Instructors, Training Requirements, and Continuing Education

All applicants for licensure by examination must:

• be of good moral character.
• have completed a degreed baccalaureate program at an accredited institution of higher learning in a course of study approved by the board as adequate preparation for nursing home administration; and
• complete the application process as set forth by board regulation and policy.
• have completed a board approved administrator in training program or board approved internship program. The requirements include the following:
  • a minimum of 1000 hours or more of on-site, supervised training and monthly written evaluations by the preceptor.
  • the preceptor shall be a NAB-certified preceptor and a licensed nursing home administrator with at least 3 years of experience as a nursing home administrator in good standing.  NAB (nabweb.org)

DOCUMENTATION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:  Each applicant for licensure by examination must provide the following documents and fees to the board. Applications for licensure are valid for one year from date of receipt and will be purged from the board’s records after that date.

• A completed board-approved application for licensure form, signed in the presence of a notary public.
• A recent (within the last year) passport-type photograph of the applicant that the applicant has signed on the back.
• Complete official transcript(s) leading up to and showing that the applicant has been awarded a baccalaureate degree and sent directly to the board by the institution(s).
• A statement of any other professional licenses held by the applicant either in New Mexico or in other states, and copies of the license(s).
• Completed verification of licensure form(s) sent directly to the board by the applicant’s other state(s) of professional licensure.
• Three letters of reference from persons unrelated to the applicant sent directly to the board by the references.
• A completed, approved release form authorizing the board to conduct a criminal records check.
• The application and licensure fee, payable to the board
• Proof of completion of at least 1,000 hours in a board approved administrator in training program or internship program in the form of:
  • certification of a completion of a board approved administrator in training program from a NAB accredited institution providing the program; or
  • proof of completion of 1,000 hours in a board-approved internship verified through a notarized letter between the preceptor and the applicant, and submission of an AIT monthly reports completed by the preceptor and the applicant.

EXAM ELIGIBILITY DETERMINED: Upon receipt of the completed licensure application form, all other required documentation, and application fee, the board or its designee will review the application materials, determine the applicant’s eligibility to sit for the national licensing examination, and notify the applicant in writing of eligibility or ineligibility.

• Upon finding that the applicant is eligible to take the examination, the board shall notify the eligible candidate, in writing, that their application has been approved, and provide the candidate with NAB’s website address to apply online to take the NAB exam. Exam Information – NAB (nabweb.org)
• The service shall notify the board electronically that the candidate has applied to take the examination and the board shall electronically indicate to the service the candidate’s eligibility to take the exam.
• Candidates are encouraged to wait until they receive official written notice from the board that their licensure application has been approved before they apply online to take the NAB exam. If the candidate prepays the NAB fee(s) and subsequently does not meet the board’s licensure requirements and the board does not approve the candidate to take the exam, the fee(s) prepaid to NAB are nonrefundable.