Nursing Home Licensure and Certification (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between licensure and certification in healthcare? ›

Unlike accreditation or certification, which are usually voluntary forms of external evaluation, licensure is always mandatory. The government's granting of a license to an organization signifies its permission to the organiza- tion to be open and provide care or services to patients.

Health Facility Regulation

The New Jersey Department of Health regulates a wide range of healthcare settings for quality of care, such as hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living residences, ambulatory care centers, home health care, medical day care and others (complete list).

New Jersey law guarantees rights to nursing home residents, such as: The right to live in clean and safe conditions. The right to be treated with consideration, courtesy, dignity, and respect. The right to participate in a Resident Council.

New Jersey is one of eight states to require CONs within all six broad categories—hospital beds, beds outside hospitals, equipment, facilities, services and emergency medical transport. New Jersey's CON program includes 100 distinct CON requirements, including one for paramedic services.

An accreditation will often legitimize an organization within an industry. Certifications, on the other hand, are provided to the individual. By becoming certified, professionals gain an objective measure of their competency and establish authority within a specific industry.

Voluntary Recognition: Unlike licensure, certification is not legally required to practice in the healthcare field. Instead, certification is a voluntary process that professionals can choose to pursue, demonstrating their advanced knowledge and skills in a specific area of their field.

The cost of nursing homes in New Jersey is nearly 60% greater than that of assisted living facilities. The average cost for a semi-private room is $11,619 per month, and a private room is $12,699 per month. These costs vary across the state.

New Jersey's Home Rule Act grants municipal governments broad authorities to enact ordinance and regulations providing for public welfare and order, and stands as one of the major sources of authorization for local autonomy in the State.

There are 348 nursing homes in New Jersey.

Certificate of Need is a regulatory process that governs the construction, relocation or renovation of certain healthcare facilities. The Certificate of Need program helps ensure that new facilities, or the expansion of existing facilities, meet the needs of the community.

What is a certificate of approval NJ? ›

A Certificate of Approval is issued for all work that requires a construction permit but which does not require a Certificate of Occupancy.

A Notary Public is a public officer of the State of New Jersey who serves as an impartial witness to the signing of documents and to the acknowledgement of signatures on documents. A Notary Public may also administer oaths and affirmations.

certification requires only successful completion of a standardized examination, whereas licensure requires completion of a set number of clinical hours to be completed during the nursing education process.

¹. Similarly, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies defines certification as “a process, often voluntary, by which individuals who have demonstrated the level of knowledge and skill required in the profession, occupation, role, or skill are identified to the public and other stakeholders.” ².

The main distinction between the two is the administrative authority. A non-governmental agency, entity, or organization, such as a nursing association or a dental board, usually issues certification. Licensure, on the other hand, must be issued by a government body or entity hence, it is regulated by the state.

Differentiate between certification, registration, and licensure. Certificate: fulfilled requirements of education and performance, meets standards of qualifications. Registration: qualified personnel. Licensure: government authorizes individuals to work in given occupations.