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Annabelle Howat, LNHA, HSE, FACHCA, Executive Director at American House Naples and a graduate of the NAB-accredited University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire program
“Think about all those possibilities and how long your professional career is to be able to step into different positions at different points.”
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Jennifer M. Yañez Pryor, MA, MS, LALFA, Graduate Program Director at Virginia Commonwealth University and Chair of the NAB Education Committee
“We’re taking their education as seriously as they are and their career preparation.”
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Tom Syverson, MS, HSE, Chair of the NAB HSE Credentialing Commission
“The education pathway–is for students and graduates of NAB Accredited programs. It allows a one-time, 100% fee reduction to take the RCAL and HCBS exams for up to five years.”
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Here are some of the key takeaways from the discussion.
What does NAB Academic Accreditation mean for students?
NAB accredits academic programs that prepare students for careers in long-term care administration. As part of the accreditation process, programs demonstrate how their curricula align with NAB’s Domains of Practice.
For students comparing academic programs, accreditation provides information about how a program connects its curriculum to the knowledge and competencies identified by NAB for the profession.
During the panel, Jennifer Yañez Pryor shared how that alignment works at Virginia Commonwealth University, where the program incorporates NAB’s Domains of Practice into its curriculum and prepares students for NAB exams as they complete their coursework and residency.
Long-term care administration can lead to different career paths
A career in long-term care administration does not necessarily mean working in one type of setting.
Jennifer shared that graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University’s program have pursued work in settings including assisted living, continuing care retirement communities, home and community-based services, advocacy, and state and county offices.
Annabelle Howat entered college planning to pursue nursing. After working as a CNA, taking business courses and learning more about long-term care administration, she found an opportunity to combine her interests in business and caring for others.
Her career has since included experience in nursing home administration, assisted living and memory care.
How can the HSE support career and licensure pathways?
The Health Services Executive (HSE) is a broad-based qualification covering nursing home administration, residential care/assisted living, and home and community-based services.
The HSE is accepted by participating state licensing boards. Individual states retain authority over their own licensure requirements, so earning the HSE does not constitute a state license.
For Annabelle, pursuing the HSE provided an opportunity to prepare for a career that could take her to different settings and states. She attended college in Wisconsin and completed her Administrator-in-Training experience in Oregon. Preparing for the HSE also expanded her exposure beyond nursing home administration to assisted living, memory care, and home and community-based services, building a broader foundation that can open doors to more career opportunities across long-term care.
A new opportunity for students and graduates
NAB has approved a new initiative for students and graduates of NAB-accredited programs pursuing the HSE Education Pathway.
Eligible students and graduates can receive a one-time 100% fee reduction for the RCAL and HCBS examinations for up to five years.
During the panel, Howat encouraged students interested in the HSE to consider pursuing it while their academic preparation is still recent. In her experience, doing so allowed her to build on material she had already studied.
How can accreditation strengthen an academic program?
NAB Academic Accreditation provides programs with a framework for aligning their curricula with NAB’s Domains of Practice.
Jennifer also shared her experience pursuing accreditation at Virginia Commonwealth University. She described working with NAB staff, the Education Committee and directors of other accredited programs throughout the process.
She said the review helped the program identify areas it was doing well and provided recommendations for continued improvement. Her advice to programs considering accreditation was to start the conversation with NAB rather than waiting until they believe they have every requirement figured out.
Explore your next step
Students and professionals: Explore the HSE → NAB
Students exploring academic programs: View NAB HSE Accredited Programs → NAB
Colleges and universities: Learn about NAB Academic Accreditation → NAB
State licensing boards: View States that Accept the HSE →
Questions about the HSE or Academic Accreditation can be sent to HSE@NABWeb.org.
Watch Maximizing Student Opportunities Through NAB HSE Accreditation for the complete conversation with NAB, Vision Centre, academic and early-career perspectives.