Adult Care Licensure Section

General Information

The Adult Care Licensure Section of the Division of Health Service Regulation is responsible for:

• Licensing of adult care homes (seven or more beds)
• Licensing of family care homes (two to six beds)
• Registration of assisted living facilities called "multi-unit housing with services"
• Issuing and renewing adult care home administrator certificates

The functions of the section include:

• Performing initial and annual inspections of licensed adult care facilities
• Issuing and renewing adult care facility licenses
• Taking administrative actions against licensees or facilities as warranted based on non-compliance with state rules and statutes
• Assisting with complaint investigations as needed or requested by county departments of social services or complainants
• Providing technical assistance and consultation to facilities and the county departments of social services which are responsible for routine monitoring and complaint investigations of adult care facilities in their county
• Reviewing and approving registration applications and disclosure statements for multi-unit assisted housing facilities with services
• Providing statewide training for adult care home providers and county departments of social services
• Administering the medication testing program for adult care medication aides
• Administering the rule exam for applicant assisted living administrators

There are four regional offices: Asheville, Clinton, Lexington and Raleigh. Each office has licensure consultants who are registered nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, and social workers responsible for the regulatory oversight of territories consisting of several counties.