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Utah Nursing Home Administrator License Requirements

What it takes to become a licensed nursing home administrator in Utah: 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.

nhaexamprep.com · updated July 2026

Utah at a glance

AIT requirementVaries
National examsNAB Core of Knowledge + NHA Line of Service (both required)
State examNone per the board's published requirements (confirm before applying)
Continuing education40 hours biennial
Official sourcescommerce.utah.gov · nabweb.org (state exam)

Verified against the sources above, July 2026. Requirements change; the board's current published rule is always the final word.

The AIT requirement in Utah

Utah does not publish a single AIT hour figure. The requirement depends on your education and experience, so confirm your individual pathway with the state board.

WHAT THE VERIFIED RECORD SAYS
Licensed as Health Facility Administrator, no set hour figure: the AIT preceptorship is individually approved by the Division and Board (R156-15). Alternatives: 8,000 hours of qualifying experience or the NAB HSE credential. Confirm with Utah DOPL.

States like this set the training requirement by pathway rather than as one number: your degree, your prior long-term care experience, and sometimes a completed health care administration program each map to a different AIT obligation. That makes the board conversation the real first step, and it is worth having before you commit to a preceptor or a timeline.

Compare this against every other jurisdiction on AIT Hours by State.

Plan your Utah AIT hours, free

The interactive AIT Planner turns the Utah 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.

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The exams you must pass

Licensure 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.

Per the board's published requirements, Utah does not add a separate state exam. Rules change, so confirm this when you apply.

Where to find an AIT program or preceptor in Utah

State associations: Utah Health Care Association (UHCA). 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.

The rules behind the Utah license

These are the legal sources that govern nursing home administrator licensure in Utah. 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.

Common questions

How many AIT hours does Utah require for a nursing home administrator license?

Utah does not publish a single AIT hour figure. The requirement depends on your education and experience, so confirm your individual pathway with the state board. Licensed as Health Facility Administrator, no set hour figure: the AIT preceptorship is individually approved by the Division and Board (R156-15). Alternatives: 8,000 hours of qualifying experience or the NAB HSE credential. Confirm with Utah DOPL.

What exams are required for an NHA license in Utah?

Candidates in Utah take the NAB Core of Knowledge exam and the NHA Line of Service exam. Per the board's published requirements there is no separate state exam, but confirm the current rule with the board before you apply.

What are the continuing education requirements for nursing home administrators in Utah?

Licensed administrators in Utah must complete 40 hours biennial of continuing education. CE rules change between renewal cycles, so verify the current requirement with the state board.

Where can I find an approved AIT program or preceptor in Utah?

The state trade associations, Utah Health Care Association (UHCA), 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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