Become a Long Term Care Administrator – Careers and Outlook

What is Long Term Care Administration?

Are you interested in a long-term care administration career? Sometimes referred to as nursing home or assisted living administration, long-term care administration is a complicated and multifaceted field. It’s ideal for individuals who want to provide elderly and disabled patients with a higher quality of living. This includes overseeing both medical and personal care to ensure a longer and happier life. Professional administrators often serve as the head of operations in all things, from finances, cleaning, and maintenance to admissions, food services, and nursing.

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While not everyone will require long-term care services, the older an individual is, the more likely the need is. Accidents and chronic illnesses can also result in the need for long-term care. It’s also important to note that, because women have slightly longer lifespans, they generally require care for longer than men do.

In most cases, long-term care services are provided by one of the following:

The majority of long-term care is provided by family members, partners, or friends. In fact, approximately 80 percent of in-home caregivers are unpaid. The United States Department of Health and Human Resources reports that one in four adults were providing some form of long-term care to an adult or child in their family in 2009.

Despite the majority of long-term care being provided by close family and friends, there is still a great need for professional caregivers and facility-based care programs. This includes nursing homes, assisted living facilities, board and care homes, and continuing care retirement communities. These facilities are generally managed and lead by a long-term care administrator who establishes and ensures adherence to healthcare standards, makes policy, and supervises staff members.

What are the Education Requirements for Long Term Care Administrators?

If you are interested in becoming a long-term care administrator you will need to complete the necessary educational requirements. Advanced degrees are generally necessary. While there are some associate-level degree options available, most employers want, at minimum, for candidates to have an undergraduate degree in health administration or a similar field. In fact, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration, over 65 percent of health administration employers list a bachelor’s degree as a requirement on job postings.

A bachelor’s degree, however, may not be enough to grant you access to many positions. The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration also reported that almost 12 percent of health administration employers require candidates have a graduate degree and far more than that prefer it. With this in mind, it’s important to carefully consider your educational options before committing to a single course of action.

Accreditation is another factor that warrants serious consideration. Some employers do not recognize a bachelor’s or master’s degree unless it is from an accredited institution. The National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards and the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education are both generally considered acceptable. You can find a list of accredited colleges and universities by visiting either of these accreditation organization websites.

Certification or Continuing Education

In addition to completing an undergraduate and graduate degree program, you will also need to apply for a state license. All states, and the District of Columbia, require long-term care administrators to be licensed. Each state has its own credentialing process and requirements. In many cases, candidates must meet educational standards, complete an internship, and pass a licensing examination.

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While some states choose to offer their own exam, many choose to partner with the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB). NAB offers a Nursing Home Administrator Exam (NHA), which consists of a 100-item Core of Knowledge exam and a 50-item Line of Service exam.

Once you’ve attained your license, you will also need to continue your education. Most states require long-term care administrators to renew their license regularly. All but five states include continuing education as a renewal requirement. There are many organizations and programs that provide continuing education in the healthcare field, including NAB. Because every state is a little different, it’s very important that you familiarize yourself with your state’s specific standards after receiving your license.

Possible Job Titles and Roles

Long-term care administrators may not always be identified by this title. In fact, professionals in this field may have a wide variety of titles.

Some of the most common include:

Additionally, every long-term care facility is a little different and staff responsibilities vary greatly depending on size and patient type.

As such, long-term care administrators may be expected to perform any and all of the following:

Salary and Career Outlook

Overall, most long-term care administrators receive a competitive salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical and health services managers made an estimated median salary of $104,280 in 2020. Nursing care facilities and home health care services account for a significant amount of health administrator employment, but the industry does fall slightly below the above-mentioned average. These facilities tend to pay an average annual wage between $92,750 and $99,220.

The states that pay medical and health services managers the most include:

Job outlook for long-term care administrators is also promising. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently predicted that there will be a significant increase in the number of medical and health services manager positions in the United States. In fact, that demand for these professionals is estimated to increase 32 percent between the years 2020 and 2030. This rate of growth is considered much faster than the average for other professions.

While there are many contributing factors responsible for this predicted increase, the most likely reason is the aging of the baby-boomers. This generation makes up a huge portion of today’s population. As they age, the demand for quality long-term care services will undoubtedly increase. To accommodate this demand, the healthcare industry will need to hire additional physicians and nurses, as well as open more practices to house them. Correspondingly, it will be necessary to find additional long-term care administrators to oversee, organize, and manage the new staff, services, and facilities.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also asserts that job outlook is particularly good for medical and health services managers who have a graduate degree and have experience with electronic health records, health information technology, and informatics systems.