Board of Nursing Home Administrators

Applying for Licensure

It is recommended that individuals interested in applying for licensure contact the Board Administrative Office by email at Unit3HRB.Health@tn.gov to discuss application requirements and/or to request an application checklist and instructions prior to submitting an application.

APPLICATION DEADLINES: Applications must be received by the Board Administrative Office - complete and in good order with no deficiencies - by the stated deadlines to be eligible for review by the Board at that meeting. Any applications received, but with remaining deficiencies as of close of business on the stated deadline, will be set over for consideration at the next meeting thereafter, once all deficiencies for an open application are resolved.

• Board Meeting Date: 03/09/2026, Application Completion Deadline: 02/20/2026
• Board Meeting Date: 06/08/2026, Application Completion Deadline: 05/22/2026
• Board Meeting Date: 08/03/2026, Application Completion Deadline: 07/17/2026
• Board Meeting Date: 11/09/2026, Application Completion Deadline: 10/23/2026

It is recommended that you contact the Board Administrative Office by email at Unit3HRB.Health@tn.gov or by phone at 615-532-5090 prior to applying, for assistance in determining the appropriate application requirements based upon your application type.

Applications

►  The Department of Health has an online application process that will allow all health care professionals to apply online for an initial license and complete (and update as necessary) a practitioner profile mandatory for certain professions.  The process is user friendly and convenient and even allows you to pay for your initial application utilizing a credit card, debit card or e-check.  You will also be able to upload many of the documents required to complete your initial application!  Please go to the initial application link below to begin the online process.

It is recommended that individuals interested in applying for licensure contact the Board Administrative Office by email at Unit3HRB.Health@tn.gov to discuss application requirements and/or to request an application checklist and instructions prior to submitting an application.

• Application and Instructions for Licensure as a Nursing Home Administrator   (Paper Application -2102)
• Mandatory Practitioner Profile Questionnaire for Licensed Health Care Providers (Paper Application -3585)
• Instructions and Application for a Preceptor (Paper Application -3586)
• Declaration of Citizenship (Paper Application -4183)
• Declaration of Eligibility for Expedited Licensure Process for a Military Member (Paper Application -4279)
• Expedited Licensure for Military Spouses Form (Paper Application -4280)
• Name and Address Change Request (Paper Application -3619)
• Reinstatement Application (Paper Application -4049)
• Affidavit of Retirement From Practice in Tennessee (Paper Application -3460)
• AIT Progress Forms (Paper Application -2102)

Meetings, Members, & Minutes

Meeting Schedule

Public Notices will remain online until the minutes are ratified and posted on the Meeting Minutes page.

Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at 665 Mainstream Drive, MetroCenter.

Members

Meeting Minutes

Continuing Education

Failure to comply with continuing education requirements may result in disciplinary action against the licensee or registrant. The disciplinary action will be reported on the Department of Health license verification web site. 

Continuing Education

Failure to comply with continuing education requirements may result in disciplinary action against the licensee or registrant. The disciplinary action will be reported on the Department of Health license verification web site.

Nursing Home Administrators must attend and complete eighteen (18) hours of board approved continuing education within each calendar year (preceptors must attend and complete an additional nine (9) hours each year).

The due date for completion of course hours is December 31st of each year. Courses offered for credit toward the required continuing education hours must have either received approval from the National Continuing Education Review Service of the National Association of Boards of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators or be provided by organizations requesting and receiving approval from the board.

To obtain a copy of the Board's rules and regulations regarding CE, please call the administrative office at 1-800-778-4123 or 615-532-5090 or download a copy from this website.

Educational Programs

The following Universities offer Health Care Administration degrees:

University of Memphis

memphis.edu

East Tennessee State University

etsu.edu  

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

utk.edu

Southern Adventist University 

southern.edu

Lincoln Memorial University

lmunet.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

Q - How do I get a background check?
A - Please go to this link: https://www.tn.gov/health/health-professionals/criminal-background-check/cbc-instructions.html
And follow the directions that are applicable to you.
If you are an out of state applicant, we will mail you the fingerprint card upon receipt of your application.
Your OCA # is: 2514

Q – How do I change my name or address on my license, and will I get a new license with the changes?
A - You can update your address/name online at https://lars.tn.gov. If you don’t have an account already, you’ll make an account, onboard your license and then you may update your information. The next time you renew your license, you will receive certificates with your updated name. If you want an updated certificate before then, you can order a replacement copy of your license online at https://lars.tn.gov for $25.
-The Wall Certificate is the large manila certificate that has the state seal on it.
-The Renewal Certificate is the medium sized blue/green

Q - Are live/interactive webinars the same as in-person/live classes for continuing education credit?
A – The Board’s Rules provide a list of course types the Board defines as "Multi-Media" which includes such course delivery methods as Internet, Teleconferencing, and Videoconferencing, among others; therefore, since a webinar is a video conference and is conducted over the internet, it is not a the same thing as a live course.

Q – How long as an Administrator-In-Training (A.I.T.) Program?
A – A standard A.I.T. Program is 6-months and 1,040 clock hours of full-time training.

Q – Can I start an Administrator-In-Training (A.I.T.) Program before I apply for a license?
A – While some employers may hire an individual and give them a title of A.I.T. or consider an individual to be in an A.I.T. program, no hours may be counted towards a TN A.I.T. program for licensure until they have completed the application process and been approved by the Board.

Q – What is the deadline for applications or requests to be submitted for the Board to review in a meeting?
A - All requests, applications, notices, complaints, other communications and correspondence shall be directed to the Administrative Office of the Board no less than 10 days prior to a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board or the item will be set over to the next regularly scheduled meeting thereafter. Applications must be complete and in good order with all supporting documentation presented.

Q – When does my license need to be renewed?
A- The first license issued will be valid for at least 12 months but may be active for more than 12 months as a new licensee enters the licensure renewal cycle. Every license issued after the first renewal date will expire every 24 months. The expiration date is printed on all license certificates. While the Board Administrative Office will send one courtesy renewal notice, the license will expire whether the notice has been received or not. It is the responsibility of the licensee to know when their license expires and to renew accordingly.

Policies, Rules, & Statutes

Policies

• Lapsed License Policy - 11/18/2024
• Qualifications for Licensure - 11/18/2024
• AIT Program Hours - 03/07/2022
• Board Ordered Limited AIT Policy - 11/02/2020
• NAB Testing Window Policy - 11/02/2020
• NAB Retake Policy - 06/01/2020
• Continuing Education Violations -  Amended 3/6/17
• Renewal of Licensees Called to Active Military Duty
• Policy Statement, May 1998
• Policy Statement Regarding Criminal Convictions
• Statute Change for Release of Medical Records  (05-16-2006)

Rules

Click here for Rules and Regulations pertaining to the Tennessee Board of Nursing Home Administrators

Statutes

Statutes are proposed and made law by the Tennessee State General Assembly (Legislature). The Board, following specific notice requirements and hearings, adopts rules. Both have the force of law and may be used in the regulation of a profession. The statutes pertaining to this Board are found at T. C. A. 63-1 (Division of Health Related Boards) and T.C.A. 63-16 (Nursing Home Administrators).

Click here to review the Tennessee Code Annotated. (This link will take you to a website that is not maintained by the Tennessee Department of Health).