Long-Term Care Administration

Program Introduction

The Bachelor of Science degree in Long-Term Care Administration (LTCA) is one of fifteen nationally accredited programs. LTCA major provides students the education and qualifications to work as administrators in long-term care settings including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, retirement communities, congregate living, adult care centers, hospice care and other long-term services and supports.

Students earn the certified dementia practitioner (CDP) credential prior to graduation. Upon graduation students are eligible to apply for the licensure exams for nursing home administration (NHA) and for the health services executive (HSE) credential.

Program History

Kent State University’s Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) license program has evolved since its first offering in 1975, originally as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Gerontology.  The Gerontology (GERO) Nursing Home Administration (NHA) program was developed by a university-wide committee of faculty and administrators including the Kent State University’s Vice President with the goal of creating an interdisciplinary curriculum that provided students with a solid understanding of typical age-related changes and professional competencies to successfully work with older adults.

In 2001 the NHA program evolved into a Bachelor of Science degree to accurately represent the curriculum’s solid foundation in social and basic sciences as one of the Concentrations in the HDFS major.  In the interest of quality, the Ohio Board of Examiners (formerly BENHA; now BELTSS – Board of Executives of Long Term Services and Supports) determined that beginning July 1, 2013 an NHA academic program must be accredited by NAB (National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards), and KSU achieved national accreditation in fall 2016, ahead of the requirement. Beginning July 1, 2017 NAB determined that all NHA programs would be required to meet new standards in preparation for the Health Services Executive (HSE) - an added credential - to the NHA license. As a result, the NHA Concentration would no longer meet those standards. 

With the oversight of the NHA Advisory Committee, established in 2010, and new standards known as Domains of Practice, the Long-Term Care Administration (LTCA) program was created to reflect interdisciplinary curriculum to prepare students for licensure.  In November 2019, the B.S. degree in Long-Term Care Administration (LTCA) received its final approval to be implemented in fall 2020.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Long-Term Care Administration graduates will:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the provision of customer care and services
• Demonstrate an understanding of departmental operations and how each area interacts with other areas in the provision of care and services
• Demonstrate knowledge of management, leadership, legal and regulatory requirements and the administrator’s perspective on how to successfully oversee operations.
• Effectively communicate ideas in oral presentations and written papers.
• Identify opportunities for employment in long-term care services and supports.

Career Opportunities

Learn more about the average nursing home administrator salary from salary.com