Section 1569.23 Of Article 2. Licensing From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 3.2. >> Article 2.
1569.23
. (a) As a requirement for licensure, the applicant shall
demonstrate that he or she has successfully completed a certification
program approved by the department.
(b) The certification program shall consist of both of the
following:
(1) Eighty hours of coursework, at least 60 hours of which shall
be attended in person.
(2) A state-administered examination consisting of no less than
100 questions. The examination shall reflect the uniform core of
knowledge required pursuant to subdivision (c).
(c) The certification program shall include a uniform core of
knowledge which shall include all of the following:
(1) Law, including regulations, policies, and procedural standards
that impact the operations of residential care facilities for the
elderly.
(2) Business operations.
(3) Management and supervision of staff.
(4) Psychosocial need of the elderly residents.
(5) Physical needs for elderly residents.
(6) Community and support services.
(7) Medication management, including use, misuse, and interaction
of drugs commonly used by the elderly, including antipsychotics, and
the adverse effects of psychotropic drugs for use in controlling the
behavior of persons with dementia.
(8) Resident admission, retention, and assessment procedures.
(9) Managing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, including
nonpharmacologic, person-centered approaches to dementia care.
(10) Managing the physical environment, including maintenance and
housekeeping.
(11) Residents' rights, and the importance of initial and ongoing
training for all staff to ensure residents' rights are fully
respected and implemented.
(12) Cultural competency and sensitivity in issues relating to the
underserved, aging, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
community.
(13) Postural supports, restricted health conditions, and hospice
care.
(d) Successful completion of the certification program shall be
demonstrated by passing the state-administered examination and
submitting a fee of one hundred dollars ($100) to the department for
the issuance of a certificate of completion.
(e) (1) The department shall establish by regulation the program
content, the testing instrument, process for approving certification
programs, and criteria to be used for authorizing individuals or
organizations to conduct certification programs. These regulations
shall be developed with the participation of provider organizations.
(2) The department shall ensure that the examination consists of
at least 100 questions and allows an applicant to have access to the
California Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Act and related
regulations during the examination. The department, no later than
July 1 of every other year, shall review and revise the examination
in order to ensure the rigor and quality of the examination. Each
year, the department shall ensure by January 1 that the exam is not
in conflict with current law. The department may convene a
stakeholder group to assist in developing and reviewing test
questions.
(f) This section shall apply to all applications for licensure
unless the applicant provides evidence that he or she has a current
license for another residential care facility for the elderly which
was initially licensed prior to July 1, 1989, or has successfully
completed an approved certification program within the prior five
years.
(g) If the applicant is a firm, partnership, association, or
corporation, the chief executive officer, or other person serving in
a like capacity, or the designated administrator of the facility,
shall provide evidence of successfully completing an approved
certification program.
(h) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.