Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 1020 - Nursing Home Administrators
Chapter 1020-01 - General Rules Governing Nursing Home Administrators
Section 1020-01-.07 - QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSURE

(1) "Acceptable Management Experience," as used in this rule, means the actual practice of health care facility administration in an inpatient health care facility with guidance and sharing of responsibility from the administrator and not related to the role of an administrative clerk. "Acceptable management experience" contemplates experience in all departments or areas of the facility, provided, however, the applicant is not required to have spent the entire five (5) years in the capacity of an assistant administrator. Responsible supervisory experience in various departments within the facility may be applied to meet the requirements of paragraph (6) of this rule, and the time spent in a board approved Administrator-In-Training (A.I.T.) program may also be counted toward these requirements. However, no more than two-thirds (2/3) of the required "acceptable management experience" can be obtained in any one area of the facility, e.g., in dietary, nursing, financial, etc.

(2) Licensure by examination - A baccalaureate, masters, or doctorate degree in the area of Health Care Administration from an accredited college or university is required. The curriculum shall include a four hundred (400) hour internship taken for credit and served in a licensed long term care nursing facility.

(3) Licensure by experience and education as a hospital administrator combined with a Limited Administrator-in-Training (A.I.T.) program - A baccalaureate, masters or doctorate degree from an accredited college and a four hundred (400) hour Board-approved A.I.T. program to be completed in no less than three (3) months and no more than six (6) months combined with a minimum of five (5) of the last seven (7) years as the chief executive officer of a licensed hospital is required. This individual is appointed by the governing authority and is responsible to it for the executive management of the organization according to the mission, goals and objectives that have been adopted.

(4) Licensure by experience and education as an assistant/associate hospital administrator combined with a Limited Administrator-in-Training (A.I.T.) program - A baccalaureate, masters or doctorate degree from an accredited college and a four hundred (400) hour Board-approved A.I.T. program to be completed in no less than three (3) months and no more than six (6) months combined with a minimum of five (5) of the last seven (7) years as the chief operating officer of a licensed hospital is required. This individual is appointed by the chief executive officer, usually with the concurrence of the governing authority.

(5) Licensure by education combined with an Administrator-In-Training (A.I.T.) program - A baccalaureate, masters or doctorate degree from an accredited college combined with a Board approved A.I.T. program of at least six (6) months is required.

(6) Licensure by education and experience combined with an Administrator-In-Training (A.I.T.) program - An associate degree and five (5) years of acceptable management experience in a licensed long term care facility combined with a Board approved A.I.T. program of at least six (6) months is required.

(7) Licensure by reciprocity - An active license as a nursing home administrator in another state is required.

(8) An applicant who chooses to qualify for licensure by meeting the requirements of paragraphs (5) or (6) of this rule must obtain Board approval to begin the A.I.T. program.