A Utah license takes an Administrator-in-Training (AIT) preceptorship of at least 1,000 hours or the NAB Health Services Executive (HSE) credential, a bachelor’s degree or 8,000 hours of experience, and passing scores on the national NAB exams. There is no state exam, and administrators licensed in another state can apply by endorsement.
| Who licenses | The Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Department of Commerce, with the five-member Health Facility Administrators Licensing Board |
|---|---|
| Training | An approved AIT preceptorship of at least 1,000 hours, or the NAB HSE credential (R156-15-302a). See the AIT rules |
| Education or experience | A bachelor’s degree, or 8,000 hours of qualifying experience with at least 4,000 of them supervisory; separate from the AIT (R156-15-302b, 302c). See the two requirements |
| National exams | NAB CORE and NHA Line of Service, passed at a scaled score of 113 each; $480 for the two together, paid to NAB |
| State exam | None. DOPL’s exam page and R156-15-302d name only the NAB exams |
| Continuing education | 40 hours in each two-year period, which begins 1 June of an odd-numbered year (R156-15-309) |
| Renewal | Every two years; licenses expire 31 May of odd-numbered years; $83. The application fee is $120 |
| Licensed elsewhere | Endorsement under R156-15-308. See the out-of-state route |
| Official sources | commerce.utah.gov (DOPL) · R156-15 (rule, Cornell LII copy) · Utah Code Title 58, Chapter 15 · nabweb.org (national exams) |
Verified against the sources above, September 2026. The statute and the current rule govern, so check anything you rely on with the Division before you apply.
The Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), part of the Department of Commerce, licenses what Utah calls “health facility administrators”, the state’s title for nursing home administrators. Utah Code 58-15-201(1) creates a five-member Health Facility Administrators Licensing Board: one skilled nursing facility administrator, two intermediate care facility administrators, one administrator of an intermediate care facility for people with an intellectual disability, and one public member. The Board, “in collaboration with the division, may establish continuing education requirements by rule” (58-15-201(3)(b)).
The law. The statute is Utah Code Title 58, Chapter 15, the Health Facility Administrator Act, and the rule is R156-15. The rule text quoted on this page is from Cornell LII’s copy of the Utah Administrative Code, and the statute text is from Justia’s copy of the Utah Code; the official texts are the state’s own (see DOPL’s laws and rules page). R156-15-102(2) still defines “Board” as “The Health Care Administrators Board”, an older name; the statute’s name is the Health Facility Administrators Licensing Board. Renewal and reinstatement also run under the general DOPL rule, R156-1-308a through 308l (R156-15-303(2)).
| Website | Health facility administration, DOPL |
|---|---|
| Phone | (801) 530-6628 |
| Office | Heber M. Wells Building, 4th Floor, 160 East 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111; weekdays 8 AM to 5 PM. Mail: P.O. Box 146741, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6741 |
| Apply and renew | utahdoc.mylicenseone.com |
| Verify a license | secure.utah.gov/llv/search |
The table is from DOPL’s contact page; NAB’s Utah page lists a different phone, (801) 530-6633.
R156-15-302a sets two requirements, and you need both. Each has two ways to meet it, shown in the table. You then pass the NAB exams, covered below.
| Requirement | One way | Another way | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training | Complete an approved AIT preceptorship of at least 1,000 hours | Hold the NAB Health Services Executive (HSE) credential | R156-15-302a; R156-15-307 |
| Education or experience | A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college | 8,000 hours of qualifying experience approved by the Division in collaboration with the Board, at least 4,000 of them in a supervisory role | R156-15-302b; R156-15-302c |
The two rows do not trade with each other. The HSE credential takes the place of the AIT only, and 8,000 hours of experience takes the place of the degree only. The rule asks for “a minimum of a baccalaureate degree” and names no major (R156-15-302b(1)). Qualifying experience is “at least 8,000 hours of employment in a licensed health facility including hours in a supervisory role” (R156-15-102(10)). Up to 500 hours of an approved AIT can count toward the 8,000 and, if supervisory, toward the 4,000 (R156-15-302c).
The sources differ here. DOPL’s application form lists an AIT affidavit, the HSE credential, transcripts and 8,000 hours of experience as four items to choose from under one education and experience heading, which reads as four alternatives. The rule and DOPL’s apply page (the affidavit plus one other document) state the two requirements above. This page follows the rule. NAB’s Utah summary lists “High School” as the minimum education; the rule asks for the degree or the experience.
Under R156-15-302a, training means “an approved AIT preceptorship consisting of a minimum of 1,000 hours” or the NAB HSE credential. A preceptorship is done in a licensed health facility, supervised by an approved administrator, and “approved by the Division in collaboration with the Board” (R156-15-102(9)).
| Hours | At least 1,000, or the HSE credential instead (R156-15-302a) |
|---|---|
| Degree internship | Up to 500 hours of “internship, practicum, or outside study program associated with a bachelor’s degree in health facility administration or health care administration” may be included in the AIT. They count toward the 1,000 hours and do not replace them (R156-15-302b(2)) |
| Preceptor | Licensed for three years, currently licensed and in good standing in Utah, and working in a licensed health facility or an executive position related to one; no more than two AIT preceptees at a time (R156-15-307(1), (2)) |
| Supervision and schedule | Under “the general supervision of the preceptor” at all times; full or part time, with credit only for duties tied to the AIT curriculum (R156-15-307(3), (4)) |
| Proof | DOPL’s Affidavit of Completion of AIT Preceptorship, signed by the preceptor, with the facility, dates and total hours supervised |
R156-15-307 requires a curriculum in six areas, Utah’s own list:
Each area has its own sub-topics. Laws and regulatory codes, for example, covers Medicaid and Medicare, labor law, building, fire and life-safety codes, OSHA and UOSHA, the law and rule of the Bureau of Health Facility Licensure, tax law and governing boards.
The rule says “general supervision”; the affidavit form has the preceptor state that he or she “personally supervised” the AIT and that “supervision was on a personal basis”. Plan for the form’s wording.
The HSE credential meets the training requirement; you still need the degree or the experience and the NAB exams. Administrators licensed in another state can apply by endorsement instead (R156-15-308); see the out-of-state route. Other states: AIT Hours by State.
The AIT Planner spreads your hours across 11 department rotations. That split is our planning aid, not a Utah rule: the rule names six curriculum areas, listed above, and your preceptor and the Division decide what counts. No account needed.
Open the free AIT PlannerYou apply to DOPL through utahdoc.mylicenseone.com. The application form carries a $120 non-refundable processing fee, and the apply page asks for the Affidavit of Completion of AIT Preceptorship plus one document: transcripts, another state’s verification, or proof of 8,000 hours of experience with W-2s or 1040 Schedule C.
Utah has no state exam. DOPL’s exam page says applicants “must pass the national exam for nursing home administrators” developed by NAB, made up of the Core Knowledge Exam (CORE) and the Line of Service Exam for Nursing Home Administrators (NHA). The rule says the same: pass “NAB’s two-part component examination” (R156-15-302d(1)). The statute calls for “a written examination in subjects determined by the board” (Utah Code 58-15-301(4)(a)), and the Board’s choice is the NAB exams. NAB’s Utah page says no state-specific exam is required but also notes a state regulatory exam for the HSE credential; the rule names no Utah exam, and the rule governs.
| CORE | 125 questions (100 scored, 25 pretest); 130 minutes to answer, within 150 minutes in all, per the NAB Candidate Handbook |
|---|---|
| NHA Line of Service | 75 questions (60 scored, 15 pretest); 70 minutes to answer, within 90 minutes in all, per the same handbook |
| Passing score | A minimum scaled score of 113 on each exam (R156-15-302d(2)). You may take the two together or separately (302d(3)) |
| Fee | $480 for CORE and NHA together, from 1 February 2026. Taken alone, CORE is $320 and NHA is $190 (NAB) |
| Attempts | Up to 4 attempts at each exam per cycle (1 July to 30 June), from 1 January 2026. Retakes follow NAB’s policies (R156-15-302d(4)) |
| Test day | Pearson VUE test centers |
More in NAB Exam Format and The Core Domains Explained.
Once you run a Utah nursing home, you work under the nursing care facility rule, R432-150, authorized by Utah Code 26B-2-202. The administrator files a monthly census report with the Department of Health and Human Services (R432-150-7(2)(b)). Federally, 42 CFR Part 483, Subpart B, applies only if the home is certified for Medicare or Medicaid. For skilled-level facilities, Utah matches the federal rule on a full-time registered nurse as director of nursing (R432-150-4(3)(a); 483.35(b)(2)), a registered nurse eight consecutive hours a day, seven days a week (R432-150-4(3)(b); 483.35(b)(1)) and a licensed charge nurse on each shift (R432-150-4(3)(c); 483.35(a)(2)). On staffing minimums, CMS’s 2024 standards, which were never enforced, were repealed by an interim final rule published 3 December 2025 and effective 2 February 2026 (90 FR 55687). Four differences that matter on the job, each with the Utah section:
| Topic | Federal rule (42 CFR 483) | Utah rule | Utah section |
|---|---|---|---|
| One facility at a time | The administrator must be “Licensed by the State, where licensing is required” (483.70(d)(2)(i)); 483.70 sets no limit on how many facilities one administrator may run | The administrator “does not supervise more than one nursing care facility”, is “not superseded by an unlicensed administrator designee” and has “enough freedom from other responsibilities to permit attention to the management and administration of the facility” | R432-150-7(1)(b), (c), (d) |
| Director of nursing | The director of nursing “may serve as a charge nurse only when the facility has an average daily occupancy of 60 or fewer residents” (483.35(b)(3)) | The licensee may not “permit a person to concurrently serve as the director of nursing and as a charge nurse”, with no exception for small facilities | R432-150-4(3)(e) |
| Reporting abuse | Alleged abuse, neglect, exploitation or mistreatment goes to the administrator and other officials, including the State Survey Agency and adult protective services, “immediately, but not later than 2 hours” if it involves abuse or serious bodily injury, and within 24 hours otherwise (483.12(c)(1)) | An individual with “reason to believe that a vulnerable adult is, or has been, the subject of abuse, neglect, or exploitation” must “immediately report” to Adult Protective Services or the nearest peace officer or law enforcement agency. Willful failure is a Class B misdemeanor, and good-faith reporters are immune. An employee who reports “is not subject to retaliation, disciplinary action, or termination” | Utah Code 26B-6-205; R432-150-9(8) |
| New facilities and Medicare revenue | No counterpart in 42 CFR Part 483, which governs how a certified home operates | Apart from limited exceptions, a new nursing care facility is approved for a license only on one of three paths, including Medicaid certification (26B-2-222(2)). On the third path, applicants submit proof that county occupancy has been at least 75% for two years and that no other nursing care facility is within 35 miles, plus a feasibility study showing Medicare inpatient revenue will not exceed 49% of total revenue in the first three years (26B-2-222(3)). Third-path facilities also face a $50,000 fine for each year that revenue exceeds 49% (26B-2-222(7)(a)) and must file an annual financial report within 90 days of calendar year end (R432-150-29) | Utah Code 26B-2-222; R432-150-29 |
One more federal duty applies in a home that received at least $10,000 in federal funds in the preceding year. Each covered individual reports a reasonable suspicion of a crime against a resident to the State Agency and one or more law enforcement entities, within 2 hours if there is serious bodily injury and otherwise within 24 hours (483.12(b)(5); section 1150B of the Social Security Act). In Utah it runs alongside the 26B-6-205 report.
Utah: R432-150 (Cornell LII copy), Utah Code 26B-2-222 and Utah Code 26B-6-205 (Justia copies). Federal: 42 CFR Part 483, Subpart B. In a certified home you meet both.
| Application | $120, non-refundable, payable to DOPL (DOPL application form; NAB’s Utah page agrees) |
|---|---|
| Renewal, every two years | $83 (DOPL renewal page) |
| Late renewal and reinstatement | A late fee within 30 days after expiration, and a reinstatement fee after that (R156-1-308g) |
| NAB exams, CORE and NHA together | $480, paid to NAB, from 1 February 2026. Taken alone, CORE is $320 and NHA is $190 (NAB handbook) |
“During each two-year period commencing on June 1 of each odd-numbered year, a licensee shall complete at least 40 hours of CPE directly related to the licensee’s professional practice” (R156-15-309(1)). The period that began 1 June 2025 ends 31 May 2027. New licensees’ hours are “decreased proportionately according to the date of licensure” (309(2)).
Utah licenses run on a two-year cycle: “Licenses expire on May 31 of odd years” (DOPL renewal page; R156-1-308a). The next expiration date is 31 May 2027. At least 60 days before that, DOPL sends a renewal notice to your address of record, and you renew online at utahdoc.mylicenseone.com for $83, with your 40 CE hours (DOPL renewal page). A license that is not renewed “automatically” expires (Utah Code 58-15-302(2)).
Endorsement. The Division “may grant a license by endorsement” under R156-15-308 to an applicant who:
Temporary license. Utah Code 58-15-301(5) allows a temporary license without examination to a person who meets the other requirements of the statute and rule, and “only” “to fill a position of administrator that unexpectedly becomes vacant” and “for a single period of six months or less”. DOPL’s temporary license page has applicants contact the Division directly. Because the person must meet the requirements set by statute and rule, the temporary license is not a way around the AIT and the degree or experience.
Military members and spouses. Under DOPL’s Military Resources page, qualifying service members can have initial and renewal fees waived; a license expiring during deployment is extended until 90 days after the last deployment or discharge; and a spouse of a service member stationed in Utah may work without a Utah license with an active license from another state.
Acting administrators. The administrator “designates, in writing, the name and job title of the person who has the authority and freedom to act ... as administrator in any temporary absence”, and is “not superseded by an unlicensed administrator designee” (R432-150-7(1)(a), (c)).
No published directory. DOPL publishes the Affidavit of Completion form and a Contact Us page, and no list of preceptors or programs. R156-15-307(2) says who may precept: an administrator currently licensed and in good standing in Utah who has been licensed for three years. Each preceptor takes no more than two AITs at a time (307(1)). You can check a preceptor’s license at DOPL’s license lookup. Approval of a preceptorship rests with the Division and the Board (R156-15-102(9)), so call DOPL at (801) 530-6628 before you start hours you plan to count.
ACHCA. The American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) describes a national Administrator Residency (AIT) program. Whether DOPL accepts a program as an approved preceptorship is for the Division and the Board to decide (R156-15-102(9)).
For approaching facilities and preceptors step by step, see How to Find an AIT Preceptor and an Approved Program.
The legal sources for nursing home administrator licensure in Utah, and the facility rules cited above.
Citations verified September 2026 against the Division’s pages and forms, NAB’s Candidate Handbook and the eCFR. Rule text is quoted from Cornell LII’s copy of the Utah Administrative Code and statute text from Justia’s copy of the Utah Code, and each is labeled where it appears. Provided for reference, not legal advice; the current official text governs.
At least 1,000 hours in an approved AIT preceptorship, or the NAB HSE credential instead (R156-15-302a). Separately, you need a bachelor’s degree or 8,000 hours of qualifying experience, at least 4,000 of them supervisory.
Utah has no state exam. You pass NAB’s CORE and NHA exams, each at a scaled score of 113 (R156-15-302d). NAB allows 4 attempts at each exam per cycle, running 1 July to 30 June, and retakes follow NAB’s policies (R156-15-302d(4)).
40 hours in each two-year period beginning 1 June of an odd-numbered year, directly related to the practice of a health facility administrator. The rule sets no required topics (R156-15-309).
Yes, by endorsement (R156-15-308): a current license in good standing, the exam requirement in R156-15-302d, and either three years as an administrator in another state, two consecutive years at the same facility, or the NAB HSE credential.
DOPL publishes no directory of preceptors or programs. A preceptor must be in good standing in Utah and licensed for three years (R156-15-307(2)), and takes no more than two AITs at a time (307(1)). Approach facilities directly.
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