Practicum

An applicant for licensure as a Nursing Home Administrator must complete a 1,000-hour field practicum also referred to as an AIT Program (Administrator in Training). The practicum course is 1,000-hour course approved by the board and taken for academic credit at an accredited post-secondary institution. It must provide practical learning experiences to complement the student's academic training and work or volunteer experience in long-term services and supports.

The practicum course must be conducted within a nursing facility. Students are required to work at least 20 hours per week and focus their attention to practicum activities. If your work at a Skilled Nursing facility and would like to do your practicum there, please reach out to the BELTSS board for requirements of this situation.

The 1000-hour practicum must include:

• a rotation through the departments of the nursing facility to provide the student exposure to and knowledge of all functions of the nursing facility.
• participation in or review of the findings and results of regulatory inspections of the facility;
• observation of the administrative role through meetings with staff, governing bodies, community groups, resident councils, and other groups;
• observation of the relationships between the facility and community and other health care providers and organizations operating in the continuum of health care;
• participation in an in-service education session;
• completion of a major project
• after assessment, the completion of a QAPI or RCA on identified areas of need.