Virginia Board of Long-Term Care Administrators
Frequently Asked Questions - Preceptors
NEW - Click here to access helpful information on Nursing Home Preceptors
NEW - Click here to access helpful information on Assisted Living Facility Preceptors
Frequently Asked Questions - NHA Preceptors:
Please visit the Applications and Forms page of the Board's website to apply for registration as an NHA or ALFA Preceptor.
1. How many hours are required for an AIT program?
The AIT program shall consist of 2,000 hours of continuous training in a facility as prescribed in 18 VAC 95-20-330 to be completed within 24 months.
The Board may reduce the required hours for applicants with certain qualifications as prescribed in Regulation 18 VAC 95-20-310 (B) and (C). The modified program request is included in the AIT’s application.
2. How does and AIT obtain a preceptor?
An AIT may establish an agreement for training with an available, registered preceptor who can supervise their AIT training program, or with a licensed NHA who becomes registered as an NHA preceptor.
Where an AIT does not otherwise have a preceptor for training, they may go to License Lookup and search for Nursing Home Preceptor under "Occupation." A zip code can be entered in the search field to find a preceptor in a specified area.
For a list of licensed Preceptors who volunteered their contact information to be posted in a public directory, please view the Preceptor Directory.
3. What are the qualifications of Preceptors?
To be a preceptor, an individual needs to hold a current, unrestricted license and be employed full-time as an administrator in a training facility for a minimum of two (2) of the past three (3) years immediately prior to registration.
Effective March 6, 2019, the applicant will be required to provide evidence of the completion of the online preceptor training course offered by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB).
4. What do I do if the AIT program is terminated?
If the AIT program is terminated prior to completion, the trainee and the Preceptor shall each submit a written explanation of the causes of program termination to the Board within ten (10) business days by submitting a Notice of Change or Discontinuation form.
The Preceptor shall also submit all required monthly progress reports completed prior to termination within ten (10) business days.
5. What happens when an AIT program is interrupted because the Preceptor cannot serve?
If the Preceptor cannot serve, the AIT shall notify the board within ten (10) working days and shall obtain a new preceptor who is registered with the Board within 60 days. A Notice of Change or Discontinuation form must be submitted.
Credit for training shall resume when a new preceptor is obtained and approved by the Board.
If an alternate training plan is developed, it shall be submitted to the Board for approval before the AIT resumes training.
6. Can I earn continuing education by being a Preceptor?
Yes, effective December 21, 2022, an NHA licensee who serves as the registered Preceptor in an approved Nursing Home AIT or Assisted Living Facility AIT program may receive one hour of continuing education credit for each week of training up to a maximum of 10 hours of self-study course credit for each renewal year.
7. Are AITs required to complete certain shifts or training during their program?
Yes, AITs are required to serve weekday, evening, night, and weekend shifts and to receive training in all areas of nursing home operation. An AIT shall receive credit for no more than 40 hours of training per week.
8. Do I need to be present for on-site supervision?
Yes, the Preceptor shall be routinely present with the trainee for on-site supervision in the training facility as appropriate to the experience and training of the AIT and the needs of the residents in the facility. The preceptor is required to document on-site supervision of the AIT training in the monthly reports submitted to the Board.
9. What type of training facility is approved for the AIT program?
Training in an AIT program shall be conducted only in the facilities listed in 18VAC95-20-330.
10. Are there any required areas of training for the AIT program?
An AIT is required to receive training in all areas of nursing home administration as appropriate to the experience and training of the AIT, and in accordance with the NAB Domains of Practice and as outlined in the NAB AIT Manual. In addition, effective December 21, 2022, an AIT shall complete training on the care of residents with cognitive or mental impairments, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Preceptors are strongly encouraged to use the NAB AIT Manual as a resource in developing a training plan that meets the individual needs of their trainee.
Frequently Asked Questions - ALFA Preceptors:
Please visit the Applications and Forms page of the Board's website to apply for registration as an NHA or ALFA Preceptor.
1. How many hours are required for an AIT program?
The AIT program shall consist of 640 hours of continuous training in a facility as prescribed in 18 VAC 95-30-170 to be completed within 24 months.
The Board may reduce the required hours for applicants with certain qualifications as prescribed in Regulations 18 VAC 95-30-150 and 18 VAC 95-30-100(A)(1). The modified program request is located in the application.
Please click here for the Assisted Living Facility Administrators Education and Experience Matrix.
2. How des an AIT obtain a preceptor?
An AIT may establish an agreement for training with an available, registered preceptor who can supervise their AIT training program, or with a licensed NHA or ALFA who becomes registered as an ALFA preceptor.
Where an AIT does not otherwise have a preceptor for training, they may go to License Lookup and search for Nursing Home Preceptor under "Occupation." A zip code can be entered in the search field to find a preceptor in a specified area.
For a list of licensed Preceptors who volunteered their contact information to be posted in a public directory, please view the Preceptor Directory.
3. What are the qualifications of preceptors?
To be a preceptor, individual needs to hold a current, unrestricted license and be employed full-time as an administrator in a training facility for a minimum of two (2) of the past four (4) years immediately prior to registration.
Effective March 6, 2019, an applicant will be required to provide evidence of completion of the online preceptor training course offered by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB).
4. What do I do if the AIT program is terminated?
If the AIT program is terminated prior to completion, the trainee and the Preceptor shall each submit a written explanation of the causes of program termination to the Board within ten (10) business days by submitting a Notice of Change or Discontinuation form.
The Preceptor shall also submit all required monthly progress reports completed prior to termination within ten (10) business days.
5. What happens when an AIT program is interrupted because the Preceptor cannot serve?
If the Preceptor cannot serve, the AIT shall notify the Board within ten (10) business days and shall obtain a new preceptor who is registered with the Board within 60 days. A Notice of Change or Discontinuation form must be submitted.
Credit for training shall resume when a new preceptor is obtained and approved by the Board.
If an alternate training plan is developed, it shall be submitted to the Board for approval before the AIT resumes training.
6. Can I earn continuing education by being a Preceptor?
Yes, effective December 21, 2022, an ALFA licensee who serves as the registered Preceptor in an approved Assisted Living Facility AIT program may receive one hour of continuing education credit for each week of training up to a maximum of 10 hours of self-study course credit for each renewal year.
7. Are AITs required to complete certain shifts or training during their program?
Yes, AITs are required to serve weekday, evening, night, and weekend shifts and to receive training in all areas of assisted living facility operation. An AIT shall receive credit for no more than 40 hours of training per week.
8. Do I need to be present for on-site supervision?
Yes, the Preceptor shall be routinely present with the trainee for on-site supervision in the training facility as appropriate to the experience and training of the AIT and the needs of the residents in the facility. The Preceptor is required to document on-site supervision of the AIT training in the monthly reports submitted to the Board.
A preceptor for an AIT who is serving as an acting administrator while in an ALF AIT program (“Acting AIT”) shall be present in the training facility for face-to-face instruction and review of the trainee's performance for a minimum of four hours per week.
9. What type of training facility is approved for the AIT program?
Training in an ALF AIT program or for an internship shall be conducted only in: 1.) An assisted living facility or unit licensed by the Virginia Board of Social Services or by a similar licensing body in another jurisdiction; 2.) An assisted living facility owned or operated by an agency of any city, county, or the Commonwealth or of the United States government; or 3.) An assisted living unit located in and operated by a licensed hospital as defined in §32.1-123 of the Code of Virginia, a state-operated hospital, or a hospital licensed in another jurisdiction.
Training in an ALF AIT program or for an internship shall not be conducted in:
- An assisted living facility with a provisional license as determined by the Department of Social Services in which the AIT program is a new ALF AIT program.
- An assisted living facility with a conditional license as determined by the Department of Social Services in which the AIT applicant is the owner of the facility.
- A facility that is licensed as a residential only and does not require an administrator licensed by the Board of Long-Term Care Administrators.
- An assisted living facility with a licensed resident capacity of fewer than 20 residents.
10. Are there any required areas of training for the AIT program?
An AIT is required to receive training in all areas of assisted living facility administration as appropriate to the experience and training of the AIT, and in accordance with the NAB Domains of Practice and as outlined in the AIT Manual. In addition, effective December 21, 2022, an AIT shall complete training on the care of residents with cognitive or mental impairments, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Preceptors are strongly encouraged to use the NAB AIT Manual as a resource in developing a training plan that meets the individual needs of their trainee.