Earn Your Bachelor of Science in Long-Term Care Administration Online

Position yourself for career progress in one of the health care industry’s most in-demand fields. By pursuing your Bachelor’s degree in Long-Term Care Administration (LTCA) online, you can prepare for leadership roles in a variety of health care settings that support patients with ongoing medical and daily living needs.

Request more information today to learn more about our online Long-Term Care Administration degree program at Saint Joseph’s College and how you can take the lead in this growing field.

Enjoy flexibility in the only NAB-accredited Long-Term Care program that is fully online

Whether you aspire to become a licensed nursing home administrator (LNHA), assisted living administrator, or are seeking another role in health care administration, this program can help you get there. We offer one of the few Long-Term Care degree programs accredited by the National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long-Term Care Administrators (NAB), and the only program of this kind available online.

• Study online around your work schedule: Do coursework on your time, while following the structure of weekly deadlines to keep you on track.
• Immediately apply what you learn in the workplace: Courses blend with prior and/or current professional experience, so you can begin relevant education immediately.
• Experience career progress and a sense of purpose in your field: You’ll develop foundational health care administration knowledge while focusing your expertise on the dignified, compassionate, quality care specific to long-term care settings.
• Learn from faculty who actively work in the field: Professors use practical experience and insights in long-term care administration to enhance course curriculum.
• Pursue tuition discounts or reimbursement: Our educational partnerships with health care organizations help many students save 15% on tuition or take advantage of tuition reimbursement programs at work. Check with your employer to see what is available.
• Transfer up to 90 credits toward your degree: Students who have completed some college-level courses at another institution may be able to apply those credits to this program. Talk to an admissions counselor today to see what applies for you.

This program is accepted by most state nursing home administrator licensing boards. Check your state’s licensing board requirements on NAB’s website.

Curriculum

What to expect in the Long-Term Care Administration Bachelor’s program

The online Long-Term Care Administration curriculum can serve as a pathway to meeting state licensure requirements or, for those already licensed, as a refresher on state regulations and a way to meet continuing education needs.

General Education – 42 credits

General education courses provide a liberal arts academic foundation while helping students reflect on the moral and ethical dimension of their area of study. Courses include topics in history, nature and society; oral and written communication; and art, creativity and self-knowledge.

Long-Term Care Administration Core – 24 credits

Major core courses include general health administration topics in human resources, management and leadership, financial management, ethics, health care quality, long-term care laws and regulations and understanding aging in America.

Specialization Tracks – 6 credits

Students can follow a specialization track focused in topics for the Nursing Home Administration specialization or the Assisted Living Administration specialization.

Electives – 48 credits

Students must complete at least 12 credits of electives with major-related courses. Example topics include informatics, emergency preparedness, strategic planning, long-term care policy, spirituality, and senior health care. The remaining 36 elective credits are general electives and can be made up of any subject.

Fast-track and certificate programs

Do you eventually want to earn your Master’s degree in Health Administration? With the fast-track to Master of Health Administration (MHA) program, you can substitute courses from the MHA program in lieu of comparable undergraduate courses and complete your BS of Long-Term Care Administration and MHA in one streamlined progression.

Looking for a stepping stone to long-term care administration? We offer a Long-Term Care Administration Certificate program that can help you bolster your career quickly. This 15-credit program provides an introduction to long-term care and can be used as a stepping stone to earning your bachelor’s degree at a later time.

Ready to make the next move in your career? Apply now.

Administrator-in-Training (AIT) Program

Kathy Bean, RN, '20 LTC

“The administrator-in-training (AIT) program is an opportunity to fully immerse oneself in the management of a Long-Term Care Facility. The program is scripted with required rotations through the various departments in a facility. It also recommends training at other facilities to become familiar with other levels of care in which long term care facilities interface. The six-month training is very comprehensive and was exciting to plan. The Coronavirus pandemic completely altered the plan from within the facility and with the ability to go to other facilities. The AIT training was even more exciting during the Coronavirus pandemic, which was a state, national and worldwide pandemic. So much planning, testing and preparation required frequent adjustments and changes in every department. This training allowed the trainee multiple new opportunities to work with state agencies on emergency preparedness, national organizations on policy and procedures as well as a system level with planning. The experience of working in Long-Term Care in an unprecedented time was amazing and continues beyond the internship!”

Administrator-in-Training Resources

Vision Centre - Here you'll find internship opportunities and more.

Career moves

For long-term care administrators

As the population of the baby boomer generation ages, long-term care services will become increasingly important. Employment for medical and health services managers, which includes long-term care administrators, is expected to increase at the much-faster-than-average rate of 20% through 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Graduates of this program are prepared to step into a number of impactful, in-demand, long-term care administration jobs. They will also have developed the skills needed to make a positive impact on the quality of services that patients and residents receive in long-term care facilities.

Other Health Care Job Opportunities

Long Term Care Jobs
Radiology Jobs
Pathway to Nursing Home Administration License

Faqs

Frequently asked questions about long-term care administration

What does a long-term care administrator do?

Long-term care administrators may take on various titles, such as licensed nursing home administrators (LNHAs), assisted living administrators, directors of nursing – long-term care, or clinical directors – long-term care. These positions have similar responsibilities as general health care administrators, with an added focus on issues specific to nursing homes, assisted living centers, home-based care organizations and other long-term care facilities.

Administrators may be responsible for financial management, budgeting, upholding quality standards across a department or organization, ensuring regulatory compliance, hiring and training personnel, collaborating with social workers, health care facilities management, and more.

What are the long-term care licensure requirements in my state?

Long-term care administrator and nursing home administrator licensure requirements vary across states. Take a look at state-by-state licensure requirements.

If you need additional clarification, feel free to contact our online admissions office. We are happy to help.

How long does it take to complete this BS in Long-Term Care Administration program?

The timeline to complete this degree can be accelerated depending on the number of credits transferred in. The timeline will also vary based on the number of 'breaks' a student takes, as well as the student's course load per term. Many students enrolled in this program are working full-time and choose to spread out their courses to accommodate their work schedules.

To get a personalized estimate of how long it would take you to finish your degree, please call 1-800-752-4723 and speak with an online admissions counselor.

Does licensure require an internship?

For students interested in pursuing a career as a long-term care administrator, there are specific issues and requirements to consider in order to take courses in the Long-term Care program.  Click here to learn more.

Prepare to make a difference through health care administration

At Saint Joseph’s College, we appreciate and value the positive impact health care professionals have on individuals and communities across the country and the world. That is why we develop educational programs that help them grow their careers and do their best work with an emphasis on compassion and ethics in the field.

If you want to see how career progress and professional purpose go hand-in-hand, request more information today. Or, apply now (no application fee required) if you are ready to get started.

Related programs

• Bachelor of Science Health Administration
• Dual Degree
• Master of Health Administration