Nursing home administrator practice test.

The national credential sits on the NAB CORE of Knowledge exam plus the Nursing Home Administrator Line-of-Service exam. This diagnostic is organized by the functional domains those exams assess, and every item is grounded in the public federal law shown below. For the exam structure itself, see the national exams.

1. Two ways to practice. Study mode shows the right answer, the explanation, and the federal source after each question. Exam mode withholds feedback until you submit and lets you flag questions to revisit.
2. A real per-domain breakdown. At the end you get your overall score and a bar for each of the six domains, ordered weakest first, so you know exactly where to study.
3. Spaced repetition, on your device. Questions you miss are scheduled to return on a spaced-repetition curve stored in your browser, so the facts stick.
4. Nothing gated. Every question and explanation is free. There is no account, no email wall, and no upsell, because we sell no course.

One sample from each domain. Open the answer to see the explanation and the federal rule it is drawn from.

1. Resident Care and Quality of Life

   Except in urgent situations, how much advance written notice must a facility generally give before an involuntary transfer or discharge?

   • A48 hours
   • B7 days
   • C30 days
   • D90 days
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: C. 30 days

   Federal rules generally require at least 30 days' written notice of a transfer or discharge, stating the reason, the effective date, and the resident's appeal rights, so the resident can contest it. Shorter notice is allowed only for specific urgent circumstances such as danger to health or safety.

   Source: 42 CFR 483.15(c), Transfer and discharge rights (public federal regulation)

2. Regulatory Compliance and the Survey Process

   How often must a certified nursing facility receive a standard (recertification) survey?

   • AEvery 6 months exactly
   • BAt least every 15 months, with a statewide average not exceeding 12 months
   • CEvery 3 years
   • DOnly after a complaint is filed
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: B. At least every 15 months, with a statewide average not exceeding 12 months

   Federal law requires standard surveys no less often than every 15 months, and the statewide average interval must not exceed 12 months. Surveys are unannounced, so administrators keep the facility in a state of survey readiness year round.

   Source: 42 CFR 488.308, Survey frequency (public federal regulation)

3. Financial Management and Reimbursement

   Under the Medicare Part A skilled nursing facility benefit, how many days of covered care are available per benefit period?

   • A20 days
   • B60 days
   • C100 days
   • DUnlimited
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: C. 100 days

   Medicare Part A covers up to 100 days of skilled care per benefit period: days 1 to 20 in full and days 21 to 100 subject to a daily coinsurance. Coverage requires a qualifying prior hospital stay and a daily skilled nursing or rehabilitation need.

   Source: 42 CFR 409.61, Medicare SNF coverage (public federal regulation)

4. Human Resources and Staffing

   Federal rules require a nurse aide to complete a state-approved training and competency evaluation of at least 75 hours and prohibit employing an aide who has not become competent for longer than:

   • A1 week
   • B4 months
   • C1 year
   • DThere is no limit
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: B. 4 months

   Nurse aides must complete a state-approved training and competency evaluation program of at least 75 hours, and a facility may not employ an aide for more than four months unless the aide has become competent and appears on the state nurse aide registry.

   Source: 42 CFR 483.35(d) and 483.152, Nurse aide training (public federal regulation)

5. Physical Environment and Life Safety

   The federal Emergency Preparedness rule requires a certified facility to maintain all of the following EXCEPT:

   • AA facility-based and community-based all-hazards risk assessment
   • BEmergency policies and procedures
   • CA communication plan plus a training and testing program
   • DA specific brand of backup generator
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: D. A specific brand of backup generator

   The Emergency Preparedness rule requires an all-hazards risk assessment, emergency policies, a communication plan, and a training-and-testing program. It states performance requirements, not a specific equipment brand, so each facility chooses solutions that meet the standard.

   Source: 42 CFR 483.73, Emergency preparedness (public federal regulation)

6. Leadership, Governance, and Ethics

   Under the federal Elder Justice Act, a covered individual who suspects a crime against a resident that caused serious bodily injury must report it to law enforcement and the state agency within:

   • A2 hours
   • B24 hours
   • C7 days
   • D30 days
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: A. 2 hours

   Section 1150B of the Social Security Act requires covered individuals to report a reasonable suspicion of a crime: within 2 hours when it involves serious bodily injury, and within 24 hours otherwise. Facilities must post the requirement and cannot retaliate against a reporter.

   Source: Elder Justice Act, Section 1150B of the Social Security Act (public federal statute)

1. Check your state. The requirements wizard shows exactly what your state needs, dated and sourced.
2. Understand the exams. The national exams explains the CORE plus Line-of-Service structure and when a state exam is added.
3. Read the guides. The guides cover the whole path, from Administrator-in-Training hours to renewal.