Page 1 of 173
Pennsylvania Personal Care Home / Assisted Living
Administrator Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
Pennsylvania Personal Care Home / Assisted Living Administrator Exam
Point-Form Exam Coverage
Based on 55 Pa. Code Chapter 2600 (Personal Care Homes) and Chapter 2800 (Assisted Living
Residences), Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) regulations, and the Human Services
Code Section 213.
Question 1
A personal care home administrator is reviewing a prospective resident's application. The applicant is 19
years old and has mobility limitations but does not require skilled nursing care. May this applicant be
admitted to the personal care home?
A) Yes, residents must be at least 18 years old
B) No, the minimum age for personal care home admission is 55
C) Yes, if the applicant has a guardian's written consent
D) No, personal care homes only admit residents 65 and older
Answer: A
Pennsylvania regulations require residents to be at least 18 years of age for admission to a personal care
home.
, Page 2 of 173
Question 2
A personal care home administrator is notified that a resident has died unexpectedly at 3:00 AM. By
what time must the administrator report this death to the Department of Human Services?
A) Within 8 hours
B) Within 24 hours
C) Within 48 hours
D) Within 7 days
Answer: B
The administrator must notify DHS of a resident's death within 24 hours to ensure timely regulatory
oversight.
Question 3
A candidate for administrator certification has completed a bachelor's degree in healthcare
administration and has 5 years of experience as a nursing home assistant administrator. What additional
training does this candidate need to qualify for a personal care home administrator license?
A) No additional training; degree substitutes for training
B) A 40-hour online course only
, Page 3 of 173
C) A 100-hour DHS-approved administrator training course and passing the competency exam with 80%
D) A master's degree in social work
Answer: C
*All personal care home administrator candidates must complete a 100-hour DHS-approved training
course and pass the competency-based test with a minimum score of 80%, regardless of prior education
or experience.*
Question 4
During a DHS inspection, the surveyor asks to see the personal care home's administrative manual. The
administrator cannot locate it. What is the most likely consequence?
A) A verbal warning only
B) A citation for failure to maintain required operational policies
C) Automatic license revocation
D) No consequence if care appears adequate
Answer: B
The administrative manual outlines operational policies, procedures, and regulatory compliance; failure
to maintain it is a regulatory violation.
, Page 4 of 173
Question 5
A personal care home serves 75 residents. A fire drill is conducted on the day shift. How many times per
year must a fire drill be conducted on each shift?
A) Once per shift per year
B) Twice per shift per year
C) Quarterly on each shift
D) Only day shift drills are required
Answer: C
Fire drills must be conducted quarterly on each shift to ensure all staff are prepared for emergency
evacuation.
Question 6
The administrator of a 6-bed personal care home has a high school diploma and 3 years of experience as
a direct care worker in a nursing home. Is this administrator qualified under Pennsylvania regulations?
A) Yes, the administrator meets all requirements for a home with 8 or fewer residents
B) No, the administrator needs a bachelor's degree
C) No, the administrator must complete the 100-hour training course regardless of home size
Pennsylvania Personal Care Home / Assisted Living
Administrator Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
Pennsylvania Personal Care Home / Assisted Living Administrator Exam
Point-Form Exam Coverage
Based on 55 Pa. Code Chapter 2600 (Personal Care Homes) and Chapter 2800 (Assisted Living
Residences), Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) regulations, and the Human Services
Code Section 213.
Question 1
A personal care home administrator is reviewing a prospective resident's application. The applicant is 19
years old and has mobility limitations but does not require skilled nursing care. May this applicant be
admitted to the personal care home?
A) Yes, residents must be at least 18 years old
B) No, the minimum age for personal care home admission is 55
C) Yes, if the applicant has a guardian's written consent
D) No, personal care homes only admit residents 65 and older
Answer: A
Pennsylvania regulations require residents to be at least 18 years of age for admission to a personal care
home.
, Page 2 of 173
Question 2
A personal care home administrator is notified that a resident has died unexpectedly at 3:00 AM. By
what time must the administrator report this death to the Department of Human Services?
A) Within 8 hours
B) Within 24 hours
C) Within 48 hours
D) Within 7 days
Answer: B
The administrator must notify DHS of a resident's death within 24 hours to ensure timely regulatory
oversight.
Question 3
A candidate for administrator certification has completed a bachelor's degree in healthcare
administration and has 5 years of experience as a nursing home assistant administrator. What additional
training does this candidate need to qualify for a personal care home administrator license?
A) No additional training; degree substitutes for training
B) A 40-hour online course only
, Page 3 of 173
C) A 100-hour DHS-approved administrator training course and passing the competency exam with 80%
D) A master's degree in social work
Answer: C
*All personal care home administrator candidates must complete a 100-hour DHS-approved training
course and pass the competency-based test with a minimum score of 80%, regardless of prior education
or experience.*
Question 4
During a DHS inspection, the surveyor asks to see the personal care home's administrative manual. The
administrator cannot locate it. What is the most likely consequence?
A) A verbal warning only
B) A citation for failure to maintain required operational policies
C) Automatic license revocation
D) No consequence if care appears adequate
Answer: B
The administrative manual outlines operational policies, procedures, and regulatory compliance; failure
to maintain it is a regulatory violation.
, Page 4 of 173
Question 5
A personal care home serves 75 residents. A fire drill is conducted on the day shift. How many times per
year must a fire drill be conducted on each shift?
A) Once per shift per year
B) Twice per shift per year
C) Quarterly on each shift
D) Only day shift drills are required
Answer: C
Fire drills must be conducted quarterly on each shift to ensure all staff are prepared for emergency
evacuation.
Question 6
The administrator of a 6-bed personal care home has a high school diploma and 3 years of experience as
a direct care worker in a nursing home. Is this administrator qualified under Pennsylvania regulations?
A) Yes, the administrator meets all requirements for a home with 8 or fewer residents
B) No, the administrator needs a bachelor's degree
C) No, the administrator must complete the 100-hour training course regardless of home size
