Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Career Filled with Purpose, Connection, and Joy
Activity Directors are the heart of senior care — blending creativity, compassion, and organization to help residents live with purpose and joy. This guide walks you through the nationally recognized path to certification through the Activity Directors Network (ADN) and the APNCC Board.
🎓 What Is an Activity Director?
An Activity Director is a trained professional who plans and leads meaningful programs in nursing homes, assisted living, adult day centers, and memory care communities. Their mission: to reduce loneliness, build belonging, and bring joy to the final chapters of life.
💡 Why Become an Activity Director?
If you love connecting with people, being creative, and making a difference, this is one of the most fulfilling careers in healthcare. Activity Directors help reduce depression, anxiety, and behavioral symptoms while improving quality of life — and the need for professionals in this field is growing rapidly.
🧭 Step 1: Complete the NAPT100 Training Course
The NAPT100 Certification Course is your starting point. Offered exclusively through Activity Directors Network (ADN), this 100-hour APNCC-approved program meets national training requirements for board certification.
- 🧠 Ten online learning modules
- 🎤 Twelve live CE hours included
- 💬 Instructor support and class discussions
- 🗂️ Downloadable forms and templates
- 📜 Printed and digital certificate upon completion
Choose your path:
- Scheduled Track (10 weeks): guided by an instructor
- Own-Pace Track (6 months): flexible and self-directed
🕒 Step 2: Gain 2,000 Hours of Activity Experience
To qualify for APNCC national board certification, you’ll need 2,000 hours of work or volunteer experience in an activity setting. The best part? APNCC accepts up to five years of past experience — so previous activity, recreation, CNA, or volunteer work may already count!
This requirement ensures you develop hands-on skills in assessment, programming, and documentation — and many students start earning their hours while enrolled in NAPT100.
🧾 Step 3: Apply for APNCC Board Certification
Once your training and experience are complete, you’re eligible to sit for the APNCC National Board Certification Exam. Passing earns you the credential AP-BC (Activity Professional – Board Certified), recognized across the U.S. as the gold standard for Activity Directors.
🔄 Step 4: Maintain Certification with Continuing Education
Every two years, certified Activity Professionals renew through continuing education. ADN offers a full library of APNCC-approved courses designed to inspire and keep you current in your field.
- Dementia & Memory Care
- Documentation & MDS
- Resident Engagement & Program Design
- Leadership & Team Communication
💛 Step 5: Specialize with Trauma-Informed Care (TiC)
Advance your career with the Trauma-Informed Care (TiC) Certification — a specialty program that helps you understand how trauma shapes aging, behavior, and engagement. Learn to design compassionate, calming programs that restore trust and dignity in care.
🌟 Start Your Journey with ADN
Becoming an Activity Director isn’t just a career — it’s a calling to bring joy, purpose, and comfort to others. With Activity Directors Network, you’ll have everything you need: accredited training, experience credit, and national certification support.
