Administrator Certification Bureau (ACB)

 

ABOUT ACB

The ACB supports prospective and current administrators by proctoring mandated administrator exams, processing initial and renewal administrator applications, and ensures overall compliance of CCLD approved, third-party program training vendors to promote the health, safety, and well-being of vulnerable California residents in care.

CCLD CONSIDERATIONS FOR CERTIFIED ADMINISTRATORS

The Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) has offered the following considerations to provide some relief to the provider community as related to the ACB applications backlog.

  1. FOR FACILITY LICENSE APPROVAL
    • When an administrator is associated to a pending facility licensure (initial or change of ownership), the administrator’s application is expedited, and certification approval is conducted along with licensure approval.  This is done through internal coordination with Childrens’ Residential Program (CRP) Regional Offices (RO) or Adult and Senior Care’s Centralized Applications Bureau (CAB).  If this situation applies to you or if you have questions about the pending facility licensure, please contact CAB or your assigned CRP RO
       
  2. FOR CRITICAL NEED
    • If there is a critical need for certification approval (for example if services from a partner agency, such as the county or Regional Center, is at risk of being disrupted; or residents are at risk of relocation as a result of a pending certification renewal; or if a new administrator needs to be onboarded immediately), your local Regional Office may request to expedite certification on the administrator’s behalf.
        
  3. FOR FACILITY INSPECTIONS
    • During the course of a facility inspection, if the administrator certificate is expired and the licensee can validate the submission of a renewal certificate application, the LPA should take into consideration whether a citation is warranted.  Each citation should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis including the facility and administrator’s history of compliance.

ACB Webinars

The Administrator Certification Bureau have hosted webinars for administrators, providers, and interested parties. Please click the links below to access recordings and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) obtained during the webinars:

ACB Webinar, December 12, 2023
Topics: Application processing updates; Online Application Portal walkthrough.

ACB Webinar, July 19, 2023
Topics: Assembly Bill 120; CCLD Considerations; website enhancements; Online Application Portal overview.

Update to the ACB Mailing Address

Please be advised that the ACB Mail Station (MS) address has changed:

Community Care Licensing Division
Administrator Certification Bureau (ACB)
744 P Street, MS 9-15-807
Sacramento, CA 95814

Changes to Administrator Certification Training Requirements

PIN 23-14-CCLD – (Changes to Administrator Certification Training Requirements)

Pursuant to the recently passed Assembly Bill (AB) 120, prospective and current Certified Administrators have the option to satisfy live training requirements for Initial Certification Training Programs (ICTP) and Continuing Education Training Programs (CETP) via Department-approved in-person or live-stream training.  Additionally, AB 120 clarifies the requirements for individuals seeking certification or recertification as an ARFPSHN Administrator.  Please refer to PIN 23-14-CCLD for more information regarding the changes to the administrator certification training requirements, including changes to course format terminology.

Administrators and vendors are encouraged to become familiar with the amendments to Health and Safety Code sections 1522.41, 1562.3, 1567.50, and 1569.616.

Administrator Certification Training Requirements

The COVID-19 waivers related to course offerings for Initial Certification Training Program (ICTP) and Continuing Education Training Program (CETP) ended February 28, 2023. To support greater access to training opportunities for current and prospective Administrators, the Administrator Certification Bureau (ACB) will allow vendors who were previously approved through the State of Emergency (SOE) Waiver Terms and Conditions, to resume live instruction (live-stream) through online platforms effective April 1, 2023.

As a result, current and/or prospective Administrators may fulfill required live instruction hours either in-person or live-stream from an approved vendor. If an administrator chooses to access a live-stream course, the course must be offered by an ACB vendor who has been approved by ACB to specifically provide livestream instruction. You may access ACB-approved vendors on the Administrator Certification Bureau website. Be advised that ICTP and CETP training requirements still apply and include, but are not limited to, the number of hours as noted below:

ICTP Requirements (must be conducted live, whether in-person or live-stream)

  • Group Home (GH): 40 hours
  • Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP): 40 hours
  • STRTP with valid GH certificate issued by the Department: 12 hours
  • Adult Residential Facility (ARF): 35 hours
  • Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE): 80 hours, 20 of which may be completed via self-paced/on-demand training
  • RCFE-NHA: 12 hours with a valid Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) license issued by the Department of Public Health

CETP Requirements (at least half of which must be conducted live, whether in-person or live-stream)

  • GH: 40 hours
  • STRTP: 40 hours
  • ARF: 40 hours
  • RCFE: 40 hours
  • RCFE-NHA: 20 hours with a valid NHA license issued by the Department of Public Health, 20 of which may be completed via self-paced/on-demand training

Fee Increases for Administrators and Vendors

PIN 21-11-CCLD – (Changes to Administrator Certification Program Fees)

In accordance with Assembly Bill (AB) 135, an increase to the Administrator Certification Program fees is effective July 1, 2023.  The fee changes include increases to existing fees for processing Initial and Continuing Education Training Program vendor applications and increases to existing fees for processing new and renewal Administrator certification applications.  New fees will be assessed for the ACB exam and vendor course application processing.  Refer to PIN 21-11-CCLD for additional information about fee changes.

Applicable laws in Health & Safety Code (HSC) for Administrator Certification

Regulations for Certified Administrators

Regulations for Administrator Certification Training Programs Vendors

The historical rulemaking file for the regulation updates can be found at:

Contact Us

Community Care Licensing Division
Administrator Certification Bureau (ACB)
744 P Street, MS 9-15-807
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-653-9300
AdminCertInfo@dss.ca.gov

Attention Applicants

Stay Informed: Updates to the ACB Mainline

 

Effective September 1, 2022 the ACB Mainline Phone hours have changed from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. To speak to a live operator, please call between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Monday – Friday.

*Please note that ACB does NOT accept applications, payments, or other documents on a walk-in basis. Currently, initial and renewal applications for administrator certification must be sent via postal mail. Vendors may upload their documents through the Vendor Automation Platform.

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