NEW JERSEY CERTIFIED ASSISTED LIVING ADMINISTRATOR
(CALA) EXAM STUDY GUIDE: 200 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
WITH MULTIPLE-CHOICE ANSWERS, DETAILED RATIONALES,
AND FULL COVERAGE OF N.J.A.C. 8:36 REGULATIONS,
RESIDENT RIGHTS, AND FACILITY OPERATIONS.
1. Under N.J.A.C. 8:36, what is the minimum square footage required
for a single-occupancy resident room in an assisted living residence?
A. 100 square feet
B. 120 square feet
C. 150 square feet
D. 200 square feet
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: N.J.A.C. 8:36-9.2(a)1 requires single-occupancy resident
rooms to provide a minimum of 150 square feet of floor space,
excluding closets and private bathroom areas.
2. A resident who requires intermittent nursing services but does not
require 24-hour skilled nursing care should be:
A. Transferred to a nursing home immediately
B. Allowed to remain in assisted living with appropriate services and
documentation
C. Discharged to a hospital
D. Automatically enrolled in the Assisted Living Program
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: N.J.A.C. 8:36-4.1(b) supports aging in place; residents may
,receive intermittent nursing services as long as the facility can meet
their needs safely and document the care plan.
3. Which document must be provided to a resident upon admission that
outlines the facility's policies on room changes and discharge criteria?
A. The resident's bill of rights
B. The admission agreement
C. The fire safety plan
D. The staffing schedule
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: N.J.A.C. 8:36-4.2(c) requires the admission agreement to
disclose policies regarding room changes, including circumstances and
notice requirements.
4. How many hours of dementia-specific training are required initially
for direct care staff working in an Alzheimer's special care unit?
A. 4 hours
B. 8 hours
C. 16 hours
D. 24 hours
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: N.J.A.C. 8:36-5.2(h) requires 8 hours of initial dementia-
specific training for special care unit staff and 4 hours of annual
continuing education.
5. What is the minimum age requirement to be certified as an Assisted
Living Administrator in New Jersey?
A. 18 years old
B. 20 years old
C. 21 years old
,D. 25 years old
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: N.J.A.C. 8:36-3.2 requires administrators to be at least 21
years of age.
6. How many hours of continuing education must an assisted living
administrator complete annually?
A. 5 hours
B. 10 hours
C. 15 hours
D. 20 hours
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The administrator shall annually participate in at least 10
hours of continuing education regarding assisted living concepts and
related topics as specified and approved by the DOH or Nursing Home
Administrators Licensing Board.
7. Which of the following is considered a reportable event that must be
reported to the Department of Health?
A. A resident refusing to take medication
B. A resident falling with injury requiring medical treatment
C. A staff member calling out sick
D. A resident requesting a room change
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reportable events include incidents such as falls with injury,
medication errors, and abuse allegations. These must be reported
immediately and in writing within 72 hours.
8. How long does a facility have to submit a written plan of correction
after a reportable event?
, A. 3 business days
B. 5 business days
C. 10 business days
D. 30 business days
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A plan of corrections must be submitted within 10 business
days following a reportable event.
9. What is the minimum amount of notice required for an involuntary
discharge of a resident?
A. 15 days
B. 30 days
C. 45 days
D. 60 days
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The facility must provide at least 30 days written notice for
involuntary discharge, including the reason and right to appeal, except
in emergencies.
10. Which of the following best describes "aging in place" in the context
of assisted living?
A. Requiring residents to move to a nursing home as soon as their needs
increase
B. Allowing individuals to remain in their living environment despite
physical or cognitive decline
C. Discharging residents who require any additional services
D. Restricting residents to their rooms as they age
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aging in place is a process that allows individuals to remain
(CALA) EXAM STUDY GUIDE: 200 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
WITH MULTIPLE-CHOICE ANSWERS, DETAILED RATIONALES,
AND FULL COVERAGE OF N.J.A.C. 8:36 REGULATIONS,
RESIDENT RIGHTS, AND FACILITY OPERATIONS.
1. Under N.J.A.C. 8:36, what is the minimum square footage required
for a single-occupancy resident room in an assisted living residence?
A. 100 square feet
B. 120 square feet
C. 150 square feet
D. 200 square feet
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: N.J.A.C. 8:36-9.2(a)1 requires single-occupancy resident
rooms to provide a minimum of 150 square feet of floor space,
excluding closets and private bathroom areas.
2. A resident who requires intermittent nursing services but does not
require 24-hour skilled nursing care should be:
A. Transferred to a nursing home immediately
B. Allowed to remain in assisted living with appropriate services and
documentation
C. Discharged to a hospital
D. Automatically enrolled in the Assisted Living Program
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: N.J.A.C. 8:36-4.1(b) supports aging in place; residents may
,receive intermittent nursing services as long as the facility can meet
their needs safely and document the care plan.
3. Which document must be provided to a resident upon admission that
outlines the facility's policies on room changes and discharge criteria?
A. The resident's bill of rights
B. The admission agreement
C. The fire safety plan
D. The staffing schedule
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: N.J.A.C. 8:36-4.2(c) requires the admission agreement to
disclose policies regarding room changes, including circumstances and
notice requirements.
4. How many hours of dementia-specific training are required initially
for direct care staff working in an Alzheimer's special care unit?
A. 4 hours
B. 8 hours
C. 16 hours
D. 24 hours
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: N.J.A.C. 8:36-5.2(h) requires 8 hours of initial dementia-
specific training for special care unit staff and 4 hours of annual
continuing education.
5. What is the minimum age requirement to be certified as an Assisted
Living Administrator in New Jersey?
A. 18 years old
B. 20 years old
C. 21 years old
,D. 25 years old
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: N.J.A.C. 8:36-3.2 requires administrators to be at least 21
years of age.
6. How many hours of continuing education must an assisted living
administrator complete annually?
A. 5 hours
B. 10 hours
C. 15 hours
D. 20 hours
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The administrator shall annually participate in at least 10
hours of continuing education regarding assisted living concepts and
related topics as specified and approved by the DOH or Nursing Home
Administrators Licensing Board.
7. Which of the following is considered a reportable event that must be
reported to the Department of Health?
A. A resident refusing to take medication
B. A resident falling with injury requiring medical treatment
C. A staff member calling out sick
D. A resident requesting a room change
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reportable events include incidents such as falls with injury,
medication errors, and abuse allegations. These must be reported
immediately and in writing within 72 hours.
8. How long does a facility have to submit a written plan of correction
after a reportable event?
, A. 3 business days
B. 5 business days
C. 10 business days
D. 30 business days
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A plan of corrections must be submitted within 10 business
days following a reportable event.
9. What is the minimum amount of notice required for an involuntary
discharge of a resident?
A. 15 days
B. 30 days
C. 45 days
D. 60 days
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The facility must provide at least 30 days written notice for
involuntary discharge, including the reason and right to appeal, except
in emergencies.
10. Which of the following best describes "aging in place" in the context
of assisted living?
A. Requiring residents to move to a nursing home as soon as their needs
increase
B. Allowing individuals to remain in their living environment despite
physical or cognitive decline
C. Discharging residents who require any additional services
D. Restricting residents to their rooms as they age
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aging in place is a process that allows individuals to remain
