California ARF Administrator Exam 2026-2027 Adult Residential Facility Regulations and Procedures
ARF rooms approved for non-ambulatory residents Can be used for non-ambulatory and ambulatory residents. 80010(b)(1)
License number disclosure requirement What must licensees reveal in each or all advertisements, publications, or
announcements made with the intent to attract residents? 80011(A)(1)(a)
Disaster drills frequency Shall be conducted in ARF homes at least once every 6 months. 80023(d)
New licensing application requirement What must licensees do when they change the conditions or limitations
described on their license, such as location or capacity?
Follow-up visit timeline A follow-up visit shall be conducted to determine compliance with the plan of
correction specified in the notice of deficiency within 10 working days unless the
licensee has demonstrated by some other means that the deficiency was
corrected as required. 80053(a)(1)
Timeline for ARF to report a special incident By the next working day during CCL's normal business hours. 80061(b)
Special Incident Report mailing timeline The licensee has 7 days to mail a Special Incident Report to Community Care
Licensing. 80061(b)
Change of CEO or mailing address reporting timeline The licensee has 10 working days to report a change of their CEO or Licensee's
mailing address. 80061(c)(2)(3)
Change in ARF's plan of operation reporting timeline The licensee has 10 working days to report a change in the ARF's plan of
operation. 80061(c)(4)
Medication label change authority Nobody but the dispensing pharmacist can change the label on a prescribed
medication. 80071(n)(4)
Centrally stored medication records maintenance Must be maintained for 1 year. 80075(N)(7)
duration
Minimum age for ARF administrator An ARF administrator shall be at least 21 years old. 85064(c), 85964.2(B)(3)(b)
Education requirements for ARF administrator High school diploma or GED required for an administrator of an 8-bed ARF.
85064(d)
ARF certificate holder A person who has completed the necessary education or work experience to
administer a home for 50 residents.
Requirements for administrator employment High school diploma or GED and completion of 60 college units OR 4 years of
work experience in residential care.
Administrator work hours requirement The number of hours necessary to manage and administer the facility in
compliance with applicable law and regulation.
, California ARF Administrator Exam 2026-2027 Adult Residential Facility Regulations and Procedures
Coverage requirements when absent Coverage by a designated substitute who is capable of running the home and
who meets the qualifications listed in section 80065.
Steps to become a certified administrator Complete the initial training class, pass a written exam, submit an application
form along with a processing fee of $100.
Written exam timeframe An administrator must pass a written exam administered by ACS within 60 days
of completing the initial certification program.
Application submission timeframe An administrator must submit an application form to ACS within 30 days of being
notified of having passed the ARF administrator exam.
ARF administrator certification processing fee The amount of the ARF administrator certification processing fee is $100.
Certificate renewal frequency ARF administrator certificates must be renewed every 2 years.
Renewal application submission The certificate holder shall submit a written application or letter to the CCL
Administrator Certification Section (ACS) located in Sacramento.
CEU requirement for renewal An administrator must earn 40 CEUs within a 2 year period to renew their
administrator certification.
Renewal submission requirements A written request to recertify post-marked on or before the certificate expiration
date, evidence of completion of 40 CEUs, and a payment of $100 processing
(renewal) fee.
Delinquency fee for late renewal If an administrator does not renew their administrator's certificate within 2 years,
the delinquency fee is $300.
Certification process after 4 years If an administrator does not renew their certificate within 4 years of the expiration
date, they must start the certification process over again.
CEU requirement for late renewal If an administrator renews 1 year late (3 years after his/her certificate was
issued), they must submit 80 CEUs along with the late fee.
Staff employment requirement As many staff as necessary to ensure provision of care and supervision to meet
client needs according to Title 22 regulations.
How long does the licensee have to report to CCL any 30 days
time an administrator accepts or leaves an administrator
position?
What must be sent to CCL every time they accept a new An ARF administrator's name, residence, and mailing addresses, date he/she
administrator position? assumed the position, along with a description of the new administrator's
background and qualifications, including documentation of required education
and administrator certification.
Whenever a certified administrator's address changes, 30 days
they are required to notify CCL's Administrator
Certification Section within how many days?
ARF rooms approved for non-ambulatory residents Can be used for non-ambulatory and ambulatory residents. 80010(b)(1)
License number disclosure requirement What must licensees reveal in each or all advertisements, publications, or
announcements made with the intent to attract residents? 80011(A)(1)(a)
Disaster drills frequency Shall be conducted in ARF homes at least once every 6 months. 80023(d)
New licensing application requirement What must licensees do when they change the conditions or limitations
described on their license, such as location or capacity?
Follow-up visit timeline A follow-up visit shall be conducted to determine compliance with the plan of
correction specified in the notice of deficiency within 10 working days unless the
licensee has demonstrated by some other means that the deficiency was
corrected as required. 80053(a)(1)
Timeline for ARF to report a special incident By the next working day during CCL's normal business hours. 80061(b)
Special Incident Report mailing timeline The licensee has 7 days to mail a Special Incident Report to Community Care
Licensing. 80061(b)
Change of CEO or mailing address reporting timeline The licensee has 10 working days to report a change of their CEO or Licensee's
mailing address. 80061(c)(2)(3)
Change in ARF's plan of operation reporting timeline The licensee has 10 working days to report a change in the ARF's plan of
operation. 80061(c)(4)
Medication label change authority Nobody but the dispensing pharmacist can change the label on a prescribed
medication. 80071(n)(4)
Centrally stored medication records maintenance Must be maintained for 1 year. 80075(N)(7)
duration
Minimum age for ARF administrator An ARF administrator shall be at least 21 years old. 85064(c), 85964.2(B)(3)(b)
Education requirements for ARF administrator High school diploma or GED required for an administrator of an 8-bed ARF.
85064(d)
ARF certificate holder A person who has completed the necessary education or work experience to
administer a home for 50 residents.
Requirements for administrator employment High school diploma or GED and completion of 60 college units OR 4 years of
work experience in residential care.
Administrator work hours requirement The number of hours necessary to manage and administer the facility in
compliance with applicable law and regulation.
, California ARF Administrator Exam 2026-2027 Adult Residential Facility Regulations and Procedures
Coverage requirements when absent Coverage by a designated substitute who is capable of running the home and
who meets the qualifications listed in section 80065.
Steps to become a certified administrator Complete the initial training class, pass a written exam, submit an application
form along with a processing fee of $100.
Written exam timeframe An administrator must pass a written exam administered by ACS within 60 days
of completing the initial certification program.
Application submission timeframe An administrator must submit an application form to ACS within 30 days of being
notified of having passed the ARF administrator exam.
ARF administrator certification processing fee The amount of the ARF administrator certification processing fee is $100.
Certificate renewal frequency ARF administrator certificates must be renewed every 2 years.
Renewal application submission The certificate holder shall submit a written application or letter to the CCL
Administrator Certification Section (ACS) located in Sacramento.
CEU requirement for renewal An administrator must earn 40 CEUs within a 2 year period to renew their
administrator certification.
Renewal submission requirements A written request to recertify post-marked on or before the certificate expiration
date, evidence of completion of 40 CEUs, and a payment of $100 processing
(renewal) fee.
Delinquency fee for late renewal If an administrator does not renew their administrator's certificate within 2 years,
the delinquency fee is $300.
Certification process after 4 years If an administrator does not renew their certificate within 4 years of the expiration
date, they must start the certification process over again.
CEU requirement for late renewal If an administrator renews 1 year late (3 years after his/her certificate was
issued), they must submit 80 CEUs along with the late fee.
Staff employment requirement As many staff as necessary to ensure provision of care and supervision to meet
client needs according to Title 22 regulations.
How long does the licensee have to report to CCL any 30 days
time an administrator accepts or leaves an administrator
position?
What must be sent to CCL every time they accept a new An ARF administrator's name, residence, and mailing addresses, date he/she
administrator position? assumed the position, along with a description of the new administrator's
background and qualifications, including documentation of required education
and administrator certification.
Whenever a certified administrator's address changes, 30 days
they are required to notify CCL's Administrator
Certification Section within how many days?
