At Community Care Options, we support assisted living administrators at every stage of their assisted living administrator journey. And that doesn’t just include Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) Administrators, but also administrators for Adult Residential Care Facilities (ARFs).
Prospective ARF administrators often ask us, “How do I start a facility?” or, “How do I become an ARF Administrator in California?” Don’t worry—we’re here to help you understand how to start an ARF in California, from training to licensure.
Thinking of becoming an ARF administrator? Community Care Options is preparing to launch its ARF Initial Certification Training Program in January 2027! Join our waitlist to be notified when enrollment opens.
Step 1: Complete Your ARF Administrator Training
To obtain your ARF Administrator Certificate, you must be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Then, you must complete an Initial Certification Training Program, or ICTP, for ARF administrators.
The ARF Initial Certification Training Program is a course containing the comprehensive core of knowledge for a prospective assisted living administrator. The 35-hour ARF administrator training is considerably shorter than the ICTP for RCFE, only taking 35 hours as opposed to the required 80 hours for RCFE.
The ICTP will teach you the Core of Knowledge needed to excel at running your own ARF. The ARF Core of Knowledge is as follows:
Laws & Regulations (6 hours)
Business Operations (3 hours)
Management and Supervision of Staff (3 hours)
Psychosocial Needs (4 hours)
Community and Support Services (3 hours)
Physical Needs (4 hours)
Medication (4 hours)
Admission & Assessment Retention (3 hours)
Emergency Intervention, Non-Violent (4 hours)
Cultural Competency (1 hour)
As for where to receive your training…
The ARF Administrator Training Program is Coming to Community Care Options!
Planning to become a certified ARF Administrator? We are thrilled to announce that Community Care Options is preparing to launch our 35-hour ARF Initial Certification Training Program in January, 2027, subject to CDSS approval.
Join our waitlist to be among the first to receive program updates, enrollment information, and launch announcements.
Step 2. Take and Pass the Exam
Within 60 days of completing your ICTP, you must take and pass the Administrator Certification Exam through the Administrator Certification Bureau (ACB). You must pass the exam within three attempts. When registering for the exam, you must pay a non-refundable exam fee of $100.
And, once you pass the exam…
Step 3. Submit Your ARF Administrator Application
Congratulations, you aced your exam! It’s not time to relax, though. Within thirty days of receiving your exam results, you must submit your ARF administrator application packet to the ACB.
This packet must include:
A completed and signed LIC 9214 (the Application for Administrator Certification Form)
A check or money order made payable to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) for $140.
A copy of your Certificate of Completion of the 35-hour ARF ICTP
A copy of your completed LIC 9163 (Request for Live Scan Service). This is your fingerprint clearance. You can find more guidance on this here.
Step 4. The Path to ARF Licensure
When we say “licensure,” we’re not talking about ARF Certification—we’re talking about the actual licensure of your physical facility for it to operate. This is, of course, if you choose to open a facility of your own.
Every licensed ARF must be run by a certified ARF Administrator who has undergone the 35-hour ARF Administrator training and also completed the other steps above.
If you are interested in opening an ARF of your own, the path towards Licensure includes:
Securing a location
Having the required amount of money in the bank
Establishing a business entity (such as an LLC, Corporation, Sole Proprietor, etc.)
Scheduling a pre-inspection with your local Fire Marshall
Completing and submitting the ARF license application
Of course, this is a streamlined and non-exhaustive list of everything that goes into ARF Licensure, but it’s a good starting point.
Step 5. Ongoing Compliance
Once your ARF is open, you must be sure to stay on top of your ongoing compliance needs and recertification. ARF Administrators are required to renew their certification every two years. We offer live-stream webinars that fulfill recertification requirements. Check them out here.
The TLDR
It takes a lot of work, determination, and patience to become an ARF Administrator. But the payoff is worth it. Administrator training is an important first step towards this career path. And we’re so happy to finally be able to offer an ARF Initial Certification Training Program.
