1416.22.

 (a) To qualify for the licensing examination, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age, be a citizen of the United States or a legal resident, be of reputable and responsible character, demonstrate an ability to comply with this chapter, and comply with at least one of the following requirements:

(1) Have a master’s degree in nursing home administration or a related health administration field. The master’s program in which the degree was obtained must have included an internship or residency of at least 480 hours in a skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility.

(2) (A) With regard to applicants who have a current valid license as a nursing home administrator in another state and apply for licensure in this state, meet the minimum education requirements that existed in this state at the time the applicant was originally licensed in the other state.

(B) The minimum education requirements that have existed in California are as follows:

(3) A doctorate degree in medicine, a current valid license as a physician and surgeon, and the completion of a program-approved AIT Program of at least 1,000 hours.

(4) A baccalaureate degree, and the completion of a program-approved AIT Program of at least 1,000 hours.

(5) Ten years of recent full-time work experience, and a current license, as a licensed registered nurse, and the completion of a program-approved AIT Program of at least 1,000 hours. At least the most recent five years of the 10 years of work experience shall be in a supervisory or director of nursing position.

(6) Ten years of full-time work experience in any department of a skilled nursing facility, an intermediate care facility, or an intermediate care facility developmentally/disabled with at least 60 semester units (or 90 quarter units) of college or university courses, and the completion of a program-approved AIT Program of at least 1,000 hours. At least the most recent five years of the 10 years of work experience shall be in a position as a department manager.

(7) Ten years of full-time hospital administration experience in an acute care hospital with at least 60 semester units (or 90 quarter units) of college or university courses, and the completion of a program-approved AIT Program of at least 1,000 hours. At least the most recent five years of the 10 years of work experience shall be in a supervisory position.

(b) An applicant for the licensing examination may obtain from the department a waiver of the education requirements in subdivision (a) if they meet the requirements of Section 1416.23.

(c) If the applicant and the preceptor provide compelling evidence that previous work experience of the applicant directly relates to nursing home administrator duties, the program may accept a waiver exception to a portion of the AIT Program that requires 1,000 hours. An applicant seeking a waiver of the educational requirements pursuant to Section 1416.23 shall not be eligible for a waiver under this subdivision.

(d) The applicant shall submit an official transcript that evidences the completion of required college and university courses, degrees, or both. An applicant who applies for the licensing examination on the basis of work experience shall submit a declaration signed under penalty of perjury, verifying his or her work experience. This declaration shall be signed by a licensed nursing home administrator, physician and surgeon, chief of staff, director of nurses, or registered nurse who can attest to the applicant’s work experience.

1416.23.

 (a) Upon request of an applicant who is a member of a church or religious denomination, recognized by the Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, that owns and operates a faith-based skilled nursing facility in California, and whose teachings historically prohibit the acquisition of the formal education that would otherwise be required to qualify for the AIT Program and the licensing examination, that applicant may seek an educational waiver. That applicant shall be required to possess at least an accredited high school diploma or proof of successfully passing a General Educational Development (GED) test of the American Council on Education or the California High School Proficiency Examination, as well as 10 years of full-time work experience in business, health, or rehabilitation fields, with at least five of the 10 years of work experience in business, health, or rehabilitation management or administration.

(b) The department may review the applicant’s church’s or religious denomination’s Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) application, including attachments, the Internal Revenue Service’s Letter of Determination of tax-exempt status to the church or religious denomination, and the church’s or religious denomination’s bylaws, constitution, or member orientation information to confirm an applicant’s eligibility for the educational waiver. The applicant’s church or religious denomination shall provide the foregoing information to the department for its review and processing of the educational waiver application. The department shall accept notarized copies of these documents.

(c) If the educational requirements are waived, the applicant successfully completes the program-approved 1,000 hour AIT Program, and is successful in passing the national and state licensing examinations, the applicant may only serve as a nursing home administrator in a facility that is owned and operated by the applicant’s church or religious denomination.

1416.55.

 (a) An Administrator-in-Training Program (AIT Program) shall be developed by the NHAP, in consultation with representatives from the long-term care industry and advocacy groups. The AIT Program shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following areas of instruction:

(1) Orientation.

(2) Administration and business office.

(3) State and federal regulations governing long-term care facilities.

(4) Residents’ rights and abuse prevention.

(5) Staffing requirements and workforce retention.

(6) Nursing services.

(7) Resident activities.

(8) Resident care.

(9) Social services.

(10) Dietary management.

(11) Environmental care, including housekeeping, laundry, and maintenance.

(12) Financial management.

(13) General management.

(14) Government regulations.

(15) Legal management.

(16) Personnel management and training.

(17) Consultants and contracts.

(18) Medical records.

(19) Public relations and marketing.

(b) A person who seeks to satisfy requirements for admission to licensure examinations through participation in an AIT Program shall first receive approval to begin the AIT Program. An applicant shall successfully complete the AIT Program in a program-approved facility under the coordination, supervision, and teaching of a preceptor who has obtained certification from the program and continues to meet the qualifications set forth in the rules and regulations of the program.

(c) In order to be eligible for the AIT Program, an applicant shall submit an application package on forms provided by the NHAP, and pay the applicable fees established by this chapter. The applicant shall be at least 18 years of age.

(d) In addition to the requirements in subdivision (c), the applicant shall meet one or a combination of the following requirements to be eligible for the AIT Program:

(1) A doctorate degree in medicine and a current valid license as a physician and surgeon.

(2) A baccalaureate degree.

(3) Ten years of full-time work experience and a current valid license as a registered nurse. At least the most recent five years of the 10 years of work experience shall be in a supervisory or director of nursing position.

(4) Ten years of full-time work experience in any department of a skilled nursing facility, an intermediate care facility, or an intermediate care facility/developmentally disabled with at least 60 semester units (or 90 quarter units) of college or university courses. At least the most recent five years of the 10 years of work experience shall be in a position as a department manager.

(5) Ten years of full-time hospital administration experience in an acute care hospital with at least 60 semester units (or 90 quarter units) of college or university courses. At least the most recent five years of the 10 years of work experience shall be in a supervisory position.

(e) An applicant for the AIT Program may obtain from the department a waiver of the education requirements in subdivision (d) if he or she meets the requirements of Section 1416.23.

(f) The applicant shall submit an official transcript that evidences the completion of required college or university courses, degrees, or both. An applicant who is a member of a recognized church or religious denomination whose teachings historically prohibit the acquisition of the formal education that would otherwise be required to qualify the applicant for the AIT Program may request a written waiver of the education requirements from the department.

(g) An applicant who qualifies for the AIT Program on the basis of work experience shall submit a declaration signed under penalty of perjury verifying his or her work experience. This declaration shall be signed by a licensed nursing home administrator, physician and surgeon, chief of staff, director of nurses, or registered nurse who can attest to the applicant’s work experience.