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Assisted living executive directors are now able to become certified under a new program offered by a commission created by Argentum.

Legend Senior Living CEO Tim Buchanan called Tuesday’s launching of the program “an important milestone” in the effort that Argentum first announced in 2015.

Buchanan (pictured) also is chairman of the Senior Living Certification Commission, the nonprofit corporation formed by the organization formerly known as the Assisted Living Federation of America to devise and administer new certification programs. The commission operates separately from Argentum, with its own governing board, although the two organizations share office space.

The assisted living executive director examination, passage of which is required for certification, was developed over the past 15 months. During that time, the commission convened panels of subject matter experts to develop a job analysis, validated survey and test questions and conducted a beta test to develop relevant questions and review examination procedures.

The resulting exam is designed to measure judgment, knowledge and problem-solving abilities in eight areas: principles and philosophy of assisted living; resident care and services; customer experience; leadership; operations management; regulatory compliance; sales and marketing; and financial management.

The program “demonstrates to consumers and state regulators that the senior living industry is committed to rigorous, professional development and self-regulation in an effort to deliver the best of quality of life to our consumers,” said Loren Shook (pictured), chairman of the Argentum Board of Directors and CEO of Silverado.

Executive directors will be able to take the exam at testing sites nationwide. Applications for certification now are being accepted. Oct. 1 is the registration deadline for the fall testing period, which lasts Oct. 16 through Dec. 15. See the commission website for additional information.

The commission also plans to develop certification programs for independent living executive directors and memory care, Argentum President and CEO James Balda previously told McKnight’s Senior Living.