How to become a licensed nursing home administrator in New Hampshire: the degree and coursework, the one-year Administrator-in-Training (AIT) internship, the NAB exams and the New Hampshire state exam, fees, continuing education and renewal, with section numbers.
| Who licenses | The Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators, within the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (RSA 151-A:3; RSA 310:2) |
|---|---|
| Education | A bachelor’s degree, plus at least 15 semester credits across nine Core of Knowledge areas (Nuh 301.02) |
| AIT requirement | One year as an AIT in a nursing home of at least 50 beds (Nuh 301.03), under a preceptor with at least 5 years’ experience (Nuh 102.06). The Board can accept equivalent experience in whole or in part (Nuh 306.01) |
| National exams | NAB Core of Knowledge (CORE) and NHA Line of Service, at NAB’s passing score (Nuh 303.01(b)): a scaled score of 113 on each |
| State exam | Required: NAB’s NHA-NH exam on New Hampshire law, 2 hours, $210, booked through Pearson VUE, 75 percent to pass (Nuh 303.01(c)) Details ↓ |
| Continuing education | 40 clock hours every two years; 30 if you have been licensed in New Hampshire for the last 15 consecutive years (Nuh 401.01(b)(2), (3)) |
| Renewal and fees | Every two years from the date of issue; $330 for an initial license, a renewal or a reinstatement (RSA 310:8; Plc 1002.34) |
| Official sources | oplc.nh.gov (the Board) · Nuh 100-500 · RSA 151-A · Plc 1000 (fees) · nabweb.org (national exams) |
Verified September 2026. RSA is the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated. Nuh (the Board’s rules), Plc (the licensing office’s rules) and He-P (the health department’s rules) are chapters of the New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules.
The statute names the licensing body the Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators (RSA 151-A:3); the Board’s page on oplc.nh.gov calls it the “Board of Nursing Home Administrators”. It is one of the boards within the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) (RSA 310:2), which keeps the Board’s records (Nuh 104.02) and handles applications and renewals.
OPLC is at 7 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301. Nuh 103.02 still gives an older address, the Philbrook Building on South Fruit Street, and an older phone number; use the OPLC address.
The law is RSA 151-A, and the Board’s rules are Nuh 100 to 500. OPLC’s rules set the fees (Plc 1002.34) and the renewal process (Plc 300). Nursing homes themselves are licensed under the Department of Health and Human Services rules in He-P 803.
You must be at least 21, of good moral character (RSA 151-A:5), and pass a fingerprint-based criminal history check, paid by you (RSA 151-A:6-a). Since 1 July 2026, OPLC staff may take the fingerprints. There is one standard route: a degree, coursework, the AIT and the exams.
The application (Nuh 301.01) includes the Board’s “Core of Knowledge Checklist” and “Administrator-In-Training Internship Evaluation Checklist”, certified transcripts, your NAB score report, a State License Clearance form, a criminal history release and three recommendation letters (2 professional, 1 personal) written within 12 months. Supporting documents are due within 12 months of filing, or the candidacy ends; the Board grants one extension of at most a year, on written request (Nuh 301.04).
Nuh 301.03 requires “one year of experience as administrator-in-training (AIT) in a nursing home of at least 50 beds”, or equivalent experience under Nuh 306.01. New Hampshire sets the AIT as a year, not as an hour count. The Board’s definition calls it “an internship, not to exceed 12 months”, covering all the areas of administration on its AIT checklist (Nuh 102.01).
A preceptor is a “licensed nursing home administrator, in good standing, with a minimum of 5 years experience” (Nuh 102.06). The source note for Nuh 102.06 shows only its 2001 adoption (#7592, effective 16 November 2001), so ask the Board whether this definition still applies.
RSA 151-A:5, II allows a Board waiver “based on conditions established by rule”. Under Nuh 306.01 you apply in writing, describing your other experience. The Board compares its area and depth with the AIT; where the experience is shown to be equivalent, “the board shall grant an equivalency in whole or parts thereof” (Nuh 306.01(d)), so you may still owe part of the year. The decision is in writing, and an applicant who disagrees may ask for a hearing.
Other states: AIT Hours by State.
The free AIT Planner helps you plan your AIT across facility departments. New Hampshire sets the AIT as one year and takes its areas from the Board’s checklist, not an hour split, so any split is our planning aid, not a New Hampshire rule; agree on it with your preceptor. No account needed.
Open the free AIT PlannerNew Hampshire requires the NAB CORE and NHA exams, plus its own exam on New Hampshire law (Nuh 303.01(a)). NAB is the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards. You apply through NAB’s NABVerify system after the Board approves you, and schedule with Pearson VUE. The figures are from NAB’s Candidate Handbook (September 2026):
| Core of Knowledge | 125 questions (100 scored, 25 pretest), 150 minutes in all, 130 of them for answering questions |
|---|---|
| NHA Line of Service | 75 questions (60 scored, 15 pretest), 90 minutes in all, 70 of them for answering questions |
| Passing score | A scaled score of 113 on each, the score NAB designates (Nuh 303.01(b) leaves the national pass mark to NAB) |
| Fee | $480 for CORE and NHA applied for together, from 1 February 2026, paid to NAB. Taken alone, CORE is $320 and NHA is $190 |
| Test window | After approval, you schedule and complete the exam within 90 days |
| NAB attempts | Since 1 January 2026, up to 4 attempts at CORE and NHA each per cycle (1 July to 30 June); a state may allow fewer |
More in NAB Exam Format and The Core Domains Explained.
Nuh 303.01(a) says candidates “shall also be required to pass an examination on New Hampshire Law”. NAB delivers it as exam NHA-NH, one of 16 state exams it offers. You book it through Pearson VUE, like the national exams. Candidates licensed in another state take it too (Nuh 304.02(a)).
| Passing score | “A score of 75 percent correct answers on the specific state part” (Nuh 303.01(c)) |
|---|---|
| Time | 2 hours: “All state exams have a two-hour time limit” (NAB Candidate Handbook) |
| Fee | $210 (NAB Candidate Handbook fee table) |
| Content | RSA 151, RSA 151-A, Ph 705, Ph 706, Ph 707, He-P 803 and Nuh 100 to 500 (Nuh 303.01(a)) |
| Questions and format | Neither Nuh 303.01 nor NAB’s handbook gives the number of questions or the question format |
| Retakes | Nuh 303.01(f) provides for notice of the “privilege of re-examination” and sets no retake limit or waiting period. NAB’s cap of 4 attempts per cycle names CORE, NHA and RC/AL, so ask the Board or NAB how it applies to NHA-NH |
The seven sources in Nuh 303.01(a) cover the administrator licensing law and rules (RSA 151-A and Nuh 100 to 500, summarized on this page), the facility side (RSA 151 and He-P 803, the DHHS nursing home rules) and three Pharmacy Board rules, Ph 705, 706 and 707. RSA 151-A:6, I adds that the exam tests proficiency in DHHS health and safety rules. NAB’s handbook says “States prepare their respective exams and provide any study materials”, so ask OPLC for New Hampshire’s. More in State NHA Exams Explained.
Four places where New Hampshire sets a different number, or adds a requirement, compared with 42 CFR Part 483. All four come from He-P 803, a part on the state exam:
| Topic | Federal rule (42 CFR 483) | New Hampshire rule | Section |
|---|---|---|---|
| The administrator | The administrator must be “Licensed by the State, where licensing is required” (483.70(d)(2)(i)); Part 483 sets no full-time requirement | A “full time, onsite administrator” licensed under RSA 151-A, who names “an onsite alternate, in writing”. The Board’s own rule also requires “a full-time licensed administrator” (Nuh 305.01) | He-P 803.17(b) |
| Director of nursing | A registered nurse as full-time director of nursing, unless waived (483.35(b)(2)), with no experience minimum. Around it: sufficient nursing staff, including licensed nurses, on a 24-hour basis (483.35(a)) and a registered nurse “for at least 8 consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week” (483.35(b)(1)). CMS repealed the 2024 minimum staffing standards, which were never enforced, by interim final rule published 3 December 2025 (90 FR 55687, effective 2 February 2026) | A full-time registered nurse “with at least 2 years relevant experience in resident care” | He-P 803.17(c) |
| Reporting abuse | Alleged violations reported “immediately, but not later than 2 hours” if they involve abuse or serious bodily injury, otherwise within 24 hours (483.12(c)(1)); investigation results within 5 working days (483.12(c)(4)) | The home faxes the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) “within 24 hours” of an allegation becoming known, and sends its investigation report “Within 5 days”. In a certified home the federal 2-hour clock applies as well | He-P 803.14(t)(1), (2) |
| New staff orientation | A training program for all new and existing staff (483.95), covering topics that include resident rights, abuse prevention and infection control, with no set number of days after hire; nurse aides get “no less than 12 hours per year” of in-service training (483.95(g)(1)) | Every new employee gets “an orientation within the first 3 days of work prior to the assumption of duties”: resident rights, their duties, infection control, fire and evacuation, and mandatory reporting under RSA 161-F and RSA 169-C:29. Most topics come back every year | He-P 803.18(i)(4), (5) |
The federal nursing home rules (42 CFR Part 483, Subpart B) apply only to facilities certified for Medicare or Medicaid, so a certified New Hampshire home must meet both sets of rules. Not a difference: He-P 803.17(d)(6) requires a licensed nurse on site 24 hours a day and a registered nurse 8 consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week, in line with 483.35(a) and (b)(1), and He-P 803.17 and 803.18 set no hours-per-resident-day minimum. He-P 803 as published through Register No. 26 (26 June 2025); federal text as of September 2026.
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Start with the rule. The AIT internship takes place in a nursing home of at least 50 beds (Nuh 301.03), and your preceptor is a licensed administrator in good standing with at least 5 years’ experience (Nuh 102.06). Nuh 100 to 500 contain no list of preceptors or AIT sites, so the practical route is to ask administrators of homes that size directly, and to ask the Board for its current AIT checklist.
NAB’s materials. NAB publishes an AIT Program Manual for AITs and preceptors, which it says it built with ACHCA.
Associations, for meeting administrators. The New Hampshire Health Care Association, founded in 1951, calls itself “the largest association of long-term care providers” in the state. LeadingAge Maine & New Hampshire represents “more than 50 mission-driven senior living and long-term care providers”. Neither website describes an AIT or preceptor program; both are ways to meet administrators who could precept.
For the full step-by-step on approaching facilities and preceptors, see How to Find an AIT Preceptor and an Approved Program.
OPLC sets the license fees in Plc 1002.34 (effective 1 July 2025); a license runs 2 years.
| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Initial license, renewal, or reinstatement after expiration (2 years) | $330 | Plc 1002.34 |
| Temporary license (6 months) | $330 | Plc 1002.34 |
| Temporary emergency permit (6 months) | $330 | Plc 1002.34 |
| License verification or letter of good standing | $10 | Plc 1001.15 |
| NAB CORE and NHA exams, applied for together | $480, paid to NAB | NAB handbook |
| State exam (NHA-NH) | $210 | NAB handbook |
| Fingerprint-based criminal history check | Paid by the applicant | RSA 151-A:6-a |
Our arithmetic: $330 + $480 + $210 = $1,020 for the license and a first attempt at each exam, plus fingerprinting. The Board’s own fee table (Nuh 307.01) still lists a $20 application fee, which conflicts with Plc 1002.34. Renewal fees are now “established by the office of professional licensure and certification” (RSA 151-A:8, II), so go by Plc 1002.34.
You need “a minimum of 40 clock hours of continuing education” in each 2-year registration period, earned in the 2 years before renewal, in subjects related to nursing home administration (Nuh 401.01(b)(2)). If you have been “licensed consecutively in New Hampshire for the last 15 years”, the minimum is 30 hours (Nuh 401.01(b)(3)).
Renewal. You renew biennially (RSA 151-A:8, I). An OPLC license is “valid for 2 years from the date of issuance” (RSA 310:8, II). OPLC emails a notice at least 2 months before expiration (Plc 308.03), and not receiving it is no excuse. The fee is $330.
After it expires. You may not practice on an expired license. A renewal filed within a year after expiration is treated as a reinstatement, at the same $330 (Plc 1001.13), and “Expired licenses shall lapse one year from expiration” (RSA 310:8, III). Reinstatement takes the Board’s Reinstatement Application, 3 reference letters, verifications from other states where you hold a license, 40 CE hours and a passport photo (Nuh 401.03, 401.04). Practicing on a lapsed license brings a fine of “$100 a month until the license is reinstated” (Nuh 402.04(j)).
Reciprocity (RSA 151-A:9; Nuh 304.02, 304.03). You need a current license from another state, NAB scores, transcripts, 1 year’s related work experience as an administrator, 3 references and proof of your legal right to work. The other state’s standards must be equal to or higher than New Hampshire’s, and it must reciprocate. You still pass the New Hampshire state exam: licensure is granted “provided that the applicant successfully passes the examination as described in Nuh 303.01”.
OPLC’s universal reciprocity. Since 27 August 2023, RSA 310:17, I has said “the office shall issue licenses to professionals who present evidence of an active license” from a jurisdiction with substantially similar requirements. Nuh 304 still names the state exam, so ask OPLC which route and which exams apply to you.
Temporary permit (RSA 151-A:7, II-a; Nuh 304.04). A reciprocity candidate who needs only the state exam can get a permit when there is an urgent need; it is “valid for a period of 6 months and shall not be renewable”. Plc 1002.34 lists $330 for a 6-month temporary license.
Acting administrator (RSA 151-A:7, II; Nuh 305). When a home needs one, the facility petitions for an emergency permit for an unlicensed acting administrator: at most 6 months, not renewable, under the supervision of a licensed administrator, who notifies the Board. “No licensed administrator shall be permitted to supervise more than one acting administrator” (Nuh 305.05(c)). None of this changes the rule that every home “shall have a full-time licensed administrator to operate” (Nuh 305.01).
Military. Service members and their spouses can get a temporary license “for a period of not less than 180 days”, issued within 30 days of application (or 14 days after the background check), with one 180-day extension (RSA 310:16, I(a); Plc 306.07). A licensee called to active duty may go inactive and reactivate within 1 year of release (RSA 310:8, V).
The laws, rules and other sources cited on this page. Most of the Board’s rules in Nuh 300 to 500 were last readopted on 19 December 2018 (#12690); Nuh 307.01 and 401.01 to 401.02 date from 16 December 2017.
Citations verified September 2026. RSA 310, RSA 161-F:46 and He-P 803 link to labeled Justia mirrors; He-P 803 is quoted from the Justia copy, current through Register No. 26 (26 June 2025). For reference, not legal advice; the current official text governs.
New Hampshire sets the AIT as one year, not an hour count: one year as an administrator-in-training in a nursing home of at least 50 beds (Nuh 301.03), under a licensed preceptor with at least 5 years’ experience (Nuh 102.06). The Board can accept equivalent experience in place of the AIT, in whole or in part (Nuh 306.01).
The NAB Core of Knowledge and NHA Line of Service exams, with a scaled score of 113 on each, and the New Hampshire state exam, NHA-NH, with 75 percent to pass (Nuh 303.01). All three are booked through Pearson VUE.
New Hampshire law: RSA 151, RSA 151-A, Ph 705, Ph 706, Ph 707, He-P 803 and Nuh 100 to 500 (Nuh 303.01(a)). It has a two-hour time limit and costs $210. Neither the rules nor NAB’s handbook gives the number of questions.
40 clock hours in each 2-year registration period, or 30 if you have been licensed in New Hampshire for the last 15 consecutive years (Nuh 401.01(b)).
Your preceptor must be a licensed administrator in good standing with at least 5 years’ experience (Nuh 102.06), and the AIT takes place in a nursing home of at least 50 beds. Ask administrators directly, and ask the Board for its AIT checklist.
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