(a) The board shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) To issue, renew, and reinstate the licenses of duly qualified applicants for licensure;

(2) To deny, suspend, revoke, or otherwise sanction licenses to practice as a nursing home administrator;

(3) To initiate investigations for the purpose of discovering violations of this chapter;

(4) To initiate investigations for the purpose of discovering violations by a nursing home administrator of the rules, regulations, or statutes of the Department of Community Health or the Department of Human Resources, provided that the board shall investigate those violations only after revocation, limitation, or restriction of participation of the nursing home of which such individual is the administrator in the medical assistance program or the license issued by the Department of Human Resources and make written findings as to the causes of the alleged violations;

(5) To conduct hearings upon charges into alleged violations of this chapter;

(6) To prepare or approve all examinations for licensure as a nursing home administrator;

(7) To develop, impose, and enforce standards which must be met by individuals in order to receive or maintain a license as a nursing home administrator;

(8) To conduct a continuing study and investigation of nursing homes and administrators of nursing homes within the state for the purpose of improving the standards imposed for the licensing of such administrators; and

(9) To adopt such rules and regulations as shall be reasonably necessary for the implementation and enforcement of this chapter. The board shall have the authority to establish, provide, or approve various education programs or courses for nursing home administrators and to prescribe rules and regulations requiring applicants for licenses as nursing home administrators to attend such programs or courses as a prerequisite to their being admitted to the examination or issued a license and requiring licensed nursing home administrators to attend such programs or courses as a prerequisite to their being issued any license renewal.

(b) Nothing in this chapter or in the rules and regulations adopted under this chapter shall be construed to require an applicant for a license as a nursing home administrator who is certified by a recognized church or religious denomination which teaches reliance on spiritual means alone for healing as having been approved to administer institutions certified by such church or denomination for the care and treatment of the sick in accordance with its teachings to demonstrate proficiency in any medical techniques or to meet any medical educational qualifications or medical standards not in accord with the remedial care and treatment provided in such institutions.