March 11-15, 2019 is National Long Term Care Administrator’s Week sponsored by the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA). As we take the opportunity to thank and honor our administrators who contribute so much to our nation’s long term care communities, we have a chance to highlight an opportunity for you to grow in your professional career. VCHA-VCAL and AHCA/NCAL partner with ACHCA for its administrator certification programs. This credentialing program is offered at a discount for members.

The goal of the partnership is to increase awareness of advanced certification and professional growth opportunities for administrators, as well as encourage independent professional certification for nursing facility and assisted living administrators/directors. 

ACHCA has established eligibility criteria prior to taking the exam, including two years of licensure and continuing education requirements.  Both must be established before an individual is authorized to sit for the credentialing exam. While ACHCA membership has many benefits for administrators/directors, ACHCA membership is not a requirement for ACHCA certification.

The application fee for either the nursing facility or assisted living certification exam is $150.   AHCA/NCAL members should use AHCA/NCAL members should use code AHCANCAL when they complete their initial ACHCA applications. The single credential fee (the fee paid after an individual passes the exam) is only $300 for AHCA/NCAL members, a $50 discount off the regular non-ACHCA member price when AHCA/NCAL members use promo code AHCANCAL at checkout. 

Credentialing through ACHCA lasts five years.  Recertification involves obtaining 150 hours of continuing education in five areas during the five-year certification period and paying a recertification fee.

For more information about ACHCA certification, go to www.achca.org/certification or call 1-800-561-3148.