A Guide to Becoming an RCFE Administrator

If you are passionate about helping others and want to make a difference in their lives, but don’t have a medical background, there couldn’t be a better job than an RCFE administrator. As people get older, their ability to go about everyday tasks becomes increasingly harder, and for those who are unable to live by themselves, the help that is provided by an RCFE can make a huge difference to their way of living. From housekeeping and bringing their meals to supplying them with their right medication provided by the nursing staff, this care-home based job is a fulfilling occupation for many.

This guide details exactly what you need to do to become an RCFE administrator.

What is an RCFE Administrator?

As touched upon briefly, an RCFE administrator (Residential Care Facility for the Elderly), or an assisted living administrator, as they are more commonly referred to, is a role that is focused on providing care for residents that are aged 60 and over. The role varies depending on how able the residents are. While the requirements for those living in the RCFE do not allow in residents who require 24-hour care, those living in the facility are still unable to live by themselves and need the help on offer.

For some people, you might be assisting them with getting dressed, walking with them, and their overall hygiene if they struggle with their mobility, while for others, you might simply be delivering their medication and food and checking in on them periodically.

It’s important to note that the job is different from a nurse or a nursing assistant, in that you will never deal with medical problems.

Look at your qualities

In order to become an RCFE, you need to show that you have the right qualities of a good character and caring individual who will be able to put the care of others at the forefront of every decision. This job requires good communication, not only with the staff but the residents that you are helping, too. Therefore, you need to show that you can work well with others.

Education

You must be over 21 to apply for this role and have a high-school diploma or equivalent (GED certificate) under your belt as a minimum. This will allow you to work in facilities that have 15 or fewer beds. However, if you would prefer to work with more residents in a bigger facility, then you must continue with high-education or have at least a year working within a facility. Gaining a college qualification that shows you studied for two or more years and have three years of work experience will open up your opportunities further and enable you to work in a facility that homes over 50 residents.

Training

As a standard, you must complete at least 80 hours of training and then pass an exam set by the state. The 80-hour training program should consist of at least 20 hours of learning online and 60 within a classroom location.

Exam

Before you can become officially qualified, you must take an exam set by the California Department of Social Services. The exam must be taken within 60 days of completing your training, and you must pass this in order to gain a license. Unlike exams in school, it is a simple pass or fail exam. The passing percentage grade is 70 or above, but during your training, you will come across plenty of practice questions that will help you prepare for this exam.

Gain your license

Once you have passed the exam, you need to submit a copy of the letter you receive telling you of your pass to the Administrator Certification Section.

Further training

Once you are qualified, it is crucial to think about continuing education units for RCFE administrators. It is a requirement by law that you complete at least 40 hours of RCFE CEU courses every two years so that everything you are doing is by the book and up to date. You will learn all the new research that has been uncovered during the time you have not been training and put this into practice. Taking part in an interactive class can be an excellent way to communicate with other RCFE administrators from other institutes, learn more about running the business and how you can improve it, and learn new ways of dealing with complicated problems that might occur during your day to day job. However, if you are concerned about how this will fit into your schedule, you needn’t worry; with some training, you are able to complete it online.

Work Experience

Within your first year of employment, you need to receive 40 hours of training at the facility you are working in. Ideally, 20 of these should take place in the first four weeks of your placement to ensure that you are fully aware of the practices within the facility.