1. (a) To qualify for a license, an applicant shall be an individual who:

   1. (1) Submits to a criminal history records check in accordance with § 9-302.1 of this subtitle; and
   2. (2) Meets the requirements of this section.
2. (b) The applicant shall be of good moral character.
3. (c) The applicant shall be at least 21 years old.

4. (d)

   1. (1) The applicant shall:

      1. (i) 1. Have a baccalaureate or master’s degree in health care administration from an accredited college or university; or

         1. 2. A. Have a baccalaureate or master’s degree in a field other than health care administration from an accredited college or university; and

            1. B. Have satisfactorily completed a minimum of 100 hours in a course of study in health care administration approved by the Board; and

      2. (ii) 1. Have completed an administrator-in-training program approved by the Board; or

         1. 2. Have completed 1 year of full-time nursing home administration in a nursing home.

   2. (2) The requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection do not apply to an individual who:

      1. (i) Was in possession of a valid license on December 15, 1988; or

      2. (ii) 1. Had applied for a license by December 15, 1988; and

         1. 2. Met all of the other requirements for licensure.
5. (e) The Board may waive any education requirement of subsection (d) of this section for an individual who was licensed and practiced as a nursing home administrator for at least 3 years in another state.

6. (f)

   1. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d)(1)(i)1 or 2A of this section, the Board may not require an applicant to have a baccalaureate degree if the applicant:

      1. (i) Is a registered nurse who:

         1. 1. Has an associate in arts degree in nursing; or
         2. 2. Is a diplomate nurse;
      2. (ii) Has been working as a nursing home director of nursing for a period of at least 5 years, with at least 3 years experience at the same facility, prior to the date the applicant submits an application to the Board for a license;
      3. (iii) Has completed at least 6 months of full-time nursing home administration in a training program approved by the Board; and
      4. (iv) Has satisfactorily completed a minimum of 100 hours in a course of study in health care administration, or equivalent, approved by the Board.
   2. (2) Whenever federal law requires that an applicant for a license to practice as a nursing home administrator must have a baccalaureate degree in health care administration or in a field other than health care administration the provisions of this section shall cease to be effective.
7. (g) Except as otherwise provided in this title, the applicant shall pass an examination given by the Board under this subtitle.

Added as Health Occupations § 8-302 by Acts 1981, c. 8, § 2, eff. July 1, 1981. Renumbered as Health Occupations § 9-302 by Acts 1990, c. 6, § 11, eff. Feb. 16, 1990. Amended by Acts 1990, c. 656, § 1, eff. July 1, 1990; Acts 1991, c. 17, § 1, eff. April 9, 1991; Acts 1991, c. 55, § 1, eff. April 9, 1991; Acts 1992, c. 22, § 1, eff. April 7, 1992; Acts 1994, c. 272, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1994; Acts 1994, c. 731, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1994; Acts 1995, c. 3, § 1, eff. March 7, 1995; Acts 1996, c. 10, § 1, eff. April 9, 1996; Acts 2008, c. 84, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2008; Acts 2010, c. 72, § 1, eff. April 13, 2010; Acts 2016, c. 48, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2016.

Formerly Art. 43, § 771.