Long-Term Care Program Accreditation

Concordia’s Long-Term Care Program earned a new accreditation that gives students added benefits while becoming care facility administrators.

A new accreditation designation for Concordia’s Long-Term Care Program will ease the licensure process for graduates entering long-term care careers. Concordia’s new Health Services Executive accreditation includes Nursing Home Administration, an accreditation Concordia has held for more than a decade, Residential Care/Assisted Living, and Home and Community Based Services. Concordia is only the ninth institution to receive the HSE designation. Dr. Dan Anderson, Concordia’s director of Long-Term Care Administration and Healthcare Financial Management, says there is great value for students getting degrees from our specially accredited programs.

“Our accrediting group is the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) and it accredits the academic programs in these areas,” Anderson says. “NAB is also writing the national licensing exam, which means if your program meets its standards it also ensures the coursework is teaching what will be on the exam.”

An additional benefit of the HSE accreditation is during the licensing process. While each state has its own rules for what courses, exams, and internships must be completed for licensing, many states will waive additional coursework if you graduated from an accredited long-term care program. Because of new licensing changes on the horizon for Residential Care/Assisted Living Facilities, being HSE accredited puts Concordia students ahead in the process for that type of licensing.

“Some states, including Minnesota, do not require a separate license for administrators at Residential Care/Assisted Living facilities. In Minnesota, that’s changing in 2021, and administrators will need to have that RC/AL licensure. Our students will be covered through this new accreditation,” Anderson says. 

And it’s not just a piece of paper. 

“We have worked for the last three years to be sure our courses and internships have the appropriate exposure to Residential Care/Assisted Living and Home and Community Based Services,” Anderson says. 

As we look as the success of the long-term care program, the proof is in the placement. This year alone, more than 50 percent of the facilities where our long-term care students have internships have Cobbers as CEOs. Anderson is ready to mentor this next generation with the best foundation the school can offer.