There shall be a designated adult care home activity director who meets the following qualifications:

(1)           The activity director (employed on or after August 1, 1991) shall meet a minimum educational requirement by being at least a high school graduate or certified under the GED Program or by passing an alternative examination established by the Department of Health & Human Services.

(2)           The activity director hired on or after July 1, 2005 shall have completed or complete, within nine months of employment or assignment to this position, the basic activity course for assisted living activity directors offered by community colleges or a comparable activity course as determined by the Department based on instructional hours and content.  A person with a degree in recreation administration or therapeutic recreation or who is state or nationally certified as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist or certified by the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals meets this requirement as does a person who completed the activity coordinator course of 48 hours or more through a community college before July 1, 2005.