Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, effective July 1, 2026, an individual shall be licensed by the Board before the individual may practice as an assisted living manager in the State. This chapter governs assisted living managers in the State pursuant to Health Occupations Article, Title 9, Annotated Code of Maryland. This regulation applies to applicants who have practiced as an assisted living manager in a licensed assisted living program in the State prior to July 1, 2026. Except as otherwise provided by law, to qualify for an initial license to practice assisted living management in Maryland, an applicant shall: Be at least 21 years old; Be of good moral character; Submit the following to the Board: The completed Board online application; The application fee as set forth in COMAR 10.33.05.02D; and A passport type and size photograph of self, which shall have been taken within 3 months prior to the date of application; Meet, and attest on the application to meeting, the following requirements: Has obtained a high school diploma, a high school equivalency diploma, or other appropriate education as specified under COMAR 10.07.14.15; or For level 3 licensed programs, set forth under COMAR 10.07.14.05, has completed at least one of the following: A 4-year, college-level degree; 2 years of experience in a healthcare related field and 1 year of experience as an assisted living program manager or alternate assisted living manager; or 2 years of experience in a healthcare related field and successful completion of an 80-hour assisted living manager training course approved by the Department; Completed an 80-hour assisted living manager training course and passed the course examination as required under Health–General Article, §19–1807(a), Annotated Code of Maryland, and Health Occupations Article, §9-3A-02(a)(5)(i), Annotated Code of Maryland. Submitted to a State and national criminal history records check in accordance with Health Occupations Article, §9-302.1, Annotated Code of Maryland. The Board’s receipt of the State and national criminal history records check from the Central Repository, as provided in Health Occupations Article, §9-302.1(c), Annotated Code of Maryland, satisfies Health Occupations Article, §9-3A-03(3), Annotated Code of Maryland; Is certified in: Basic first aid taught by a first aid instructor certified by a national organization, except licensed practical nurses and registered nurses licensed in this State who are not required to attest to being certified in basic first aid; and Basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), including a hands-on component, taught by a CPR instructor certified by a nationally recognized organization; Completed training in: Fire and life safety; Infection control, including standard precautions; Emergency disaster plans; and Basic food safety. Exemptions for the 80-Hour Training Course. Except as otherwise provided by law, an applicant is exempt from the 80-hour training course, pursuant to Health–General Article, §19–1807(d)(1), Annotated Code of Maryland, if the applicant meets, and attests to meeting, at least one of the following: Is employed by an assisted living program, has enrolled in the 80-hour training course, and expects to complete the course within 6 months; Has been employed as an assisted living manager in the State for 1 year prior to January 1, 2006; or Is licensed as a nursing home administrator in the State. If an individual is licensed through the exemption in §C(1) of this regulation, the licensee shall: Complete the 80-hour course, which includes passing the course examination, within 6 months of enrollment in the course, in accordance with COMAR 10.07.14.16E(1); and Submit to the Board satisfactory evidence that the licensee has completed the course, within 15 days from the date the licensee was notified of their successful completion of the course. This regulation applies to applicants who have not practiced as an assisted living manager in a licensed assisted living program in the State prior to July 1, 2026. Except as otherwise provided by law, to qualify for an initial license to practice assisted living management in the State, an applicant shall: Be at least 21 years old; Be of good moral character; Provide satisfactory evidence to the Board that the applicant: Has obtained a high school diploma, a high school equivalency diploma, or other appropriate education as specified under COMAR 10.07.14.15; or For level 3 licensed programs, set forth under COMAR 10.07.14.05, has completed at least one of the following: A 4-year, college-level degree; Two years of experience in a healthcare related field and 1 year of experience as an assisted living program manager or alternate assisted living manager; or Two years of experience in a healthcare related field and successful completion of an 80-hour assisted living manager training course approved by the Department; Completed an 80-hour assisted living manager training course and passed the course examination as required under Health–General Article, §19–1807(a), Annotated Code of Maryland, and Health Occupations Article, §9-3A-02(a)(5)(i), Annotated Code of Maryland; Submit the following to the Board: The completed Board online application; The application fee as set forth in COMAR 10.33.05.02D; and A passport type and size photograph of self, which shall have been taken within 3 months prior to the date of application; Meet, and attest on the application to meeting, the following requirements: Submitted to a State and national criminal history records check in accordance with Health Occupations Article, §9-302.1, Annotated Code of Maryland; and Is certified in: Basic first aid taught by a first aid instructor certified by a national organization, except licensed practical nurses and registered nurses licensed in this State who are not required to attest to being certified in basic first aid; and Basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), including a hands-on component, taught by a CPR instructor certified by a nationally recognized organization; and Completed training in: Fire and life safety; Infection control, including standard precautions; Emergency disaster plans; and Basic food safety. The Board’s receipt of the State and national criminal history records check from the Central Repository, as provided in Health Occupations Article, §9-302.1(c), Annotated Code of Maryland, satisfies Health Occupations Article, §9-3A-03(3), Annotated Code of Maryland. The Board may require official transcripts of the educational requirements set forth in §B(3) of this regulation. Exemptions for the 80-Hour Training Course. Except as otherwise provided by law, an applicant is exempt from the 80-hour training course, pursuant to Health–General Article, §19–1807(d)(1), Annotated Code of Maryland, if the applicant meets, and attests to meeting, at least one of the following: Is employed by an assisted living program and has enrolled in the 80-hour training course and expects to complete the course within 6 months; or Is licensed as a nursing home administrator in the State. If an individual is licensed through the exemption in §E(1) of this regulation, the licensee shall: Complete the 80-hour course, which includes passing the course examination, within 6 months of enrollment in the course, in accordance with COMAR 10.07.14.16E(1); and Submit to the Board satisfactory evidence that the licensee has completed the course, within 15 days from the date the licensee was notified of their successful completion of the course. As an exception to the licensure requirements in this chapter, an assisted living program shall immediately appoint an individual not licensed to practice as an assisted living manager to act as the interim assisted living manager if: An assisted living manager licensed in the State leaves or is removed from the position as an assisted living manager by death or other unexpected cause; and A licensed assisted living manager in the State is unavailable to fill the position. The alternate assisted living manager is a non-licensed individual in this regulation and may be appointed as the interim assisted living manager under §A of this regulation, but another non-licensed individual may also be appointed. The departure of the assisted living manager as specified in §A of this regulation, is by unexpected cause if: The departure occurred suddenly; The departure was unforeseen; and There was insufficient time for the assisted living program to obtain the services of an assisted living manager licensed in the State. The appointed non-licensed individual may begin acting as the interim assisted living manager upon appointment. No later than 24 hours after the appointment of the non-licensed individual as interim assisted living manager, under §A of this regulation, the assisted living program shall: File an application with the Board requesting a provisional license for the non-licensed individual; Notify the Board of the circumstances involved in the departure of the licensed assisted living manager; Notify the Board of the credentials of the non-licensed individual; and If requested, provide the Board with the actions the assisted living program took, or is taking, to hire an assisted living manager licensed in the State. State and National Criminal History Records Check. The appointed non-licensed individual shall immediately submit to a criminal history records check, in accordance with Health Occupations Article, §9-302.1, Annotated Code of Maryland. A criminal history records check is not required if the appointed non-licensed individual is actively licensed by a health occupations board in the State who previously has completed a criminal history records check required for licensure, certification, or registration. The Board may deny approval of an appointment based on the results of a criminal history records check after consideration of the factors listed in Health Occupations Article, §9–3A–05(b)(1), Annotated Code of Maryland. Provisional License. The Board may issue a provisional license to the applicant if the Board determines that: The applicant is of good moral character; The departure of the licensed assisted living manager was by unexpected cause; and The applicant is capable of adequately administering the assisted living program for the provisional period. If the Board grants the application for the provisional assisted living manager license, the provisional license is in effect for 90 days from the date of the departure of the licensed assisted living manager. For good cause shown, the Board may extend the provisional license period by 30 days. Denial of Provisional License. If the application for a provisional license is denied by the Board, the assisted living program may request a meeting with the Board to contest the denial. The assisted living program shall provide the request for a meeting to the Board within 5 business days of the denial. If the assisted living program requests a meeting, the appointed non-licensed individual may remain acting as the interim assisted living manager until the Board issues a decision. If the assisted living program does not file a timely request for a meeting with the Board, the non-licensed individual shall cease acting as the interim assisted living manager after 5 days from the denial. If the Board denies the application for a provisional license after a meeting contesting the initial denial, the non-licensed individual shall cease acting as the interim assisted living manager upon receipt of the decision. If the non-licensed individual is required to cease acting as the interim assisted living manager under §I(4) and (5) of this regulation, and an assisted living manager licensed in the State remains unavailable to fill the assisted living manager position, the assisted living program may appoint another non-licensed individual set forth in this regulation. As a result of §J of this regulation, if the assisted living program appoints another non-licensed individual, and a provisional license is granted, the provisional license is in effect for 90 days from the date of the departure of the assisted living manager licensed in the State, unless the Board extends the provisional license, for good cause, for an additional 30 days. Upon request by the assisted living program, for reasonable cause, the Board may extend the 24-hour time period for meeting the requirements of §E of this regulation. A license expires on the second anniversary of its effective date, unless the license is renewed for a 2–year term as provided in this regulation. The Board shall send each licensee a renewal notice that states the: Date on which the current license expires; Latest date by which the renewal application and documentation can be received by the Board in order for the renewal license to be issued before the current license expires; and Amount of the renewal fee as specified in COMAR 10.33.05.02D. At least 30 days before the current license expires, the Board shall send the renewal notice by: Electronic means to the last known electronic mail address; or First-class mail to the physical address of the licensee. Licensees shall satisfactorily complete the minimum continuing education requirements set forth under COMAR 10.07.14.16C. A licensee shall complete an implicit bias and structural racism training program approved by the Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program in accordance with Health-General Article, §20-1306, Annotated Code of Maryland, for an applicant’s first renewal after April 1, 2026. The Board shall reinstate an individual whose license has expired if the individual: Meets the renewal requirements of this chapter and Health Occupations Article, §9-3A-09, Annotated Code of Maryland; Pays the reinstatement fee as specified under COMAR 10.33.05.02D; and Satisfactorily completes the minimum continuing education requirements set forth under COMAR 10.07.14.16C. An assisted living manager who fails to apply for licensure reinstatement within 5 years after the expiration date of the license shall meet the requirements for a new license in effect at the time of the request in order to be licensed to practice as an assisted living manager in the State. In accordance with Health Occupations Article, §9-3A-10, Annotated Code of Maryland, a request by an active licensee to transfer a license to inactive status shall be granted upon receipt of the: Completed Board-approved inactive status application; and Payment of the required, non-refundable, biennial inactive status fee set forth in COMAR 10.33.05.02D. An individual: May apply for inactive status only if the individual’s license is still active at the time the inactive status application request is made; Shall renew and pay the biennial inactive status fee during each renewal period; and Is not authorized to and may not practice as an assisted living manager in the State while on inactive status. Reactivation. The Board shall reactivate the license of a licensee who is on inactive status for less than 5 years if the licensee: Completes an application form for reactivation of the license before expiration of the 2–year term of inactive status on the form required by the Board; Complies with the renewal requirements in effect at the time the licensee seeks to reactivate the license; Meets the continuing education requirements set by the Board under COMAR 10.33.04.02; Has not practiced as an assisted living manager in the State while on inactive status; Pays all appropriate fees set by the Board under COMAR 10.33.05.02D; and Is otherwise entitled to be licensed. Before the Board may reactivate the license of an individual who has been on inactive status for 5 years or more, the individual shall: Submit a new online application; Pay all appropriate fees set by the Board; Complete a Department-approved assisted living manager training course; and Submit to a State and national criminal history records check in accordance with Health Occupations Article, §9–3A-05, Annotated Code of Maryland. An assisted living manager whose inactive status expires before the license is reactivated shall meet the reinstatement requirements of Health Occupations Article, §9–3A–09, Annotated Code of Maryland. The Board is not required to consider an application that is incomplete. The applicant shall submit to the Board any additional relevant documentation requested by the Board if the Board determines the application documentation received is incomplete or insufficient. The Board may hold an incomplete application for a license for up to 1 year from the date of receipt. After 1 year from the date of receipt, the Board shall close a pending application that is incomplete. If an application has been closed under §D of this regulation, to obtain a license the applicant shall submit a new application fee and otherwise comply with all applicable license requirements. Each individual licensed as an assisted living manager in the State shall display printed verification of licensure in a conspicuous place in the office or place of business or employment of the licensee. A licensed assisted living manager shall give the Board written or electronic notice within 30 days of a change of: Mailing address; Legal name; or Email address. Failure to notify the Board of any change of mailing address, legal name, or email address within 30 days of the change may result in a fine as set forth under COMAR 10.33.05.02D. Health-General Article, §19-1809; Health Occupations Article, §§9-205, 9-3A-01—9-3A-18, and 9-401—9-501; Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: January 19, 2026 (53:1 Md. R 22)