Enhancing the Professional Competency of Assisted Living AdministratorsManagersDirectors

1
Enhancing the Professional Competency of Assisted
Living Administrators/Managers/Directors

• Assisted Living Administrator Licensure
  Competency Initiatives
• And an Overview of the NAB Competency Examination
  for Assisted Living Administrators/Managers and
  Directors

2
Enhancing the Professional Competency of Assisted
Living Administrators/Managers/Directors

• Introduction
• About the NAB
• NAB Programs and Initiatives
• Current State Competency Initiatives
• Why Establish Competency Standards?
• Benefits Managers/Directors/Administrators
• Why NAB?
• History of Competency Exam Development
• Job Analysis Process
• The RC/AL Exam
• Current RC/AL Exam Utilization
• Contact Information

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About the NAB

• National Association of Boards of Examiners of
  Long Term Care Administrators (NAB)
• Mission Public Protection
• Members
• Regular 52 State Regulatory Boards/Agencies
• Associate - Former Board Members
• Subscribing - Academia, Allied Associations,
  Others

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NAB Programs Initiatives

• Academic accreditation of Undergraduate and
  Graduate Degree Programs in LTC Administration
• Continuing educational approvals
• Standards of practice
• Reciprocity development
• Model regulations and standards
• RC/AL Examination
• NHA Examination
• State Law Exam Administration
• Publications

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Current State Administrator Competency Initiatives

• Licensure by the State
• Alabama Initial regs required state law exam
  only, must expand to include knowledge based exam
  in two years
• Delaware (NHA License)
• Idaho requires NAB National Exam
• Indiana recently passed legislation requiring
  licensure, regs under development
• Kansas (Adult Care Home Admin license or engage
  in operator training)
• Maine (NAB NHA or AL National Exam or training
  program required in Level IV Facilities)
• Missouri (NHA for Level II Facilities, NHA or
  education requirement for Level I) are
  currently planning to separate NHA and AL
  licensure requirements
• Montana (NHA license or Assisted Living
  University Training Program)
• Nevada requires NAB National Exam, is currently
  implementing Administrator in Training Program
• New Jersey (NHA license or AL Certification)
• Ohio (NHA or Health Care Prof License, or College
  Degree)
• Oklahoma (NHA license, or AL Certificate)
• Pennsylvania recently promulgated regulations for
  AL licensure
• South Carolina requires NAB National Exam and
  State Law Exam
• South Dakota (Health Care Professional License or
  Approved Training Program and Competency
  Evaluation)
• Virginia recently passed legislation requiring
  licensure for assisted living administrators

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Current State Administrator Competency
Initiatives (continued)

• Certification by the State
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• New Jersey (AL Certification or NHA License)
• North Carolina
• Oregon (NAB National AL Exam or Training Program)
• Rhode Island
• Other
• The remaining states requirements range from a
  combination of education, training and/or
  experience, to no specified requirements.

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Why Establish Competency Standards?

• Identify and establish standards of practice
• Responsibilities
• Knowledge
• Skills
• Tasks
• Evaluate Strengths and Weaknesses
• Establish curriculum
• Education
• Training programs
• Assure stakeholders of competency
• Public protection
• Employers

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Benefits Managers/Directors/Administrators

• Professional Development vs. Government
  Regulation
• Commitment to Quality Care
• Development of Minimum Qualifications
• Commitment to Continuing Education
• Personal Recognition and Reward

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Why NAB?

• Experience
• Knowledge
• Integrity
• Independence
• Resources
• Supports NABs Mission of Public Protection

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NAB COMMITMENT TO INDEPENDENCE OF RC/AL
EXAMINATION

• All activities of the RC/AL examination process
  have been independent of the Nursing Home
  Administrators examination to assure that the
  exam represents the RC/AL administrator and the
  philosophy of Assisted Living
• Independent Exam Committee
• Assurance of RC/AL Content Experts
• Independent Job Analysis
• Independent Item Writing and Exam Development
  Process

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Exam Development

• Job analysis was undertaken
• Define job-related activities, knowledge and
  skills
• Panel of subject matter experts generated the
  work-related activities and content areas.
• Components validated by a random sample of
  administrators.
• Objective was to choose content areas relevant to
  practice and
  critical to assessing administrator competence
  
  at entry level.

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Exam Development

• Annually - Item Writing Workshops Held each
  February with Practicing Assisted Living
  Administrators Participating
• Annually Two New Forms of the Exam Reviewed by
  Exam Committee at the NAB June Annual Meeting

• Annually - Standard Setting Workshop to
  Establish Pass Point Score conducted at the
  November NAB Mid-Year Meeting

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Exam Developmental Process

• Item bank classified by content areas of test
  specifications
• Meet minimum standards concerning importance and
  criticality
• Relates to an aspect of work in the field that is
  frequently performed at entry level.
• Items written by assisted living administrators
  throughout the United States with a rigorous
  review process.

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Exam SpecificationsSubject Matter Areas Covered

• The examination covers five subject areas.
• These areas, as well as the percentage of
  questions per area were determined in the job
  analysis study.
• In each area, the daily tasks of the
  administrator, the knowledge needed for each task
  area, and the skills in developing and
  implementing those tasks were defined.

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Domain 1 Client/Resident Services Management

• The development and implementation of services
  consistent with client needs and preferences.
  (32)

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Domain 2 Human Resources Management

• The planning, organization, implementation, and
  evaluation of recruitment and training policies
  and procedures to develop and retain a competent
  and caring staff. (19)

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Domain 3 Leadership and Governance

• The development and implementation of principles,
  practices, and ethics for operating a residential
  care/assisted living community. (19)

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Domain 4 Physical Environment Management

• The creation and maintenance of a healthy and
  safe physical environment for clients and staff
  consistent with residential care/assisted living
  philosophy. (13)

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Domain 5 Financial Management

• The development and implementation of systems and
  procedures that sustain a financially viable
  community. (17)

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Exam Format Examination Questions

• 150 questions on the exam.
• Three types of multiple choice questions
• Knowledge - Remembering understanding
  previously learned material. May also require
  candidate to demonstrate interrelationship among
  given facts.

• Interpretation - Understanding and making use of
  information presented.
• Problem Solving and Evaluation - Organizing the
  facts, interpreting the data, assessing the
  situation and choosing the best alternative or
  course of action.

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Current RC/AL Exam Utilization

• Licensure
• Hawaii considering NAB Exam
• Idaho using NAB Exam
• Indiana considering NAB Exam
• Missouri considering NAB Exam
• Nevada using NAB Exam
• South Carolina using NAB exam
• Maine (as one of several options)
• Virginia in 2007
• Training Requirement Option
• Oregon Alliance Offers NAB National AL Exam
• Voluntary Sponsorship
• North Carolina
• Minnesota
• North Dakota
• Individual Voluntary Access
• All Other States the District of Columbia

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Exam Administration

• CBT Administration
• More than 200 Exam Sites
• 265 Exam Fee
• Certificate for
• Voluntary Candidates

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Exam Preparation

• The NAB developed resources to assist candidates
  in preparing for the Exam
• Information for Candidates Handbook
• Residential Care/Assisted Living Administrators
  Exam Study Guide
• Bibliography

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How To Contact the NAB

• Tel [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• www.nabweb.org
• National Association Of Boards of
  Examiners of
• Long Term Care
  Administrators
• 1444 I Street
  NW, Suite 700
• Washington DC,
  20005-2210