NAB NHA Exam – 2026/2027 UPDATED REVIEW
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
• Life Safety Code (LSC) -✓✓ Entire construction plan and materials meet LSC
standards|||CMS requires unless have waiver or exception. CMS grants waivers
on SNFs; states on NFs
• (NFPA) -✓✓ National Fire Protection Association ||established LSC
• Purpose of LSC -✓✓ to provide reasonable degree of safety from fire.
• Waivers for Life Safety Code -✓✓ If CMS finds a state fire and safety code
adequately protects residents and personnel thenLSC does not apply. OLder
facilities may obtain a waiver if they are and have been in compliance with an
older addition of LSC as specified by CMS.||Before a nursing home may be built it
must present architectural plant to State Medicaid or designated agency that
approves construction. All major renovations, such as additional beds, change in
utilization of space, and so on must receive approval. The state provides
guidelines on what must be a approved. Upkeep and repairs do not require prior
approaval.
• Blue Prints -✓✓ keep as-built plans available for surveyors who do LSC
inspection as well as for repair persons who may need prints for big jobs.
• LSC and other standards -✓✓ Building and contact standards are set by LSC,
CMS, ANSI/ADAAG - (dependent on which the state chooses) and state and local
codes. ||- for handicapped|-follow which on specific state requires (ANSI/ADAAG)
,• LSC and ANSI/ADAAG -✓✓ LSC accepts both standards so they are essentially all
LSC standards. Administrator does not need to know EVERY standard, but must
keep a copy of the "LSC Handbook" as reference. The architect who designs the
facility must know and incorporate all LSC and other standards, but it is advisable
for the NHA to check his building to ensure compliance.
• LSC, ANSI/ADAAG, and CMS -✓✓ **- building materials - fire-rate according to
number of stories. 2 hour and 1 hour rating|**- sprinklers - new buildings have
automatically activated by smoke/heat|- exits - no room more than 100 feet from
exit. Lighted exit signs of specific size. |- walls extend continuously to roof deck of
next floor. wall finish must meet flame-spread requirements ( have certificate of
this)|- furnishings - curtains and carpet must meet fire rating|- rooms - CMS
requirements - 4 residents to room MAX. 80 sq ft/resident (multi-resident room),
100 sq ft for single occupancy.
• requirement for rooms| -✓✓ - direct access to corridor|- outside window (CMS)
or door (LSC)|- privacy|- furnishing| separate bed, proper size and height|
bedding appropriate to climate| individual closet space| bedside table|
comfortable chair| enough overbid tables to meet needs of rsidents|- toilets
(CMS, ANSI, ADA)|- bathing facilities (CMS)|- resident call system (CMS, LSC) 24/7
- back up system available|- temperature range (71-81 degree F) (three feet
above floor), states set actual, A/C not required
• Doors -✓✓ All 44" or more in new construction (41.5 opening)|outside doors
open egress.|no locks on resident door except staff has key (LSC)||Bathroom
door 32" (ANSI/ADAAG)||Fire Doors with automatic hold-open devices required
in corridors||(over bed tables not required for patient)
• corridors -✓✓ no dead-ends (LSC)||8 feet wide (CMS)
,• Floors -✓✓ at or above ground level. (LSC) |Fire rating if carpeted. (LSC)|Non-
slip bath/toilet (ANSI, LSC)|Asphalt tile best
• Fire alarms -✓✓ flashing and audible. |connect with local fire dept, if
possible|must have NFPA 71 certification of fire alarm service|
• smoke detectors -✓✓ approved detectors requried
• smoking -✓✓ written regulations, enforced. |smoking ares with non-
combustible ashtrays, metal containers with self-closing lids.|Prohibited areas
include resident rooms and beds, oxygen, flammable liquid storage.|proper signs
posted.|supervise non-responsible.
• ANSI/ADAAG(Americans with Disabilties Act Accessibility Guidelines) -✓✓ Make
building available to and usable by physically handicapped, no mental (blind, deaf,
non-ambulatory, semi-ambulatory, uncoordinated). ADAAG = MAKE BUILDINGS
AVAILABLE TO ADA'S. |State decides whether to apply ANSI or ADAAG standards
to nursing homes
• accessible route -✓✓ no incline more than 10%
• Wheelchair passage -✓✓ 32" bathroom doors||36" elsewhere
• parking -✓✓ 13 FEET||cannot block sidewalk; alley for 2 cars.|The number of
handicap parking places is determined from a grid issued by ANSI. It MUST BE
NOTED THAT FOR EVERY EIGHT (8) HANDICAP PARKING SLOTS, ONE MUST BE
VAN ACCESSIBLE.||If the facility only has one handicapped place, it must be van
accessible.
, • ramps -✓✓ maximum rise 30". Slope not more than 1:10
• What items must be accessible to wheelchair residents?| -✓✓ WATER
FOUNTAINS, telephones (non-Braille), light switches
• Toilets and handrails - height -✓✓ toilets (Also ADA for staff) seat **17" to 19"
height;||hand rails/grab bars 33" to 36". |5% or more meet standards as
determined by state and CMS||(easier to replace with handicapped toilet)
• Handrails -✓✓ outside ramp, stairwell, bathroom required by ANSI, and specific
height.||CMS requires in corridors.||ADAAG specifies all 34" to 38" in public
places. |On stairwell must be 32" and MUST EXTEND 12" beyond last step. (ANSI|
• Monitored -✓✓ monitored nationally the Office of Civil Rights monitors ANSI.
States may assign to Fire Marshall, Medicaid Agency, other. |ADAAG is monitored
by State Agency handling LSC and ANSI.
• Alarms -✓✓ flashing alarms for deaf, sound alarms for blind, tactile warnings for
blind to identify danger areas.
• Grating -✓✓ No greater than one-half inch; openings perpendicular to travel
rout, if elongated.
• Threshold -✓✓ no more than 1/2 inch on entrance and exit doors, except
exterior sliding door can be 3/4 inch in height
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
• Life Safety Code (LSC) -✓✓ Entire construction plan and materials meet LSC
standards|||CMS requires unless have waiver or exception. CMS grants waivers
on SNFs; states on NFs
• (NFPA) -✓✓ National Fire Protection Association ||established LSC
• Purpose of LSC -✓✓ to provide reasonable degree of safety from fire.
• Waivers for Life Safety Code -✓✓ If CMS finds a state fire and safety code
adequately protects residents and personnel thenLSC does not apply. OLder
facilities may obtain a waiver if they are and have been in compliance with an
older addition of LSC as specified by CMS.||Before a nursing home may be built it
must present architectural plant to State Medicaid or designated agency that
approves construction. All major renovations, such as additional beds, change in
utilization of space, and so on must receive approval. The state provides
guidelines on what must be a approved. Upkeep and repairs do not require prior
approaval.
• Blue Prints -✓✓ keep as-built plans available for surveyors who do LSC
inspection as well as for repair persons who may need prints for big jobs.
• LSC and other standards -✓✓ Building and contact standards are set by LSC,
CMS, ANSI/ADAAG - (dependent on which the state chooses) and state and local
codes. ||- for handicapped|-follow which on specific state requires (ANSI/ADAAG)
,• LSC and ANSI/ADAAG -✓✓ LSC accepts both standards so they are essentially all
LSC standards. Administrator does not need to know EVERY standard, but must
keep a copy of the "LSC Handbook" as reference. The architect who designs the
facility must know and incorporate all LSC and other standards, but it is advisable
for the NHA to check his building to ensure compliance.
• LSC, ANSI/ADAAG, and CMS -✓✓ **- building materials - fire-rate according to
number of stories. 2 hour and 1 hour rating|**- sprinklers - new buildings have
automatically activated by smoke/heat|- exits - no room more than 100 feet from
exit. Lighted exit signs of specific size. |- walls extend continuously to roof deck of
next floor. wall finish must meet flame-spread requirements ( have certificate of
this)|- furnishings - curtains and carpet must meet fire rating|- rooms - CMS
requirements - 4 residents to room MAX. 80 sq ft/resident (multi-resident room),
100 sq ft for single occupancy.
• requirement for rooms| -✓✓ - direct access to corridor|- outside window (CMS)
or door (LSC)|- privacy|- furnishing| separate bed, proper size and height|
bedding appropriate to climate| individual closet space| bedside table|
comfortable chair| enough overbid tables to meet needs of rsidents|- toilets
(CMS, ANSI, ADA)|- bathing facilities (CMS)|- resident call system (CMS, LSC) 24/7
- back up system available|- temperature range (71-81 degree F) (three feet
above floor), states set actual, A/C not required
• Doors -✓✓ All 44" or more in new construction (41.5 opening)|outside doors
open egress.|no locks on resident door except staff has key (LSC)||Bathroom
door 32" (ANSI/ADAAG)||Fire Doors with automatic hold-open devices required
in corridors||(over bed tables not required for patient)
• corridors -✓✓ no dead-ends (LSC)||8 feet wide (CMS)
,• Floors -✓✓ at or above ground level. (LSC) |Fire rating if carpeted. (LSC)|Non-
slip bath/toilet (ANSI, LSC)|Asphalt tile best
• Fire alarms -✓✓ flashing and audible. |connect with local fire dept, if
possible|must have NFPA 71 certification of fire alarm service|
• smoke detectors -✓✓ approved detectors requried
• smoking -✓✓ written regulations, enforced. |smoking ares with non-
combustible ashtrays, metal containers with self-closing lids.|Prohibited areas
include resident rooms and beds, oxygen, flammable liquid storage.|proper signs
posted.|supervise non-responsible.
• ANSI/ADAAG(Americans with Disabilties Act Accessibility Guidelines) -✓✓ Make
building available to and usable by physically handicapped, no mental (blind, deaf,
non-ambulatory, semi-ambulatory, uncoordinated). ADAAG = MAKE BUILDINGS
AVAILABLE TO ADA'S. |State decides whether to apply ANSI or ADAAG standards
to nursing homes
• accessible route -✓✓ no incline more than 10%
• Wheelchair passage -✓✓ 32" bathroom doors||36" elsewhere
• parking -✓✓ 13 FEET||cannot block sidewalk; alley for 2 cars.|The number of
handicap parking places is determined from a grid issued by ANSI. It MUST BE
NOTED THAT FOR EVERY EIGHT (8) HANDICAP PARKING SLOTS, ONE MUST BE
VAN ACCESSIBLE.||If the facility only has one handicapped place, it must be van
accessible.
, • ramps -✓✓ maximum rise 30". Slope not more than 1:10
• What items must be accessible to wheelchair residents?| -✓✓ WATER
FOUNTAINS, telephones (non-Braille), light switches
• Toilets and handrails - height -✓✓ toilets (Also ADA for staff) seat **17" to 19"
height;||hand rails/grab bars 33" to 36". |5% or more meet standards as
determined by state and CMS||(easier to replace with handicapped toilet)
• Handrails -✓✓ outside ramp, stairwell, bathroom required by ANSI, and specific
height.||CMS requires in corridors.||ADAAG specifies all 34" to 38" in public
places. |On stairwell must be 32" and MUST EXTEND 12" beyond last step. (ANSI|
• Monitored -✓✓ monitored nationally the Office of Civil Rights monitors ANSI.
States may assign to Fire Marshall, Medicaid Agency, other. |ADAAG is monitored
by State Agency handling LSC and ANSI.
• Alarms -✓✓ flashing alarms for deaf, sound alarms for blind, tactile warnings for
blind to identify danger areas.
• Grating -✓✓ No greater than one-half inch; openings perpendicular to travel
rout, if elongated.
• Threshold -✓✓ no more than 1/2 inch on entrance and exit doors, except
exterior sliding door can be 3/4 inch in height
