I support a state exam vs a national exam. Assisted Livings are licensed by the state and after going through a refresher course, realized that the standards by DSS are not going to be on the exam.  These standards have been drilled into our heads and they are not even on the exam? ! ! The instructor told us to basically forget everything we have been taught in the past and a lot of the information we went over, was new to me.

The cost of this exam is outrangeous. Not everyone can afford it or have a corporate office to help with the cost. There is already a shortage of Assisted Living Administrators in Virginia and having a national exam, will only worsen the shortage problem. Furthermore, the AIT program, there is only a few people who are able to be a mentor for an AIT program- most of them out of the AL's locality.

Please consider a state examination vs a national exam.

Thank you

Misti Binford, Executive Director

Greenfield Assisted Living of Petersburg