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Nursing Home Administrator
Every state requires nursing home administrators to be licensed. Compare education requirements, AIT (Administrator-in-Training) hours, exam mandates, and licensing fees across all 50 states and D.C. The average AIT requirement is 911 hours, with 51 states requiring the NAB national exam.
51
Jurisdictions
911
Avg AIT Hours
51
NAB Exam Required
$323
Avg License Fee
Nursing home administrator licensing is mandated by federal law — all 50 states and D.C. require NHAs to be licensed. The typical path includes earning a bachelor's or master's degree, completing an AIT practicum (480–2,000+ hours under a licensed NHA), and passing the NAB national exam.
Requirements vary significantly by state. Some states accept a bachelor's in any field with a healthcare administration concentration, while others require a specific healthcare administration degree or a master's. AIT hours also vary widely.
Use the sortable table below to compare NHA licensing requirements across all jurisdictions. Click any column header to sort, or click a state to view full requirements.
Click any state to see full requirements, costs, and step-by-step instructions →
| State ▲ | Education Required | AIT Hours | Exam | License Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Associate | 1,000 | NAB + State | $300 |
| Alaska | Bachelor's degree | 1,000 | NAB | $375 |
| Arizona | Bachelors (minimum education) | 1,000 | NAB + State | $550 |
| Arkansas | Associate degree | 640 | NAB + State | $200 |
| California | Bachelor's degree | 1,000 | NAB + State | $554 |
| Colorado | High School | 500 | NAB + State | $350 |
| Connecticut | Bachelor's degree | 900 | NAB | $400 |
| Delaware | Bachelor's degree | 2,080 | NAB | $243 |
| District of Columbia | Bachelors | 1,820 | NAB + State | $356 |
| Florida | Bachelors (minimum) | 1,000 | NAB + State | $500 |
| Georgia | High school diploma | 1,000 | NAB | $200 |
| Hawaii | Bachelor's degree (minimum) | 2,080 | NAB | $222 |
| Idaho | Bachelor's degree | 1,000 | NAB | $400 |
| Illinois | Bachelor's degree | 460 | NAB + State | $250 |
| Indiana | Bachelor's degree | 728 | NAB + State | $200 (application $100 + licensure $100) |
| Iowa | Bachelor's degree | 720 | NAB | $120 |
| Kansas | Bachelors | 480 | NAB + State | $100 (single licensure fee listed) |
| Kentucky | Bachelor's degree | 1,080 | NAB | $125 |
| Louisiana | Bachelor's degree from an accredited institute of higher learning | 1,040 | NAB + State | $1,095 |
| Maine | Bachelors | 1,040 | NAB | $275 |
| Maryland | Bachelor's degree | 2,080 | NAB + State | $300 |
| Massachusetts | Bachelor's degree | 520 | NAB | $300 |
| Michigan | Bachelor's degree | 1,000 | NAB | $80.50 |
| Minnesota | Bachelor's degree | 1,000 | NAB + State | $375 |
| Mississippi | Associate (minimum) | 1,040 | NAB + State | $500 |
| Missouri | High school diploma | 500 | NAB + State | $150 |
| Montana | High school diploma | 1,000 | NAB + State | $225 |
| Nebraska | Associate degree | 640 | NAB | $166 |
| Nevada | Bachelor's (Bachelors) | 1,000 | NAB | $645 |
| New Hampshire | Bachelor's degree | 1,000 | NAB + State | $300 |
| New Jersey | Bachelors | 1,750 | NAB | $100 |
| New Mexico | Bachelor's degree | 1,000 | NAB | $400 (application $200 + licensure $200) |
| New York | Bachelor's degree | 1,000 | NAB + State | $80 |
| North Carolina | Associate degree | 480 | NAB + State | $900 |
| North Dakota | Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university | 1,000 | NAB + State | $250 |
| Ohio | Bachelor's degree (baccalaureate degree) | 500 | NAB | $250 (single original license fee per Rule 4751-1-10) |
| Oklahoma | Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university | 560 | NAB + State | $300 |
| Oregon | Bachelor's degree | 960 | NAB + State | $230 |
| Pennsylvania | High school diploma | 800 | NAB + State | $40 |
| Rhode Island | Bachelor's degree (Bachelors minimum) | 350 | NAB | $160 |
| South Carolina | Associate degree | 768 | NAB + State | $375 |
| South Dakota | Associate degree | 240 | NAB + State | $400 |
| Tennessee | Associate | 400 | NAB + State | $460 |
| Texas | Bachelors | 1,000 | NAB + State | $350 |
| Utah | High school diploma | 1,000 | NAB | $120 |
| Vermont | Bachelor's degree | 1,000 | NAB + State | $200 |
| Virginia | Bachelor's degree (baccalaureate or higher) | 320 | NAB | $315 |
| Washington | Baccalaureate degree from a recognized institution of higher learning | 1 | NAB | $715 |
| West Virginia | Bachelor's degree | 1,000 | NAB + State | $600 |
| Wisconsin | Bachelor's degree | 1,000 | NAB + State | $90 |
| Wyoming | Bachelors | 1,000 | NAB | $300 |
An AIT program is a supervised practicum required in most states before you can become a licensed nursing home administrator. AIT hours range from 480 to 2,000+ hours depending on the state, and must be completed under the supervision of a licensed NHA at an approved long-term care facility.
Most states require passage of the NAB (National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards) exam, which covers resident care, human resources, financial management, governance, and physical environment management. Some states also require an additional state-specific exam.
Most states require at least a bachelor's degree, with many requiring or preferring a degree in healthcare administration, public health, or a related field. A growing number of states require or favor a master's degree. Educational requirements vary significantly — check your state's specific requirements.
Total initial licensing fees for nursing home administrators range from under $100 to over $500 depending on the state. This typically includes application fees and license issuance fees. Additional costs include the NAB exam fee (approximately $340), AIT program expenses, and continuing education for renewal.