5 Steps to Become an Assisted Living Administrator in California
Perhaps you have a loved one in assisted living. Or, maybe you’ve worked at one in the past. Regardless, you want to help those in vulnerable communities. Becoming an assisted living administrator may seem complicated and like a daunting task, so we’ve broken it down into five steps.
Step 1: Getting Yourself in Order
First things first: there are certain requirements that you must meet before starting this journey. In California, you must:
Be at least 21 years of age.
Have a high school diploma or GED.
This is to ensure a level of competency and maturity that is needed to run an assisted living facility. It may also be a good idea to contact a local assisted living facility and get in touch with their administrator. This isn’t a requirement, of course, but it might be helpful to have someone to talk to about this process and to glean anything from their experience.
Step 2: Education
To become a certified administrator, you must first complete an Initial Certification Training Program.
What is the Initial Certification Training Program?
The Initial Certification Training Program, or ICTP, is a course containing the comprehensive core of knowledge for a prospective assisted living administrator. The number of hours needed per course varies and depends on what kind of facility the ICTP is preparing you for. The length of the California ICTPs for residential care is as follows:
Adult Residential Facility (ARF) – 35 hours
Group Home (GH): 40 hours
Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE): 80 hours, 20 of which may be completed using the self-paced format.
Community Care Options offers an ICTP for RCFE once every 1-2 months, with an ARF course forthcoming. We’ve been teaching folks for over 25 years, so you really can’t go wrong with choosing our RCFE ICTP!
In any ICTP, you will learn the Core of Knowledge for the corresponding facility type. For example, the Core of Knowledge for an RCFE is:
Laws & Regulations
Business Operations
Management & Supervision of Staff
Psychosocial Needs of the Elderly
Physical Needs of Elderly
Community & Support Services
Medication Management
Admission, Assessment & Retention
Alzheimer’s & Dementia
Physical Environment
Resident Rights
Cultural Competency
Postural Supports & Hospice
Step 3: The Exam
Within 60 days of completing the ICTP of your choosing and receiving the certificate of completion, you must take and pass the Administrator Certification exam. You must pass it within three attempts, or you will be required to retake the ICTP.
Registering for the Exam
To register for the exam, you must first find three exam times that work for you using the Administrator Certification calendar.
Then, according to CDSS, you must email ExamRegistration@dss.ca.gov with the following:
A copy of your ICTP certificate
ICTP Certificate of Completion Date
First and Last name
Full Mailing Address (House #, Street Name, City, State, and Zip Code)
Personal Email (Specify your preferred personal email, as this will be your username)
Phone Number with Area Code
Date of Birth: MM/DD/YYYY
Type of Exam: RCFE, GH, ARF, or STRTP
Three (3) Exam Dates/Times
Lastly, mail the $100 exam fee (check or money order) with this form, Notice of Payment Information: Exam Fees, to CDSS – ACB, 744 P Street, MS 9-15-807, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Taking the Exam
The Administrator Certificate exam consists of 100 questions. ACB has a guide here to better understand the Blackboard online system.
Step 4: Post-Exam
Congratulations, you’ve passed the administrator exam! Take a moment to celebrate—you’ve earned it. But don’t celebrate for too long. There’s still a lot to get done. Now, you must pass a fingerprint clearance and pay $140 to the State of California for the RCFE Administrator Application.
Fingerprint Clearance
Anyone who wishes to become an administrator must complete a criminal record background check and get a clearance (or criminal record exemption). CCLD conducts this background check through their new Guardian system (outlined in this PIN). The form used when getting a fingerprint clearance is LIC 9163 Request for Live Scan Service.
For assisted living, this fingerprint clearance is completed through Live Scan providers.
Step 5: Choose Your Path
You’ve done it: you’ve passed the state-proctored exam and have submitted your application. Now, you’re an administrator… right?
Well, you have two options.
OPTION #1: Work as an Administrator In a Care Facility Under a Licensee
Lots of Licensees who own facilities are looking for a certified administrator to run them. With this path, you don’t have to start your own facility, and you also don’t have to go through the process of becoming a Licensee. (Yes, a Licensee is different from an Administrator.)
OPTION #2: Become Your Own Boss & Become a Licensee
Or, you can become a Licensee and start your own residential care facility. And if you want to do this, you can’t do it without a facility to run. Whether that means taking over an existing one or starting one from scratch, it’s time to put everything you’ve learned into practice.
The Bottom Line
Becoming an assisted living administrator is a journey that requires dedication, but it’s a deeply rewarding career with the power to change lives. While these five steps provide a roadmap, we understand that you might have questions along the way. You don’t have to navigate the process alone.
If you need guidance on the certification process, want to learn more about our state-approved RCFE Initial Certification Training Program, or simply wish to speak with an expert, the team at Community Care Options is here to help. Reach out to us today to get the support you need to confidently begin your journey.