Nursing home administrator license requirements in Arizona.

Board

Board of Examiners of Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers, Arizona Department of Health Services Board source · checked 2026-07-29

Education floor

60+ college semester hours Arizona's three initial-licensure pathways (A.A.C. R4-33-201) are: a baccalaureate degree plus a 1,000-hour Board-approved Administrator-in-Training (AIT) program; a master's degree in a health-related field or business administration (no separate AIT hours stated in rule); or an associate of arts degree in nursing plus current RN licensure, 5 of the last 7 years working as an RN, and completion of the AIT program. The associate-degree RN route is the floor. Board source · checked 2025-03-06

Administrator-in-Training hours

0 to 1,000 hours depending on your degree or experience

• 1,000 hours: Standard 1,000-hour Administrator-in-Training program, required for both the baccalaureate-degree pathway and the associate-of-arts-in-nursing (RN) pathway (A.A.C. R4-33-201(1)).
• 0 hours: A master's degree in a health-related field or business administration qualifies an applicant for the examinations directly, with no separate AIT hour requirement stated in rule (A.A.C. R4-33-201(1)(b)).

Board source · checked 2025-03-06

National NAB exams

Required (CORE of Knowledge + Nursing Home Administrator) Arizona requires the applicant to obtain passing scaled scores on both the NAB Core of Knowledge and Line of Service examinations, or qualify with NAB as a Health Services Executive. Board source · checked 2025-03-06

Separate state exam

Required Arizona also requires a separate Arizona examination with a passing score of at least 80 percent, in addition to the national NAB examination (A.A.C. R4-33-201(2)). Board source · checked 2025-03-06

Initial license fee

$1,050 Initial application $150, plus Arizona examination $500, plus issuance of a license (the lesser of $400 or $17 per month remaining in the biennial period) equals $1,050 for a full biennial-period license (A.A.C. R4-33-104(A)). The national NAB exam fee is paid separately to NAB. Board source · checked 2025-03-06

Renewal fee

$400 Biennial active license renewal; inactive renewal is $200 (A.A.C. R4-33-104(A)). Board source · checked 2025-03-06

Continuing education

50 hours per biennial cycle 50 hours of continuing education every two years, required for biennial renewal (A.R.S. 36-446.07(E)). Board source · checked 2026-07-29

Reciprocity / endorsement

endorsement available The Board may issue a nursing care institution administrator's license without examination, or with partial examination, to a person holding a current license from another state or territory whose standards are at least substantially equivalent to Arizona's (A.R.S. 36-446.05). Board source · checked 2026-07-29

Assisted living / RCAL administrator license

Licensed separately The same Board separately certifies Assisted Living Facility Managers under A.R.S. 36-446.04(C): a distinct credential requiring its own training program, examination, and 2,080 hours of paid work experience in a health-related field within the preceding five years, renewed biennially alongside the nursing care institution administrator license. Board source · checked 2026-07-29

Statutes and rules: Arizona Revised Statutes Title 36, Chapter 4, Article 4 (Sections 36-446 to 36-446.16); Arizona Administrative Code Title 4, Chapter 33. Figures change on the board's own schedule. Confirm against the board before you apply or pay.

1. Get your checklist. The requirements wizard resolves Arizona's requirements for your exact degree.
2. Plan your hours. The AIT-hours tracker turns Arizona's hour target into a finish date.
3. Moving here from another state? The reciprocity checker reads Arizona's endorsement rule.
4. Also want assisted living? Read holding both a nursing home and an assisted living administrator license for how Arizona's two credentials relate.