiana Relay System by calling 1-800-743-3333.

Renewal Instructions

Renewal Information
Health Facility Administrator/Residential Care Administrator:
- HFA and RCA licenses expire on August 31 of even-numbered years.
- The HFA and RCA renewal fee is $100.00.
- View continuing education requirements prior to renewal to ensure you are in compliance with all rules and regulations.
- HFA Only: A licensed HFA may apply to the board to renew his or her license in an inactive status. No continuing education is required to renew inactive. An inactive HFA may not practice health facility administration while in an inactive status.
Continuing Education Sponsor:
- Continuing Education Sponsors expire January 31 annually.
- The Continuing Education Sponsor renewal fee is $100.00.
Renewal notices are sent approximately ninety (90) days prior to the expiration date. License holders with valid email addresses on file will be emailed the renewal notice. Those who do not have valid email addresses on file will be mailed the license renewal notice; this notice is mailed to the address on record with the Board. The Board has no way of knowing whether or not a notice reaches its destination; therefore, when a notice has been emailed to a valid email address or mailed, the duty of the Board has been performed.
.
Activation of Inactive License
An Inactive Licensee may now submit their Request Activation in their MyLicense One account.
A licensed HFA who has been inactive for a period of 3 years or less at the date of the reactivation application is filed must show proof of having completed forty (40) hours of continuing education within the two (2) year period immediately before to the date the reactivation application is filed.
A licensed HFA. who has been inactive for a period of 3 years or more at the date of the reactivation application is no longer required to:
- Make a personal appearance before the board (board discretion if they have questions about the application that are unresolved before making a determination on the application, not automatic requirement);
- Provide employment history during inactive period; or
- Do any other additional requirements as deemed by the board.
A licensed HFA. who has been inactive for a period of 3 years or more must still complete forty (40) hours of continuing education within the two (2) year period immediately before to the date the reactivation application is filed.
Reinstatement Information
A licensed HFA or RCA that has been expired for a period of 3 years or more must still the required continuing education within the two (2) year period immediately before to the date the reactivation application is filed. HFAs require forty (40) hour and RCAs require twenty (20) hours.
- Payment of the current renewal fee and current initial application fee.
- Documentation to Upload:
  - Letter of work history or resume documenting what you have been doing since the Indiana license expired.
  - License verification of 1 current license.
  - Copy of the current hours of continuing education certificates
Continuing Education
Licensed HFAs must obtain at least forty (40) hours of continuing education during each two (2) year licensing period. Licensed RCAs must obtain at least twenty (20) hours of continuing education during each two (2) year licensing period. If you are not currently or previously licensed in another state, you will not be required to complete the continuing education requirements for the two (2) year licensing period in which your license is issued.
The health facility administrator shall retain copies of certificates of completion for continuing education courses for a period of three (3) years from the end of the licensing period for which the continuing education applied. The HFA or RCA shall provide the board with copies of the certificates of completion upon the board's request for a compliance audit.
Acceptable continuing education:
- Sponsors of programs must be approved by the Indiana State Board of Health Facility Administrators, the NAB or another state's board of health facility administrators with a mandatory continuing education requirement.
- Continuing education courses offered by accredited colleges are acceptable if the course content pertains to the practice of H.F. administration.
  Accredited college courses related to the practice of H.F. administration are acceptable forms of continuing education. The following conversion will be used for continuing education credit:
  1. One (1) semester hour equals fifteen (15) contact hours.
  2. One (1) quarter hour equals ten (10) contact hours.
- Sponsors of programs must be approved by the Indiana State Board of Health Facility Administrators, the NAB or another state's board of health facility administrators with a mandatory continuing education requirement.
- Continuing education courses offered by accredited colleges, only if the course content pertains to the practice of health facility administration.
- Accredited college courses related to the practice of health facility administration.
Continuing education credit may not be carried over from one (1) biennial licensure renewal period to another. Continuing education questions may be directed to the Board at (317) 234-3022 or by e-mail at mailto:pla10@pla.in.gov.

Fee Schedule

Health Facility Administrator Applications/Renewals

Health Facility Administrator Application/Renewal	Fee
Application	$100.00
Preceptor Application	$50.00
Provisional License	$100.00
Renewal - prior to August 31 of even-numbered years	$100.00
Renewal - Expired > 3 Years	$200.00

FAQs

FAQs
- Question - How do I start the AIT?
  - Answer - The AIT cannot start till after we have received your HFA or RCA application and you are approved to start. You will receive the notification to start the AIT via email.
- Question - What happens when I fail the NAB exam or the Law exam?
  - Answer - Your application will be denied. You will be notified via email that you failed the exam and that you will need to mail in the repeat exam application and fee within 90 days.
- Question - I failed the exam (NAB or Law exam) and have to reapply, do I need to obtain another criminal background check?
  - Answer - You will need to obtain a criminal background check for each application or re-exam application that is sent in. After the application is received, you will be notified to obtain a criminal background check.
- Question - My Preceptor license has expired, how do I make it active to precept another AIT?
  - Answer - The preceptor license is not renewable. Every time you have a new AIT, you will receive a new preceptor license when you apply. The preceptor license is only issued when you have an AIT to train.

Health Facility Administrators Licensing Information

General Information

Application Instructions

Administrator-in-Training Program

Examination Information

Renewal Instructions

Fee Schedule

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