How to Start an RCFE in California: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026 Update)
Are you thinking about starting your very own RCFE in California? It can feel like a daunting task, but don’t worry—we’re here to break down the process for you, step by step.
Step 1: Meeting the Minimum Requirements
Before even thinking about buying a facility, you need to become an administrator. To do this in California, you must:
Be at least 21 years of age.
Have a high school diploma or GED.
These two guardrails are in place to guarantee a level of maturity and education that is essential to run an assisted living facility. Only after you meet these two requirements can you start thinking about the next step: completing an Initial Certification Training Program (ICTP).
Step 2: Complete 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.
Curious as to where to take this course? Luckily for you, 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 ICTP for RCFE!
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: Take the Administrator Certification 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. The state-proctored exam is 100 questions, administered by CDSS, and you must pass with a minimum score of 70%.
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 dates and 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 for RCFE consists of 100 questions. ACB has a guide here to better understand the Blackboard online system.
Step 4: Post-Exam
Take a moment to celebrate passing the exam—you’ve earned it. It’s an incredible accomplishment. But don’t celebrate for too long, because there’s still a lot to be done.
It is required that within thirty (30) days of receiving notification of passing, submit a completed initial administrator application packet to the ACS (Administrator Certification Section). Use Form LIC 9214 Application for Administrator Certification.
Then, 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.
To find Live Scan providers, click here.
Step 5: Looking for a Facility
At this point, you’re probably feeling ready and raring to go to open up your RCFE in California.
Securing a Location
A lot of people think that you have to own the property you intend to run your facility in. This is not true. Leasing a property is also an option. Licensing requires proof of this, such as a rental agreement, lease, etc. The important thing to Licensing is that you have control over the property, and that you are legally allowed to be there.
Financial Stability
Licensing also requires that you have three times your monthly operating cost readily accessible and in the name of the applicant. It can be in the form of cash or credit. The cost of a six-bed RCFE facility in California can range from $65,000 to $75,000.
However, if you’re purchasing a facility that is currently operating, the required sum is only one month of operating costs.
If starting a facility from scratch, you’ll also need to furnish the facility. Or, if you’re purchasing a facility that is currently operating, there is also a chance that you may want to refurbish some parts of it.
Establishing a Business Entity
Though a residential care facility is a fantastic way to help seniors in need, it is also a business. You must register your business entity with the California Secretary of State. There are a variety of different types of business tax structures you can register as, each with its own pros and cons. Most assisted living facilities register as a Limited Liability Company (LLC), as its tax structure often works the best for residential care facilities. Consult your tax or business advisor for your specific needs.
Marketing Plan
How will your assisted living succeed if no one knows about it? You must have a plan for marketing your facility. It’s important to:
Understand the demographics of the area you will be serving.
Factor in a marketing budget.
Hire a designated marketing coordinator or outside firm.
Step 6: Contact your Local Fire Marshal for a Pre-Inspection
In California especially, fire safety is of the utmost importance. During your licensing review process, your analyst will order an inspection of your property, but it is recommended that you make a request for a pre-inspection in order to be prepared for the actual inspection.
But what happens during a pre-inspection?
According to Health and Safety Code 13235a, “At the time of the preinspection, the primary fire enforcing agency shall provide consultation and interpretation of fire safety regulations, and shall notify the prospective licensee of the facility in writing of the specific fire safety regulations which shall be enforced in order to obtain fire clearance approval.”
The TLDR is, essentially, that the fire marshal shall inform you of what specific regulations are in place, and whether your home meets compliance criteria.
Based on the build configuration of the property, the clearance will tell you how many ambulatory, nonambulatory, and bedridden residents are permitted based on the build configuration of the home. Your hope is to be cleared for full capacity non-ambulatory and one bedridden resident.
Step 7: Complete the License Application
There are many hurdles to starting an RCFE in California, and the License Application can be considered one of the final large ones. The application is hard and complicated. Plus, the completed application will have approximately 400 pages to be reviewed by CCLD.
We highly recommend using a service to prepare the License Application for you. Because of the length of the application, it’s easy to make mistakes, and mistakes can prolong this entire process. Luckily for you, we have over 25 years of experience doing this with an excellent success rate. Let Community Care Options prepare your application for you.
The average time of Licensure is 90-120 days. Once you receive your license (hooray!), you can start to find residents and hire staff.
Step 8: Hire Staff
Though a noble effort, you absolutely cannot run an assisted living facility on your own. The first staff member you must have on hand is a certified administrator.It could be you, the licensee, or someone you have hired.
Based on the number of beds your facility has, additional positions to consider are: janitorial, administrative, caregivers, activity coordinators, wellness staff, etc.
Every employee must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, just like yours. Once hired, you must train them appropriately and adequately. (We offer staff training packages to make this easier for you.)
Step 9: Obtain Residents
Not sure where to find residents? We recommend establishing relationships with your local referral service providers. These can be folks in local social service offices, community organizations, non profits, etc. Specific Senior Referral Services exist as well—we’re talking from experience, seeing as we have one.
Step 10: Ongoing Compliance
You have residents, staff—you’ve made it! But the work doesn’t stop there. You must have processes in place to ensure your facility continues to run smoothly once you open it. This includes, but is not limited to:
A staff training schedule
Documentation management
Yearly recertification
Plans for expansion
Succession plans
And more!
The work, patience, and determination it takes to run an assisted living facility can feel like a lot. But you’re doing good work. Plus, as these populations continue to grow, the need for assisted living facilities is only going to increase. By owning and operating an assisted living facility in California, you are directly making a difference in the lives of many.
We understand that all the steps required to start an RCFE in California seem like a herculean effort. We’ve prepared a checklist for you all to simplify the process and get you on the right track.
