What it takes to become a licensed nursing home administrator in District of Columbia: the Administrator-in-Training (AIT) requirement, the exams, continuing education, and where to find an approved program or preceptor. Every figure below is cited to its official source.
| AIT requirement | 12 months |
|---|---|
| National exams | NAB Core of Knowledge + NHA Line of Service (both required) |
| State exam | Required, in addition to the NAB exams |
| Continuing education | 40 hours biennial |
| Official sources | dchealth.dc.gov · dchealth.dc.gov (state exam) |
Verified against the sources above, July 2026. Requirements change; the board's current published rule is always the final word.
District of Columbia expresses its AIT requirement as a program duration of 12 months rather than a fixed hour count.
Compare this against every other jurisdiction on AIT Hours by State.
The interactive AIT Planner turns the District of Columbia requirement into a live hours-allocation plan across all eleven department rotations, with a self-assessment that shapes where your hours go. No account needed.
Open the free AIT PlannerLicensure in every state runs through two national exams from NAB (the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards): the Core of Knowledge exam, 125 questions in 150 minutes, and the NHA Line of Service exam, 75 questions in 90 minutes. Both are computer-based, multiple choice, and delivered at Pearson VUE testing centers. We break down the structure in NAB Exam Format and the content in The Core Domains Explained.
District of Columbia adds a state exam on top of the two NAB exams. State exams usually cover the state's own licensure rules and facility regulations; the board's candidate materials describe the current format and how to register. What these exams cover and how to prepare is in State NHA Exams Explained.
The District's exam is a Board-developed written test on DC nursing home law, with a 75 percent passing score, plus an interview with the Board (per DC Health regulations).
Board-published preceptor and program lists: DC Health. When the board publishes a list, start there; every name on it is pre-approved.
State associations: District of Columbia Health Care Association (DCHCA) · LeadingAge DC. Association staff know which member facilities host AITs and which administrators precept, and many run their own AIT or licensure-prep programming.
For the full step-by-step on approaching facilities and preceptors, see How to Find an AIT Preceptor and an Approved Program.
These are the legal sources that govern nursing home administrator licensure in District of Columbia. If your state requires a state exam, its questions are drawn from material like this, and the board's candidate information usually names the exact chapters to study.
Citations verified against official sources, July 2026. Provided for reference, not legal advice; the current official text governs. Mirrors are labeled where an official public link is not available.
District of Columbia expresses its AIT requirement as a program duration of 12 months rather than a fixed hour count. Six or twelve continuous months in an approved DC nursing home under a Board-certified preceptor, at least 35 hours per week (17 DCMR 6202). Board approval required before starting, with a mid-point interview.
Candidates in District of Columbia take the NAB Core of Knowledge exam and the NHA Line of Service exam, and District of Columbia also requires a state exam. Confirm the current exam list with the state board before you apply.
Licensed administrators in District of Columbia must complete 40 hours biennial of continuing education. CE rules change between renewal cycles, so verify the current requirement with the state board.
The state board publishes a list of approved preceptors and AIT programs: DC Health. The state trade associations, District of Columbia Health Care Association (DCHCA) and LeadingAge DC, are the other practical starting point: they run programs, know active preceptors, and can point you to member facilities that train AITs.
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