Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-1-1949.3

A. The State Department of Health shall have authority to issue

licenses or certifications to qualified persons as long-term care

administrators in accordance with qualification criteria established

by the State Commissioner of Health.

B. No license or certification shall be issued to a person as a

long-term care administrator unless:

1. The person shall have submitted evidence satisfactory to the

Department that the person is:

a. not less than twenty-one (21) years of age, and

b. of reputable and responsible character; and

2. The person shall have submitted evidence satisfactory to the

Department of the person’s ability to be licensed or certified to

serve as a Tier 1 long-term care administrator or Tier 2 long-term

care administrator.

C. The Commissioner shall have the authority to determine the

qualifications, skill, and fitness of any person to serve as a long-

term care administrator under the applicable provisions of the

Nursing Home Care Act, the Continuum of Care and Assisted Living

Act, the Residential Care Act, and the Adult Day Care Act. The

Commissioner shall promulgate rules to determine the qualifications

for licensure or certification as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 long-term care

administrator. Such rules may, at the discretion of the

Commissioner, include a requirement for licensure instead of

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety Page 748

certification for either or both of the tiers of long-term care

administrators.

D. 1. All persons licensed or certified or lawfully serving as

an administrator in their defined facility type shall be permitted

to continue to serve in their current capacity under their current

terms of authorization. The Commissioner may promulgate rules to

address future certification and licensure requirements for both

tiers of long-term care administrators without effect on the

licensure or certification status of those currently certified or

licensed. Until such rules are promulgated, current licensure and

certification processes and standards shall remain in place.

2. To be eligible for licensure or certification as either a

Tier 1 or Tier 2 long-term care administrator, the applicant shall

have successfully completed a training and education program

approved by the Commissioner.

3. The Commissioner shall not include a requirement for a four-

year degree in any licensing or certification requirements for Tier

2 long-term care administrators.

4. In addition to the requirement provided by paragraph 2 of

this subsection, to be eligible for licensure or certification as a

Tier 1 long-term care administrator, the applicant shall:

a. hold a baccalaureate degree from an institution of

higher education, or

b. hold an associate degree in a health- or business-

related field or other relevant field as determined by

the Commissioner and have not less than five (5) years

of experience in upper-level management of a long-term

care facility as determined by the Commissioner.

E. Eligible applicants may sit for the state standards

examination at a testing facility using procedures approved by the

National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards

including, but not limited to, the use of electronic or online

methods for examination.

F. The State Department of Health shall either:

1. Approve one or more organizations or agencies to provide

training and education programs for long-term care administrators.

Each such organization or agency shall meet such requirements as may

be prescribed by rules promulgated by the State Commissioner of

Health;

2. Offer a training and education program for long-term care

administrators conducted by the Department; or

3. Both approve one or more organizations to provide training

and education programs for long-term care administrators as

described in paragraph 1 of this subsection and offer a training and

education program for long-term care administrators conducted by the
e Commissioner of

Health;

2. Offer a training and education program for long-term care

administrators conducted by the Department; or

3. Both approve one or more organizations to provide training

and education programs for long-term care administrators as

described in paragraph 1 of this subsection and offer a training and

education program for long-term care administrators conducted by the

Department as described in paragraph 2 of this subsection.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 63. Public Health and Safety Page 749

G. 1. Each person licensed or certified as a long-term care

administrator under the provisions of this act shall pay an annual

license or certification fee which shall be deposited in the Long-

Term Care Administrator Revolving Fund described in Section 7 of

this act. Such fee shall be determined by the Commissioner. Each

such license or certification shall expire on the thirty-first day

of December following its issuance, and shall be renewable for a

calendar year, upon meeting the renewal requirements and upon

payment of the annual licensure or certification fee.

2. In addition to licensure and certification fees, the

Commissioner may impose fees on agencies and organizations that

provide training and education programs.

3. All revenues collected as a result of fees authorized in

this section and imposed by the Commissioner shall be deposited into

the Long-Term Care Administrator Revolving Fund described in Section

7 of this act.

H. The State Commissioner of Health shall promulgate rules to

provide for licensure or certification by endorsement of long-term

care administrators who are licensed or certified in other states

that have requirements for licensure or certification of long-term

care administrators that are substantially equivalent to or greater

than the requirements of this state, as determined by the

Commissioner.

I. It shall be unlawful for any person to act or serve in the

capacity of a long-term care administrator unless the person is the

holder of a license or certificate as a long-term care

administrator, issued in accordance with the provisions of this act.

A person found guilty of a violation of this subsection shall, upon

conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor.