WAC 388-78A-2520  Administrator qualifications—General.  (1) The licensee must appoint an administrator who is:

  • At least twenty-one years old;
  • Not a resident of the assisted living facility; and
  • Qualified to perform the administrator’s duties specified in WAC 388-78A-2560.

(2) The licensee must only appoint as an assisted living facility administrator an individual who meets the requirements of at least one of the following sections in WAC 388-78A-2522 through 388-78A-2527.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2520, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13; WSR 10-03-066, § 388-78A-2520, filed 1/15/10, effective 2/15/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090. WSR 06-01-047, § 388-78A-2520, filed 12/15/05, effective 1/15/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090 (2004 c 142 § 19) and chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 04-16-065, § 388-78A-2520, filed 7/30/04, effective 9/1/04.]

WAC 388-78A-2521  Certification of training.  As used in WAC 388-78A-2522 through 388-78A-2527, an individual obtains certification of training as follows. The individual has certification of completing a recognized administrator training course that consists of a minimum of twenty-four hours of instruction or equivalent online training, or certification of passing an administrator examination from or endorsed by a department-recognized national accreditation health or personal care organization such as:

  • The American association of homes and services for the aging;
  • The American college of health care administrators;
  • The American health care association;
  • The assisted living federation of America; or
  • The national association of board of examiners of long term care administrators.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 10-03-066, § 388-78A-2521, filed 1/15/10, effective 2/15/10.]

WAC 388-78A-2522  Administrator qualifications—Prior to 2004. The individual was actively employed as an assisted living facility administrator and met existing qualifications on September 1, 2004.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2522, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13; WSR 10-03-066, § 388-78A-2522, filed 1/15/10, effective 2/15/10.]

WAC 388-78A-2523  Administrator qualifications—NH administrator license.  The individual holds a current Washington state nursing home administrator license in good standing.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 10-03-066, § 388-78A-2523, filed 1/15/10, effective 2/15/10.]

WAC 388-78A-2524  Administrator qualifications—Certification of training, and three years experience.  Prior to assuming duties as a boarding home administrator, the individual has met the following qualifications:

  • Obtained certification of completing a recognized administra-tor training as referenced in WAC 388-78A-2521; and
  • Has three years paid experience:
  • Providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting li-censed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, assisted living facility, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living; and/or
  • Managing persons providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting licensed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, assisted living facility, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2524, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13; WSR 10-03-066, § 388-78A-2524, filed 1/15/10, effective 2/15/10.]

WAC 388-78A-2525  Administrator qualifications—Associate degree, certification of training, and two years experience.  The individual holds an associate degree in a related field of study such as health, social work, or business administration and meets the qualifications listed in either subsection (1), (2) or (3) of this section:

  • Obtains certification of completing a recognized administra-tor training course as referenced in WAC 388-78A-2521 within six months of beginning duties as the administrator; or
  • Has two years paid experience:
  • Providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting li-censed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, assisted living facility, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living; and/or
  • Managing persons providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting licensed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, assisted living facility, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living; or

(3) Has completed a qualifying administrator training program supervised by a qualified administrator according to WAC 388-78A-2530.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2525, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13; WSR 10-03-066, §

388-78A-2525, filed 1/15/10, effective 2/15/10.]

WAC 388-78A-2526  Administrator qualifications—Bachelor’s degree, certification of training, and one year experience.  The individual holds a bachelor’s degree in a related field of study such as health, social work, or business administration and meets the qualifications listed in either subsection (1), (2) or (3) of this section.

  • Obtains certification of completing a recognized administra-tor training course and referenced in WAC 388-78A-2521 within six months of beginning duties as the administrator; or
  • Has one year paid experience:
  • Providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting li-censed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, assisted living facility, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living; and/or
  • Managing persons providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting licensed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, assisted living facility, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living; or

(3) Has completed a qualifying administrator training program supervised by a qualified administrator according to WAC 388-78A-2530.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2526, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13; WSR 10-03-066, §

388-78A-2526, filed 1/15/10, effective 2/15/10.]

WAC 388-78A-2527  Administrator qualifications—Five years experience.  Before assuming duties as an administrator, the individual has five years of paid experience:

  • Providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting li-censed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, assisted living facility, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living; and/or
  • Managing persons providing direct care to vulnerable adults in a setting licensed by a state agency for the care of vulnerable adults, such as a nursing home, assisted living facility, or adult family home, or a setting having a contract with a recognized social service agency for the provision of care to vulnerable adults, such as supported living.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2527, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13; WSR 10-03-066, §

388-78A-2527, filed 1/15/10, effective 2/15/10.]

WAC 388-78A-2530  Qualifying administrator training program.  Before the licensee appoints an individual who must have completed a qualifying administrator training program in order to qualify as an assisted living facility administrator, the licensee must verify the individual has completed the training and obtain documentation from the individual that the training program met the following requirements:

  • The department was notified of the beginning date of the ad-ministrator training program;
  • The administrator training program was at least six months in duration following notification of the department;
  • Only training, supervision, and experience occurring follow-ing notification of the department were credited to the qualifying training;
  • The supervising administrator met the qualifications to be an administrator specified in WAC 388-78A-2520;
  • The trainee was a full-time employee of an assisted living facility and spent at least forty percent of his/her time for six months of the training program performing administrative duties customarily assigned to assisted living facility administrators or included in the job description of the administrator for the assisted living facility in which the training occurred;
  • The supervising administrator was present on-site at the as-sisted living facility during the time the trainee performed administrator duties;
  • The supervising administrator spent a minimum of one hundred direct contact hours with the trainee during the six months supervising and consulting with the trainee;
  • Both the trainee and supervising administrator signed docu-mentation of the trainee’s qualifying experience and the supervising administrator’s performance of required oversight duties; and
  • The individual completing the qualifying administrator train-ing program maintains the documentation of completing the program.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2530, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090 (2004 c 142 § 19) and chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 04-16-065,

  • 388-78A-2530, filed 7/30/04, effective 9/1/04.]

WAC 388-78A-2540  Administrator requirements.  The licensee must ensure the assisted living facility administrator:

  • Meets the training requirements under chapter 388-112A WAC; and
  • Knows and understands how to apply Washington state statutes and administrative rules related to the operation of an assisted living facility; and
  • Meets the administrator qualification requirements referenced in WAC 388-78A-2520 through 388-78A-2527.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 18-20-018, § 388-78A-2540, filed 9/21/18, effective 10/22/18; WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2540, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13; WSR 10-03-066, § 388-78A-2540, filed 1/15/10, effective 2/15/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090 (2004 c 142 § 19) and chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 04-16-065,

  • 388-78A-2540, filed 7/30/04, effective 9/1/04.]

WAC 388-78A-2550  Administrator training documentation.  The assisted living facility must maintain for department review, documentation of the administrator completing:

  • Training required by chapter 388-112A WAC;
  • Department training in an overview of Washington state stat-utes and administrative rules related to the operation of an assisted living facility;
  • As applicable, certification from a department-recognized na-tional accreditation health or personal care organization; and
  • As applicable, the qualifying administrator-training program.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 18-20-018, § 388-78A-2550, filed 9/21/18, effective 10/22/18; WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2550, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13. Statutory Authority: Chapters 18.20 and 74.39A RCW. WSR 10-16-085, § 388-78A-2550, filed 7/30/10, effective 1/1/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090 (2004 c 142 § 19) and chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 04-16-065, § 388-78A-2550, filed 7/30/04, effective 9/1/04.]

WAC 388-78A-2560  Administrator responsibilities.  The licensee must ensure the administrator:

  • Directs and supervises the overall twenty-four-hour-per-day operation of the assisted living facility;
  • Ensures residents receive adequate care and services that meet the standards of this chapter;
  • Is readily accessible to meet with residents;
  • Complies with the assisted living facility’s policies;
  • When the administrator is not available on the premises, ei-ther:
  • Is available by telephone or electronic pager; or
  • Designates a person approved by the licensee to act in place of the administrator. The designee must be:
  • Qualified by experience to assume designated duties; and
  • Authorized to make necessary decisions and direct operations of the assisted living facility during the administrator’s absence.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2560, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13. Statutory Authority:

RCW 18.20.090 (2004 c 142 § 19) and chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 04-16-065, § 388-78A-2560, filed 7/30/04, effective 9/1/04.]

WAC 388-78A-2570  Notification of change in administrator.  The licensee must notify the department in writing within ten calendar days of the effective date of a change in the assisted living facility administrator. The notice must include the full name of the new administrator and the effective date of the change.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2570, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090 (2004 c 142 § 19) and chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 04-16-065, § 388-78A-2570, filed 7/30/04, effective 9/1/04.]

WAC 388-78A-2580  Use of home health/home care.  If an assisted living facility licensee also has a home health or home care license, the licensee may not provide care or services to nonresident individuals living in independent living units on the assisted living facility premises under the home health or home care license if:

  • The licensee assumes general responsibility for the safety and well-being of the individual;
  • The individual requiring such services is not able to receive them in his or her own home and is required to move to another room as a condition for receiving such services;
  • The individual receiving such services is required to receive them from the licensee as a condition for residing in the building, and is not free to receive such services from any appropriately licensed provider of his or her choice; or
  • The licensee provides other care or services to the individu-al that falls under the jurisdiction of assisted living facility licensing and this chapter.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 13-13-063, § 388-78A-2580, filed 6/18/13, effective 7/19/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.090 (2004 c 142 § 19) and chapter 18.20 RCW. WSR 04-16-065, § 388-78A-2580, filed 7/30/04, effective 9/1/04.]