Administrator Certification Bureau (ACB)

ABOUT ACB

The ACB supports prospective and current administrators by proctoring mandated administrator exams, processing initial and renewal administrator applications, and ensures overall compliance of Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) approved, third-party program training vendors to promote the health, safety, and well-being of vulnerable California residents in licensed Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE), Adult Residential Facilities (ARF), Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTP), and Group Homes (GH).

Update on the CCLD Public Portal

The California Department of Social Services is building a new online system called the CCLD Public Portal, which will be available to licensees, administrators, vendors, home care aides, and the public. Effective August 17, 2026, the CCLD Public Portal will be available for administrators and vendors and will replace the ACB Online Application Portal and Vendor Automation Platform. For more information, please refer to PIN-26-10-CCLD: COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION PUBLIC PORTAL and the CCLD Public Portal Project webpage.

Facility Types that Require Administrator Certification

Adult and Senior Care Program

Children’s Residential Program

Adult Residential Facilities (ARF)

Adult Residential Facilities for Persons with Special Health Care Needs (ARFPSHN)*

Community Crisis Homes (CCH)/ARF

Enhanced Behavioral Supports Homes (EBSH)/ARF

Group Homes (GH)

Group Homes for Children with Special Health Care Needs (GHCSHN)

Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE)

Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTP)

* ARFPSHNs are not defined as ARFs pursuant to Health and Safety Code (HSC) Section 1502. However, pursuant to HSC Section 1567.50, ARFPSHNs must meet Administrator Certification requirements applicable to ARFs.

For more information regarding the statutory and regulatory authority for these facilities, refer to the ACB Facility Types table.

ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATION PROCESS

The following resources provide guidance to prospective and current administrators regarding the administrator certification process:

HOW TO BECOME A CERTIFIED ADMINISTRATOR FOR CCL RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES

HOW TO RENEW YOUR ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATE FOR CCL RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES

Past Webinars

The ACB hosts webinars for administrators, vendors, and community partners. You may access recordings and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) during the webinars by clicking the links below:

Administrator Certification Bureau Webinar, May 21, 2026

Topics: Application processing timelines, ACB website updates, certification reminders, policy changes, and updates on the Administrator Certification Online Application Portal and the Facility Management System (FMS).

Recording

Administrator Certification Bureau Webinar, February 12, 2026

Topics: Application processing timelines, ACB website updates, certification reminders, policy/legislative changes, updates on the Administrator Certification Online Application Portal and the Facility Management System (FMS).

Recording

Administrator Certification Bureau Vendor Webinar, December 11, 2025
Topics: Website updates, ACB form updates, certification reminders, updates on the Vendor Automation Platform, and the Facility Management System (FMS).

Recording

Administrator Certification Bureau Webinar, October 30, 2025

Topics: Application processing timelines, ACB website updates, ACB form updates, certification reminders, updates on the Administrator Certification Online Application Portal and the Facility Management System (FMS).

Recording

Administrator Certification Bureau Webinar, July 24, 2025
Topics: Application processing timelines, how to become a vendor, ACB website updates, Facility Management System (FMS), and updates on the Administrator Certification Online Application Portal.

Recording

Past Webinar Resources

Administrator Certification Program Fees

**Administrator Certification Fees**
Application	Fee Amount
Administrator Initial Application	$140
Administrator Renewal Application	$140
Administrator Examination Fee	$100

**Vendor Application Fees**
Application	Fee Amount
Vendor Initial Application, Initial Certification Training Program (ICTP)	$210
Vendor Renewal Application (ICTP)	$210
Vendor Initial Application, Continuing Education Training Program (CETP)	$140
Vendor Renewal Application (CETP)	$140
Vendor Course Fees (CETP)	$10 per unit

Laws in Health & Safety Code (HSC) for Administrator Certification

GH and STRTP HSC 1522.41
ARF HSC 1562.3
RCFE HSC 1569.616

Regulations in California Code of Regulations (CCR) and STRTP Interim Licensing Standards (ILS) for Administrator Certification

Regulations in California Code of Regulations (CCR) and STRTP Interim Licensing Standards (ILS) for Administrator Certification Training Program Vendors

Additional regulation resources:

This video presents the information on this webpage in American Sign Language (ASL) for Deaf and ASL-fluent users. Closed captions are included to support viewers who are not fluent in ASL, including individuals who are hard of hearing, late-deafened, or anyone who benefits from synchronized text while viewing the interpretation. The corresponding English-language content is available on this webpage. Free oral interpretation and written translation services are also available upon request.

Contact Us

Community Care Licensing Division
Administrator Certification Bureau (ACB)
744 P Street, MS 9-15-807
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-653-9300
AdminCertInfo@dss.ca.gov

ACB Public E-mail Inboxes

For inquiries regarding the administrator exams, please email the Administrator Examination Unit at ExamRegistration@dss.ca.gov.

For inquiries regarding administrator applications, please email the Administrator Certification Processing Unit at AdminCertInfo@dss.ca.gov.

For inquiries regarding administrator training, please email the Vendor Support and Review Unit at ACSVendorInfo@dss.ca.gov.

Attention Applicants

Stay Informed: Updates to the ACB Mainline

The ACB Mainline is available Monday through Wednesday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM PST. Administrators and vendors are encouraged to send an email to the applicable email address above if contacting the ACB outside of phone hours.

*Please note that ACB does NOT accept applications, payments, or other documents on a walk-in basis. Initial and renewal applications for administrator certification may be sent via postal mail or the CCLD Public Portal. Vendors may upload their documents through the CCLD Public Portal or submit via postal mail.

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