HSE-Ready Track

HSE Education Pathway - HSE Ready Track

HSE Ready Track

The HSE Ready Track is available to students and recent graduates of NAB HSE accredited programs and is intended to support timely completion of all required national examinations.

What Is the HSE Ready Track?

The HSE Ready Track allows eligible candidates to complete all required national NAB examinations, CORE, NHA, RCAL, and HCBS, while enrolled in an NAB HSE accredited academic program or within a limited period following graduation.

Candidates who complete all required examinations through this track are considered HSE Ready upon graduation and submission of final documentation and may proceed to meet licensure requirements in those states that accept the HSE. 

Eligibility Requirements

The HSE Ready Track is available to eligible applicants who qualify through the HSE Education Pathway and meet the additional timing requirements outlined below.

To qualify through the HSE‑Ready Track, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Be enrolled in a NAB HSE accredited academic program and be on track to graduate within three (3) months, as verified by the program director, or have graduated within the past three (3) months, as verified by an official transcript or program director
  • Achieve a passing score on the required national NAB examinations, including:*
    • Core of Knowledge Examination (CORE)
    • Nursing Home Administrator (NHA)
    • Resident Care/Assisted Living (RCAL)
    • Home and Community‑Based Services (HCBS)
  • Complete a National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) self‑query and submit the report to NAB with no disqualifying actions identified
  • Verify completion of a 1,000‑hour Administrator Residency/Administrator‑in‑Training (AIT) program, if not completed through the academic program
  • Complete and submit the online HSE™ application through NABVerify.

Applicants who apply prior to graduation must submit a final official transcript after graduation to complete and finalize the HSE application.

Exam Approval and Fees

* While the examinations do not need to be passed prior to submitting an HSE application, the HSE™ designation will not be awarded until all required exams have been successfully completed.

For candidates participating in the HSE Ready Track:

  • NAB serves as the approving jurisdiction for all national examinations (CORE, NHA, RCAL, and HCBS)
  • After successfully qualifying as HSE Ready, candidates must pay any applicable fee to transfer their HSE application to a state licensing board/agency that accepts the HSE™ for licensure. The HSE application will include all exam scores. 

Important Notice

Completion of all required examinations through the HSE Ready Track does not result in licensure. Candidates must meet all applicable state licensure and experience requirements and may pursue licensure only in states that have accepted the HSE™ designation. NAB does not license. 

How to Start the HSE Ready Application

When starting your HSE Ready application, follow these steps carefully:

  1. Select the Education Pathway
    When asked which HSE pathway you are using, select Education Pathway as your HSE path.

  2. Indicate That You Have Not Yet Graduated
    When asked if you have already graduated, select “No”, even if you graduated within the last three (3) months.

Selecting these options allows you to:

  • Move forward with your application without submitting a transcript at this stage, and
  • Test under the HSE‑NAB jurisdiction once your application is approved.

If you select the wrong option, your application may be delayed or routed incorrectly.

For assistance or questions, please email hse@nabweb.org.