FL H0579

Effective July 1, 2015, assisted living facility administrators must obtain professional certification from a third-party credentialing entity approved by the Department of Elderly Affairs rather than state-run training.

Department must approve one or more third-party credentialing entities that meet minimum standards including establishing core competencies, administering certification, maintaining disciplinary processes, and operating a public database of certified persons.

Credentialing entities and their affiliates are prohibited from delivering training to applicants or continuing education to certificateholders to avoid conflicts of interest.

Assisted living facility licensees that fail to employ a certified administrator are subject to administrative fines; exemption provided for administrators licensed under part II of chapter 468.

Credentialing entities shall charge fees not exceeding $225 for application, examination, and certification, and not exceeding $100 for biennial certification renewal; grandfather clause allows existing compliant administrators to obtain certification at no cost through October 1, 2015.