Frequently Asked Questions
What is a provisional license?
A provisional license is a license used for a temporary period of time and is substantiated by need. The license is issued to the applicant who has been found by the Board to meet pre-examination qualifications when the applicant has been appointed the administrator of a nursing home or community residential care facility without a licensed administrator in charge.
How often is the license exam given?
The license exams are given year-round by computer-based testing. The exams are given at Prometric (a.k.a. Sylvan) Testing Centers throughout the United States.
How long can one spend taking the examination?
The time limit for the national portion of the exam is 3 hours. The time limit for the state portion of the exam is 2 hours.
How many questions are on the exam?
There are 150 multiple-choice questions on the national exam and 50 multiple-choice questions on the state exam. This applies to both the nursing home administrator and community residential care facility administrator license exams.
Is an administrator required to meet the continuing education requirements to renew his or her license in an inactive status?
A licensee must provide proof of Board-approved continuing education at the time of license renewal in order to renew as inactive and active.
Can an administrator use continuing education approved by the National Continuing Education Review Service (NCERS) of the National Association of Boards of Examiners for Long Term Care Administrators (NAB) for license renewal?
The South Carolina Board accepts hours earned at continuing education programs with NAB NCERS approval for license renewal.