Why study long-term care at BGSU in Ohio?
- NAB accreditation for greater career portability. The BGSU Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration with a long-term care specialization is accredited by the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) as a Health Services Executive (HSE) program. Few U.S. universities meet NAB’s rigorous accreditation standards. NAB accreditation makes your education more portable. More than 30 states accept an NAB-accredited degree and Administrator Residency as meeting educational requirements for long-term care administrator licensure. The HSE pathway also makes it easier for licensed nursing home administrators to transfer their credentials between states.
- Higher positions, higher salaries. A specialization in long-term care opens the door to leadership and executive level positions.
- Financial accessibility. By choosing an accredited university program to prepare for the federal nursing home administrator exams, you can apply for tuition coverage with scholarships, student loans and financial aid.
- Experiential learning. BGSU health care administration: long-term care majors get a wealth of real-world experience – including 50 hours of relevant volunteer or paid work before beginning a 1,000-hour, on-site internship called the Administrator Residency.
- Gerontology Student Association. Start making a mark – and key professional connections – right away. This student organization prioritizes meaningful local service projects, from Alzheimer’s research fundraisers to senior center meal prep. Most GSA events also count toward required volunteer hours.
- Graduate degree option. The undergraduate long-term care specialization sets the stage for seamless transition into the Master of Health Services Administration program.
Public university in the nation for career preparation
The Wall Street Journal
Career - what can you do with a long-term care specialization?
Roughly 70% of Americans turning 65 today are going to need some type of long-term care services and support at some point in their life, according to the U.S. Administration on Aging. Demand for medical and health service managers, including nursing home administrators, assisted living directors and home care services, are expected to far outpace other professions over the next few years.
Nursing home administrator jobs are executive-level positions involving oversight of the clinical, financial, regulatory and life safety of older adults. Administrators are equal parts creative problem-solvers and caring connection-builders.
As the common link among patients, providers, investors, insurers, community programs and policy-makers, they’re always working to improve efficiency and enhance the quality of life for those growing older.
BGSU graduates with a nursing home administrator license are in high demand at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home service provider agencies and community organizations serving older adults.
Duties can include:
- Caring for people when there are the most vulnerable
- Developing goals for quality and efficiency
- Ensuring regulatory compliance
- Preparing and monitoring budgets
- Recruiting/training/supervising staff
- Representing the facility at investor meetings
- Maintaining records
Career paths
- Nursing home administrator
- Assisted living facility director
- Senior living executive
- Business development manager
- Quality assurance director
- Health information manager
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
Long-term care is a broad discipline incorporating many fields of overlapping study to better understand the diverse impacts of aging and apply this understanding to programs and policies that maximize positive outcomes for older adults.
For the bachelor’s in health care administration with a long-term care specialization, upper-level courses focus on preparing students for the Administrator Residency and licensure. Federal licensure exams are required, and some states also require a state-specific exam. Ohio no longer requires a specialized state exam.
NAB accreditation requires additional coursework and internship hours, giving students deeper preparation in areas such as accounting, human resource management, marketing and health care law.
The Administrator Residency is a 1,000-hour internship. Assignments are full time (a minimum 35 hours weekly) at an approved skilled nursing facility, supervised by a licensed nursing home administrator.
Sample courses
- Aging, Individual and Society
- Principles of Nursing Home and Assisted Living Administration
- Health Care Finance
- Health Records Management
- Program Development and Grant Writing
University in Ohio – big or small, public or private – students would choose again
The Wall Street Journal
The health care administration program with a specialization in long-term care is part of the Department of Public and Allied Health in the BGSU College of Health and Human Services.
Updated: 10/28/2026 06:36PM