Effective July 1, 2021, Administrators of Assisted Living Communities and Administrators of Personal Care Homes with twenty-five (25) beds or more must hold licenses issued by the Georgia State Board of Long-Term Care Facility Administrators. In February 2020, the Georgia Legislature approved House Bill 987, aimed at increasing protection for residents of assisted living facilities and personal care homes. One component of the Bill was to introduce a licensing requirement for Assisted Living Community Administrators and Personal Care Home Administrators. To learn more about HB 987 and its wide-reaching implications for these facilities, see AGG’s previous article here.

Administrators may apply for initial licensure, or by reciprocity or endorsement at the Georgia Secretary of State Website here.

To meet the requirements for an Assisted Living Community Administrator or Personal Care Home Administrator, the applicant must provide proof of one of the following:

• At least one year of full-time practical experience in a healthcare facility or managerial/supervisory experience outside of a healthcare facility prior to the date of the application, and be certified from a nationally recognized program, a program accredited by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB), or any other program approved by the Board, which teaches the responsibilities of Assisted Living Community Administration; or

• Health Services Executive (HSE) qualification from the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB); or

• Hold a master’s degree in a health care related-field that includes a minimum of 21 semester hours of coursework concentrated on the administration and management of health care services, and pass the Resident Care/Assisted Living (RCAL) national examination administered by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB); or

• Hold an active, unencumbered Georgia license as a Nursing Home Administrator.

Administrators must obtain licensure before this requirement goes into effect on July 1. Applicants seeking licensure by reciprocity or endorsement must meet the same standards as first-time applicants.