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Maryland Assisted Living Administrator — Requirements & Free Practice

US-MD · License preparation

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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Assisted Living Manager License

Individual ALM license required beginning July 1, 2026; includes Level 3 approval identification and inactive status retaining the original license identity.

Licensing authority: Maryland State Board of Long-Term Care Administrators · Application information

Initial licensure — Applicant I
80-Hour Assisted Living Manager Basic Training Course Examination
Applicant category
Practiced as an ALM in a licensed Maryland assisted living program before July 1, 2026.
Application
Completed Board online application, application fee, and passport-type photograph taken within three months before application; initial license fee on approval.
Application expiration
An incomplete application can be held for one year and then closed; reapplication requires a new fee and compliance with current requirements.
Character
Good moral character.
Course completion
Complete the Department-approved 80-hour course and pass its examination unless an applicable exemption applies.
Cpr
Basic CPR certification including a hands-on component from an instructor certified by a nationally recognized organization.
Criminal history
State and national criminal history records check under Health Occupations 9-302.1 must be received by the Board; the Board application page requires completion before attestation and does not accept another agency report or a waiver based on another Maryland health occupation license.
Education
High school diploma, high school equivalency diploma, or other appropriate education specified in COMAR 10.07.14.15.
Enrolled exemption
An employed applicant enrolled in the course may be licensed before completion if completion is expected within six months of enrollment; complete and pass within that period and submit satisfactory completion evidence within 15 days after notification of successful completion.
First aid
Basic first aid certification from a nationally certified instructor; Maryland LPNs and RNs are exempt from first aid attestation.
Level 3
For a Level 3 program: a four-year college degree, or two years of health-care experience and one year as an ALM or alternate ALM, or two years of health-care experience plus successful completion of the Department-approved 80-hour course. Level 3 approval is identified on license verification.
Minimum age
At least 21 years old.
Nha exemption
An individual licensed as a nursing home administrator in Maryland is exempt from the course; Health-General 19-1807(d)(2) permits the Department to require the course and examination after repeated assisted-living violations causing actual physical or emotional harm.
Pre 2006 exemption
Employment as an ALM in Maryland for one year before January 1, 2006 exempts the course, subject to the Department discretion in Health-General 19-1807(d)(2).
Proof
Applicant I attests to the qualifications on the application.
Regulatory discretion
COMAR 10.07.14.16F describes repeated violations causing or potentially causing harm for exempt individuals; Health-General 19-1807(d)(2) is controlling and specifies the pre-2006 and Maryland NHA exemptions and actual harm.
Safety training
Training in fire and life safety, infection control including standard precautions, emergency disaster plans, and basic food safety.
Statutory deeming
Health Occupations 9-3A-02(b) deems individuals employed in Maryland as ALMs at programs licensed for five or more beds as of June 30, 2024 to have satisfied section 9-3A-02. This higher-ranked statutory condition controls over any unqualified course demand in COMAR 10.33.03.02.
Initial licensure — Applicant II
80-Hour Assisted Living Manager Basic Training Course Examination
Applicant category
Had not practiced as an ALM in a licensed Maryland assisted living program before July 1, 2026.
Application
Completed Board online application, application fee, and passport-type photograph taken within three months before application; initial license fee on approval.
Application expiration
An incomplete application can be held for one year and then closed; reapplication requires a new fee and compliance with current requirements.
Character
Good moral character.
Course completion
Complete the Department-approved 80-hour course and pass its examination unless an applicable exemption applies.
Cpr
Basic CPR certification including a hands-on component from an instructor certified by a nationally recognized organization.
Criminal history
State and national criminal history records check under Health Occupations 9-302.1 must be received by the Board; the Board application page requires completion before attestation and does not accept another agency report or a waiver based on another Maryland health occupation license.
Education
High school diploma, high school equivalency diploma, or other appropriate education specified in COMAR 10.07.14.15.
Enrolled exemption
An employed applicant enrolled in the course may be licensed before completion if completion is expected within six months of enrollment; complete and pass within that period and submit satisfactory completion evidence within 15 days after notification of successful completion.
First aid
Basic first aid certification from a nationally certified instructor; Maryland LPNs and RNs are exempt from first aid attestation.
Level 3
For a Level 3 program: a four-year college degree, or two years of health-care experience and one year as an ALM or alternate ALM, or two years of health-care experience plus successful completion of the Department-approved 80-hour course. Level 3 approval is identified on license verification.
Minimum age
At least 21 years old.
Nha exemption
An individual licensed as a nursing home administrator in Maryland is exempt from the course; Health-General 19-1807(d)(2) permits the Department to require the course and examination after repeated assisted-living violations causing actual physical or emotional harm.
Proof
Applicant II provides satisfactory evidence of education and course completion; official transcripts may be required.
Regulatory discretion
COMAR 10.07.14.16F describes repeated violations causing or potentially causing harm for exempt individuals; Health-General 19-1807(d)(2) is controlling and specifies the pre-2006 and Maryland NHA exemptions and actual harm.
Safety training
Training in fire and life safety, infection control including standard precautions, emergency disaster plans, and basic food safety.
Reinstatement following revocation or accepted surrender
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board discretion
Board may grant, deny, or grant with terms, probation, conditions and restrictions; comply with reasonable information requests. Individual order terms are applicant conditions; the general statutory and regulatory restoration provisions name no examination.
Continuing education
Meet license-renewal CE requirements as if licensed during the revocation or surrender period.
Petition
Petition subject to the revocation order or Board-accepted surrender terms; permanent prohibition or additional conditions may apply.
Waiting period
When the order or surrender states no period, COMAR 10.33.07.13D permits petition after three years from revocation.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Renewal of inactive license status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Status
Existing inactive license; no authorization to practice.
Term
Renew inactive status and pay the inactive fee biennially.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Transfer active license to inactive status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Board inactive-status application and nonrefundable inactive-status fee.
Eligibility
Already licensed by the Board; active license when applying; retains original license number.
Practice
May not practice assisted living management in Maryland while inactive.
Term
Two-year inactive term.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Reactivation after at least five years inactive
80-Hour Assisted Living Manager Basic Training Course Examination
Application
New application and all appropriate fees.
Course
COMAR 10.33.03.07C(2) implements this route with a Department-approved assisted living manager training course; that course includes the course examination under COMAR 10.07.14.16B(1).
Criminal history
State and national criminal history records check.
Eligibility
Inactive for five years or more.
Expired inactive term
If inactive status expires before reactivation, meet the reinstatement requirements of 9-3A-09.
Refresher
Health Occupations 9-3A-10(e) requires a Board-approved manager refresher program and passing an examination approved by the Board; it does not name an additional identifiable examination.
Reactivation from inactive status under five years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Renewal application and fee before expiration; otherwise entitled to licensure.
Continuing education
20 hours of Department-approved CE during the two-year period preceding renewal, with satisfactory evidence.
Criminal history
Health Occupations 9-3A-08(e) requires criminal history information; unless otherwise required, a renewal applicant who completed the Board application check need not undergo a subsequent check.
Eligibility
Inactive for less than five years; apply before expiration of the current two-year inactive term; no Maryland ALM practice while inactive.
Fees
All appropriate reactivation fees.
Implicit bias
First renewal after April 1, 2026 requires approved implicit bias and structural racism training under Health-General 20-1306.
Term
Two years.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

New licensure after expiration beyond five years
80-Hour Assisted Living Manager Basic Training Course Examination
Application
Completed Board online application, application fee, and passport-type photograph taken within three months before application; initial license fee on approval.
Application expiration
An incomplete application can be held for one year and then closed; reapplication requires a new fee and compliance with current requirements.
Category
Apply the Applicant I or Applicant II qualifications according to practice before July 1, 2026; statutory deeming and applicable course exemptions remain applicant conditions.
Character
Good moral character.
Course completion
Complete the Department-approved 80-hour course and pass its examination unless an applicable exemption applies.
Cpr
Basic CPR certification including a hands-on component from an instructor certified by a nationally recognized organization.
Criminal history
State and national criminal history records check under Health Occupations 9-302.1 must be received by the Board; the Board application page requires completion before attestation and does not accept another agency report or a waiver based on another Maryland health occupation license.
Education
High school diploma, high school equivalency diploma, or other appropriate education specified in COMAR 10.07.14.15.
Eligibility
Failed to apply for reinstatement within five years after expiration; must satisfy the requirements for a new license in effect at the request.
Enrolled exemption
An employed applicant enrolled in the course may be licensed before completion if completion is expected within six months of enrollment; complete and pass within that period and submit satisfactory completion evidence within 15 days after notification of successful completion.
First aid
Basic first aid certification from a nationally certified instructor; Maryland LPNs and RNs are exempt from first aid attestation.
Level 3
For a Level 3 program: a four-year college degree, or two years of health-care experience and one year as an ALM or alternate ALM, or two years of health-care experience plus successful completion of the Department-approved 80-hour course. Level 3 approval is identified on license verification.
Minimum age
At least 21 years old.
Nha exemption
An individual licensed as a nursing home administrator in Maryland is exempt from the course; Health-General 19-1807(d)(2) permits the Department to require the course and examination after repeated assisted-living violations causing actual physical or emotional harm.
Regulatory discretion
COMAR 10.07.14.16F describes repeated violations causing or potentially causing harm for exempt individuals; Health-General 19-1807(d)(2) is controlling and specifies the pre-2006 and Maryland NHA exemptions and actual harm.
Safety training
Training in fire and life safety, infection control including standard precautions, emergency disaster plans, and basic food safety.
Reinstatement after expiration within five years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Renewal application and fee before expiration; otherwise entitled to licensure.
Continuing education
20 hours of Department-approved CE during the two-year period preceding renewal, with satisfactory evidence.
Criminal history
A former licensee who failed to renew for one year or more must undergo a State and national criminal history records check under 9-3A-08(e).
Eligibility
License not suspended or revoked; apply within five years after expiration.
Fees
Reinstatement fee plus satisfaction of renewal requirements.
Implicit bias
First renewal after April 1, 2026 requires approved implicit bias and structural racism training under Health-General 20-1306.
Term
Two years.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

Renewal of active license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Renewal application and fee before expiration; otherwise entitled to licensure.
Continuing education
20 hours of Department-approved CE during the two-year period preceding renewal, with satisfactory evidence.
Criminal history
Health Occupations 9-3A-08(e) requires criminal history information; unless otherwise required, a renewal applicant who completed the Board application check need not undergo a subsequent check.
Implicit bias
First renewal after April 1, 2026 requires approved implicit bias and structural racism training under Health-General 20-1306.
Term
Two years.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-07-01.

80-Hour Assisted Living Manager Basic Training Course Examination

Provider
Department-approved ALM training course vendors
Format
Vendor-administered examination at the conclusion of the 80-hour course
Practice scope

The authority has not published an examination outline; the practice questions follow the scope of the existing question bank.

  • Philosophy of Assisted Living
    • Philosophy of Assisted Living
  • Aging Process and Its Impact
    • Aging Process and Its Impact
  • Assessment and Level of Care Waiver
    • Assessment and Level of Care Waiver
  • Service Planning
    • Service Planning
  • Clinical Management
    • Clinical Management
  • Admission and Discharge Criteria
    • Admission and Discharge Criteria
  • Nutrition and Food Safety
    • Nutrition and Food Safety
  • Dementia, Mental Health, and Behavior Management
    • Dementia, Mental Health, and Behavior Management
  • End of Life Care
    • End of Life Care
  • Management and Operation
    • Management and Operation
  • Emergency Planning
    • Emergency Planning
  • Quality Assurance
    • Quality Assurance
  • Survey Process
    • Survey Process
Examination sources