Assisted Living Facility Administrator Preceptor FAQs

How many hours are required for an AIT program?

The AIT program consists of 640 hours of continuous training in a facility as prescribed in 18 VAC 95-30-170 that is completed within twenty-four (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.

Review the ALFA Education and Experience matrix for additional information.

How does 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 Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) or Assisted Living Facility Administrator (ALFA) who becomes registered as an ALFA Preceptor.

If an AIT does not 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 publicly, please view the Voluntary Preceptor Directory.

What are the qualifications of Preceptors?

To become a Preceptor, a person 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.

An applicant is also required to provide evidence of completion of the online Preceptor training course offered by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB).

View the qualifications of Preceptors.

What if the AIT program is terminated?

If the AIT program is terminated prior to completion, the trainee and the Preceptor must each submit a written explanation to the Board of why the program was terminated within ten (10) business days of program termination, and submit a Notice of Change of Status or Discontinuance form.

The Preceptor must also submit all monthly progress reports completed prior to termination within ten (10) business days after termination.

What happens if an AIT program is interrupted because the Preceptor cannot serve?

If the Preceptor cannot serve, the AIT must notify the board within ten (10) business days, obtain a new Preceptor who is registered with the Board within sixty (60) days, and submit a Notice of Change of Status or Discontinuance form.

Credit for training resumes when a new Preceptor is obtained and approved by the Board.

If an alternate training plan is developed, it must be submitted to the Board for approval before the AIT resumes training.

Can I earn continuing education by being a Preceptor?

Yes. 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 ten (10) hours of self-study course credit for each renewal year.

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 cannot receive credit for more than forty (40) hours of training per week.

Do I need to be present for on-site supervision?

Yes. The Preceptor must 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”) must 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.

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:

• an assisted living facility or unit licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services or by a similar licensing body in another jurisdiction;
• an assisted living facility owned or operated by an agency of any city, county, or the Commonwealth or of the United States government; or
• 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; and
• a facility that is licensed as residential only and does not require an administrator licensed by the Board of Long-Term Care Administrators.

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, in accordance with the NAB Domains of Practice, and as outlined in the AIT Manual. In addition, an AIT must 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.