CNHA Credential Requirements and Eligibility 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A candidate for CNHA licensure holds a bachelor's degree in hospital administration. What additional requirement must they typically fulfill before sitting for the NHA exam?
- Pass a state background check only
- Complete an approved administrator-in-training (AIT) program (Correct answer)
- Obtain a registered nurse license first
- Submit three years of hospital work experience
Correct answer: Complete an approved administrator-in-training (AIT) program
Most states require completion of an AIT program under a licensed NHA before a candidate can sit for the national exam.
Question 2: Under federal law (42 CFR §483.75), which entity is responsible for establishing minimum standards for nursing home administrator licensure?
- The Joint Commission
- Each individual state (Correct answer)
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- The National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB)
Correct answer: Each individual state
Federal law sets baseline requirements but delegates the actual licensure standards and processes to each individual state.
Question 3: How long is the standard NAB NHA exam window during which a candidate must schedule and complete their examination after approval?
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days (Correct answer)
- 120 days
Correct answer: 90 days
NAB typically grants a 90-day testing window from the date of eligibility approval for candidates to schedule and sit for the exam.
Question 4: A state board denies an NHA license application because the applicant has a prior felony conviction. Under which federal authority is this permissible?
- The Americans with Disabilities Act
- State licensing statutes authorized under federal law (Correct answer)
- HIPAA privacy regulations
- The Nurse Practice Act
Correct answer: State licensing statutes authorized under federal law
State licensing statutes, authorized by federal law, allow boards to deny licensure based on criminal history relevant to patient safety.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes a 'provisional license' as it relates to NHA credentialing?
- A permanent license issued after passing the exam
- A temporary authorization allowing practice while full licensure requirements are being completed (Correct answer)
- A license issued only to retired administrators
- A reciprocal license automatically granted by another state
Correct answer: A temporary authorization allowing practice while full licensure requirements are being completed
A provisional license is a temporary credential that permits an administrator to work while completing remaining licensure requirements such as the AIT program.
Question 6: An NHA applicant has a degree from a foreign institution. What is typically required before the degree can satisfy educational requirements?
- Retaking all coursework at a US institution
- A credential evaluation by an approved foreign academic credential evaluation service (Correct answer)
- Passing the TOEFL examination
- Endorsement by the state governor's office
Correct answer: A credential evaluation by an approved foreign academic credential evaluation service
Foreign degrees must be evaluated by an approved credential evaluation service to confirm they are equivalent to US educational requirements.
Question 7: The NAB exam for NHA licensure is scored using which method to ensure consistency across different exam versions?
- Percentage of total questions correct
- Equated scaled scoring (Correct answer)
- Norm-referenced grading on a curve
- Pass/fail based on a single national cutoff percentage
Correct answer: Equated scaled scoring
NAB uses equated scaled scoring so that passing standards remain consistent even when different versions of the exam are administered.
CNHA Credential Requirements and Eligibility 2
A candidate for CNHA licensure holds a bachelor's degree in hospital administration.
What additional requirement must they typically fulfill before sitting for the NHA exam?