Frequently Asked Questions
Assisted Living Licensing and Training Requirements
Does an assisted living facility need to be licensed?
Yes. Assisted living facilities in Florida are licensed by the Agency for Health Care Association - ALF Unit (AHCA). For more information about the licensing requirements, visit AHCA's website.
How do I become an assisted living administrator in Florida?
In Florida, to become an ALF administrator or Manager, one must
- be 21 years of age;
- have a high school diploma or a GED;
- take a 26 hour course (ALF Core training) from a trainer registered with the AHCA;
- pass a state competency exam; and
- pass a level 2 background screening.
What is ALF Core training?
ALF Core training is the course required for persons seeking to become an ALF administrator in Florida. The course is required to be completed prior to taking the state competency exam for assisted living administrator certification.
The course is also required for ALF "managers" and Extended Congregate Care Supervisors.
Department managers and other staff members working in assisted living also benefit from taking the ALF Core training by learning about the regulatory requirements for operating an assisted living facility.
Do you provide the ALF Core training?
Yes. We provide the ALF Core training in two formats - Classroom ALF Core Training and ALF Online Core training
Is it better to take the ALF core training in person or online?
It really depends on your learning style. We cover the same content whether you take the course in-person or online.
- In-person classes are provided in a convenient weekend format (two consecutive weekends) or by contract with entities that want to train 10 people or more.
- The ALF Online Core training is offered in partnership with Florida Senior Living Association and is taught by Monica Wilson. The ALF Online Core training allows trainees to complete the core training education at their convenience.
What is your pass rate for the competency exam?
Monica Wilson consistently has one of the highest pass rates in the state year after year. According to the testing entity, for active trainers with a test sample size of at least ten persons (the minimum number the testing entity deems to be a valid sample size) Monica had the highest pass rates for 2019 and 2018 and the second highest pass rates in 2017.
How do I register for the ALF administrator state competency exam?
The MacDonald Research Institute administers the state competency exam. Visit their website for the test schedule as well as the policies for registering and taking the exam.
Does the assisted living core training provide step by step instructions on how to open and operate an assisted living facility?
We strongly believe that the ALF core training is the best first step to familiarize operators, potential operators, developers and investors with the minimum standards and requirements for opening and operating an assisted living facility in Florida, as well as to understand who can be served in AL and what services may be provided.
The Assisted Living Core training is regulatory based and covers the content required to be provided in accordance with the ALF minimum Core training curriculum as put forth by the State. Best practices beyond the minimum curriculum are addressed for many areas of assisted living operations. It is impossible to provide a useful step by step process in the course on how to open and operate an ALF due to the complexity of the industry, geographic and market variances, and the vast differences in the size and operations of ALF communities in Florida.
What other services do you offer?
ICE Bridge provides consulting services at reasonable prices as well as customized training programs and compliance tools. We help facilities to develop Policy and Procedure manuals, Comprehensive Emergency Management Plans, Emergency Environmental Control Plans, Operational Best Practices, Plans of Correction, and general consulting services.
If I take the Assisted Living Core training and pass the state competency exam, can I get a job as an ALF administrator or executive director?
Assisted Living facilities come in many shapes and sizes. In addition to the ALF Core training, employers will likely be looking for credentials or experience which are specific to their organization's needs and specifications. Working in assisted living and senior living can be a great career and there are many opportunities for leadership and positively impacting the lives of residents, their families and staff. ICE Bridge does not offer job search services.
Where do I take my continuing education for my ALF administrator certification?
We offer a variety of continuing education programs from time to time. Sign up to receive information about new offerings. For information on the 12-hour ALF Core Refresher course, click here.
Do you provide training for Adult Family Care Homes (AFCH)?
No, we do not provide the initial training for Adult Family Care Homes. Some of the continuing education programs and topical programs offered either in-person or online may be beneficial to AFCH providers. Information about opening and operating an Adult Family Care Home can be found on AHCA's website.
What is the difference between an assisted living facility and a group home?
We get this question a lot. We have no idea what is meant by a "group home" and have found from answering many calls for many years that most often, neither does the person asking the question. Refer to Florida Statute 429.04 for information on the types of facilities to be licensed and other licensure categories. Visit the administrative agency responsible for licensing for more information on the licensing requirements of the type of facility or home you wish to license.
ICE Bridge specializes in providing required training and continuing education for professionals providing services for older adults.
We are registered with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to provide Assisted Living Facility Core training and with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) to provide Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders training. Training is provided by Monica Wilson.
The ALF Core training is a mandatory course required for ALF Administrators and Managers. Many assisted living facilities find it helpful to send additional team members through the Core training. Learn more
We create and provide any type of training you need to help you achieve your organizational goals.
We specialize in developing culturally sensitive training for organizations providing services for older adults including assisted living, senior living, adult day care, and not-for-profit organizations. Learn more
Quick, convenient and cost effective, continuing education, ALF Core Updates and custom courses are available online. Need a specific training? Ask us. Learn more
We offer a variety of consulting services for assisted living facilities and other senior living providers. Give us a call and let's talk about how we can help. Learn more
We Provide ALF Core Training Both Online and in the Classroom.
What is ALF Core Training?
In Florida, assisted living administrators and managers* are required to be certified. Certification includes
- completing a minimum of 26-hours of core training provided by an approved ALF Core training provider and
- successfully passing the state Assisted Living Facility Core Competency exam.
To maintain certification, twelve (12) hours of continuing education in topics related to assisted living must be completed at least every two years.
All assisted living facilities are required to operate under the supervision of a certified assisted living administrator.
Our ALF Core Training programs meet the mandatory training required for all ALF Administrators and managers* and Extended Congregate Care Supervisors as required in Florida Statute 429.52 and Florida Administrative Code 59A-36.011. *Refer to Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 59A-36, for information regarding “managers” who are required to complete the ALF Core training.
Our ALF Core Training courses are designed to prepare assisted living administrators and individuals interested in learning more about the daily operations of a community to meet resident care standards, facility standards and achieve licensure requirements.
ALF Core Training is provided by Monica Wilson. Meet Monica.
Many assisted living communities and companies find it helpful to send additional team members and department managers through the training.
Classroom Training
Our classroom (in-person) training is provided over four days and is scheduled from 9am - 5pm each day.
For in-person training dates, registration and additional information, click here.
We also provide classroom training at your location by contract with entities that want to train 10 people or more. Contact us to schedule training dates.
Online ALF Core Training
Our very popular and unique online ALF Core Training course allows trainees to complete the core training education required in Florida Statute 429.52 and Florida Administrative Code 59A-36.011 at their convenience. Provided in partnership with Florida Senior Living Association, our ALF Online Core training is convenient and cost-effective.
For all the details about our ALF Online Core Training Course click here.
ALF Core Competency Exam
The competency exam is administered separately by the MacDonald Research Institute. Please visit http://alfmacdonald-research.com/ for the ALF Administrator competency exam schedule, testing policies and details on how to register and pay for the exam. The exam fee is $200.
Questions? Please call 561-536-3670 for more information.
We look forward to seeing you in one of our ALF Core Training classes soon!