Education Requirements

If you're looking to begin a career in nursing home administration, you'll need at least a four-year bachelor's degree and will likely need to pass a state licensing examination. Larger employers or more advanced positions may require a master's degree. While the requirements to become a nursing home administrator vary by place of employment and state, a four-year bachelor's degree in a field like health services administration, public administration, or long-term care administration is a standard credential for a nursing home administrator. More advanced positions or working for a large organization may require an additional two-year master's degree in these or related fields. Common courses in these programs include work in nursing home administrative practices, aging and long-term care, gerontology and aging, and health behavior. After completing a state-approved program, most states also require that nursing home administrators pass licensing exams.

 

Nursing home administrators work at the cross-section of the health care and business fields. To be successful, they should have skills and knowledge from both. Being able to absorb and interpret large amounts of possibly conflicting information and possessing good communication skills will help you to be effective as a nursing home administrator.