Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Avi Schnall (D-30) to make it easier and fairer to become a licensed nursing home administrator in New Jersey has cleared a key hurdle, advancing Thursday out of the Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee, which is chaired by Schnall.

Nursing homes are required by law to have a licensed administrator, which is essentially a trained professional who runs the day-to-day operations of the facility. Assembly Bill 4762, updates the rules governing how those administrators get licensed, a process that has not been significantly modernized in decades.

The bill makes several practical changes. It requires the state licensing board to create an online application portal so that applicants can see exactly where their application stands at any given time, rather than waiting and wondering. It also formally establishes a structured training program for people working toward their license, requiring them to complete 1,750 hours of hands-on experience across areas like nursing management, dietary management, and business administration. Additionally, it allows applicants to retroactively count the hours of training accrued while awaiting approval for their application toward their required licensure hours.

The bill also sets clear rules for the experienced administrators who supervise those trainees, and gives applicants three chances to pass the required licensing exam before any additional hurdles can be imposed.

“Nursing home administrators play a critical role in the lives of our most vulnerable residents,” said Assemblyman Schnall. “This legislation modernizes an outdated system, makes sure that people entering the field are properly trained, and brings long-overdue transparency to the application process.”

The legislation now heads to the full Assembly for a vote.