Free MDS coordinator job description templates for skilled nursing and long-term care, with RN, RAI, RAC-CT, and 42 CFR 483.20 guidance. Download as DOCX.
6 free templates for skilled nursing and long-term care, each with the RN requirement, RAI process, RAC-CT certification, and 42 CFR 483.20 guidance the generic templates skip. Download as DOCX.
An MDS Coordinator is a registered nurse who manages resident assessments in a skilled nursing or long-term care facility. The MDS, or Minimum Data Set, is part of the federally required Resident Assessment Instrument, and federal regulation reserves coordinating and certifying it for an RN. That single fact shapes the whole posting, and it is the part most generic templates leave out.
These six templates cover the role across settings: the base MDS Coordinator, the RN-emphasized MDS Nurse, the assessment-coordinator framing, a long-term care version, the Director of MDS leadership role, and a small independent facility version. Each is ready to use, with the RN requirement, RAI process, and RAC-CT guidance the generic templates skip. For the fundamentals behind any posting, the guide to writing a job description is a useful companion.
TL;DR
An MDS Coordinator is a registered nurse who conducts, coordinates, and certifies resident assessments using the Minimum Data Set, part of the federally required RAI process. Federal regulation (42 CFR 483.20) reserves this for an RN. The role is typically exempt and salaried, and the standard certification is RAC-CT. As a benchmark, the RN occupation reports a $93,600 median (May 2024). Download six templates as DOCX, by setting, with the compliance built in.
What an MDS Coordinator Does
An MDS Coordinator conducts and coordinates resident assessments using the Minimum Data Set, certifies them as a registered nurse, and submits the data to CMS within required time frames. The assessments drive both the resident care plan and, under the Patient Driven Payment Model, Medicare reimbursement for the stay. The role is clinical, deadline-driven, and compliance-critical.
The underlying occupation is registered nurses (29-1141), since an MDS Coordinator is an RN in a specialized assessment function rather than a separate occupation. To be clear on terminology, MDS here means Minimum Data Set, the clinical assessment instrument, not an unrelated data-systems title. The templates here are organized by role variation and setting so you can match the posting to exactly the position you are filling.
MDS Coordinator Role Variations
The role goes by several names and spans a few settings, but the core function is the same. These six templates cover the variations facilities hire for, from the base coordinator to the leadership director role.
Variation
Focus
License
MDS Coordinator
Base assessment role
RN required
MDS RN Coordinator / MDS Nurse
License emphasis
RN required
MDS Assessment Coordinator (RAC)
Full assessment cycle
RN required
MDS Coordinator (Long-Term Care)
LTC community
RN required
Director of MDS
Team leadership
RN required
Small / Independent SNF
Often combined role
RN required
MDS Nurse, MDS RN Coordinator, and Resident Assessment Coordinator are largely the same job under different names. Director of MDS is the senior leadership version. Every variation requires an RN.
Duties and Responsibilities
MDS Coordinator duties cluster into four areas: assessment and coding, compliance and submission, care team coordination, and quality oversight. A strong job description picks the specific responsibilities from each area that match your facility and the variation you are hiring.
Assessment and coding
Conduct and coordinate each MDS assessment
Set the Assessment Reference Date (ARD)
Apply PDPM and ICD-10-CM coding
Compliance and submission
Certify assessment accuracy as the RN
Submit to CMS within required time frames
Follow 42 CFR 483.20 and the RAI Manual
Care team coordination
Lead the interdisciplinary team
Complete Care Area Assessments
Support person-centered care planning
Quality and oversight
Review CASPER and validation reports
Track quality measures and survey readiness
Resolve coding and accuracy issues
A long-term care role weights toward the quarterly and annual cycle; a director role toward oversight and auditing. For a structured way to scope the role, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by role variation and setting. The core structure is the same across all six, but each emphasizes the framing, duties, and seniority that fit. Use this guide to choose the closest fit, then adjust.
MDS Coordinator (RN)
Base role
The core version: an RN who conducts, coordinates, and certifies MDS assessments. The version most facilities search for, easy to adapt.
MDS RN Coordinator / MDS Nurse
License emphasis
The same role with the RN license front and center, since federal regulation reserves assessment coordination and certification for a registered nurse.
MDS Assessment Coordinator (RAC)
Assessment-cycle focus
The Resident Assessment Coordinator framing, weighted toward owning the full assessment cycle from reference date to CMS submission.
MDS Coordinator (Long-Term Care)
LTC community
For a long-term care community: comprehensive, quarterly, and annual assessments, with care planning for chronic and ongoing resident needs.
Director of MDS
Leadership, larger facility
The leadership version overseeing an MDS team at a larger facility. Note: this is the Minimum Data Set role, not a data-systems or IT position.
Small / Independent SNF
Owner-led facility
For a smaller, independent facility where the role often combines MDS coordination with some floor nursing. Includes the RN and compliance note.
Match the Template to the Role
Standard hire: MDS Coordinator (RN). Emphasizing the license to attract nurses: MDS RN Coordinator / MDS Nurse. Framing around the assessment cycle: MDS Assessment Coordinator. A long-term care community: Long-Term Care version. Overseeing a team at a larger facility: Director of MDS. A smaller independent facility where the role is often combined with floor nursing: Small / Independent SNF.
6 Free MDS Coordinator Job Description Templates
Download all six as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: facility and role summary, key responsibilities, qualifications with the RN license requirement, and how to apply, with an EEO statement. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 6 Job Description Templates
Coordinator, RN nurse, assessment coordinator, long-term care, director, and small SNF. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: MDS Coordinator (RN)
The core version: an RN who conducts, coordinates, and certifies MDS assessments. The version most facilities search for, easy to adapt to your setting.
MDS Coordinator Job Description (RN)
MDS COORDINATOR JOB DESCRIPTION (RN)
Facility: __
Location: __
Reports to: __ (Director of Nursing / Administrator)
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
FLSA status: Exempt (salaried professional)
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
License required: Active RN license
ABOUT [FACILITY NAME]
[One or two sentences about your skilled nursing or long-term care
facility, bed count, and the care team the MDS Coordinator will join.]
ROLE SUMMARY
[Facility Name] is hiring an MDS Coordinator to conduct and coordinate
resident assessments using the Minimum Data Set (MDS) as part of the
Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) process. You will ensure accurate,
timely assessments that drive care planning and reimbursement, in
compliance with federal regulations.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Conduct and coordinate each MDS assessment per 42 CFR 483.20
•Set the Assessment Reference Date (ARD) and manage the schedule
•Complete and certify the MDS and Care Area Assessments (CAAs)
•Coordinate the interdisciplinary team for accurate coding
•Submit assessments to CMS (QIES ASAP / iQIES) within required time frames
•Support care planning from assessment findings
•Apply PDPM and accurate ICD-10-CM coding
•Monitor accuracy, CASPER reports, and quality measures
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in [state]
•Knowledge of the MDS, RAI process, and 42 CFR 483.20
•Clinical assessment and documentation skills
•Detail-oriented, organized, and deadline-driven
PREFERRED
•RAC-CT certification (or willingness to obtain within [12] months)
•Long-term care or skilled nursing experience
•PDPM and reimbursement knowledge
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Facility Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 2: MDS RN Coordinator / MDS Nurse
The same role with the RN license front and center, since federal regulation reserves assessment coordination and certification for a registered nurse.
MDS RN Coordinator / MDS Nurse Job Description
MDS RN COORDINATOR / MDS NURSE JOB DESCRIPTION
Facility: __
Location: __
Reports to: Director of Nursing
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
FLSA status: Exempt (salaried professional)
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
License required: Active RN license (required for certification)
ROLE SUMMARY
[Facility Name] is hiring an MDS RN Coordinator, also known as an MDS
Nurse, to lead the resident assessment process. As a registered nurse,
you will conduct, coordinate, and certify each MDS assessment, the
function federal regulation reserves for an RN, ensuring clinical
accuracy and regulatory compliance.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Conduct, coordinate, and certify each MDS assessment as the RN
•Set and manage the Assessment Reference Date (ARD)
•Complete Care Area Assessments and trigger care planning
•Lead the interdisciplinary team in accurate MDS coding
•Submit to CMS (QIES ASAP / iQIES) within required time frames
•Ensure compliance with 42 CFR 483.20 and the RAI Manual
•Apply PDPM and ICD-10-CM coding for accurate reimbursement
•Track quality measures and survey readiness
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in [state]
•Strong knowledge of the RAI process and MDS 3.0
•Clinical judgment and precise documentation
PREFERRED
•RAC-CT certification
•Skilled nursing or long-term care experience
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Facility Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
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[Facility Name] is an independent skilled nursing facility hiring an MDS
Coordinator. At a smaller, owner-led facility, this role often combines
MDS coordination with some floor or supervisory nursing duties. You will
own the resident assessment process and keep the facility compliant and
reimbursed correctly.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Conduct, coordinate, and certify each MDS assessment as the RN
•Manage the ARD and assessment schedule for the facility
•Complete Care Area Assessments and support care planning
•Submit to CMS (QIES ASAP / iQIES) within required time frames
•Ensure compliance with 42 CFR 483.20 and the RAI Manual
•Apply PDPM and ICD-10-CM coding for accurate reimbursement
•Cover some floor or supervisory nursing duties as needed [if combined]
COMPLIANCE NOTE (READ BEFORE POSTING)
Federal regulation (42 CFR 483.20(h)) requires that a registered nurse
conduct or coordinate each assessment, so this role requires an active RN
license. The MDS drives both care planning and Medicare/Medicaid
reimbursement, and late or inaccurate assessments can trigger F-Tags and
payment loss. This is general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Salary range: $_____ to $_____ per year
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Facility Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
RN Requirement, RAI, and Certification
This is the part the generic templates skip, and it is the part that defines the role: the federal RN requirement, the deadline-driven CMS submission, the RAC-CT certification, and the FLSA classification. Get these right and your posting attracts qualified, correctly credentialed candidates.
An RN must coordinate and certify the assessment
The defining requirement is federal. Under 42 CFR 483.20(h), a registered nurse must conduct or coordinate each resident assessment, and the individual completing a portion must sign and certify its accuracy. This means the MDS Coordinator role requires an active RN license, even though a licensed practical nurse may complete parts of the assessment under the RN's coordination. The role exists because the Minimum Data Set is part of the federally mandated Resident Assessment Instrument, the statutory basis for which is the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987. State the RN requirement clearly in the posting, because a non-RN cannot certify the assessment. This is general information, not legal advice.
Assessments are deadline-driven and submitted to CMS
MDS work runs on strict federal timelines. The coordinator sets the Assessment Reference Date, completes the assessment and the Care Area Assessments, and transmits the data to CMS through the QIES ASAP or iQIES system within the required time frames after completion, with quarterly assessments due within set intervals. Late or inaccurate submissions can trigger F-Tag citations (such as F636 and F637), survey deficiencies, and lost reimbursement. The work directly drives both the resident care plan and, under PDPM, Medicare payment for the stay. Make the deadline-driven, compliance-critical nature of the role explicit so candidates understand the stakes. This is general information, not legal advice.
RAC-CT is the standard certification
Beyond the RN license, the recognized certification for this role is the RAC-CT, the Resident Assessment Coordinator Certified credential offered by the trade association for the field. Many facilities require it within a defined period after hire, often within the first year, and it is the clearest signal of MDS competence. The certification covers the RAI process, MDS coding, PDPM, and reimbursement, and is renewed on a set cycle. For a job description, you can list an active RN license as required and RAC-CT as required at hire or within a stated window, depending on how much you are willing to train. State your expectation clearly so candidates self-select accurately. This is general information, not legal advice.
FLSA: typically exempt and salaried
Classification for this role is usually straightforward. An MDS Coordinator is a registered nurse performing professional, knowledge-based work, which generally meets the professional exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act, so the role is typically classified as exempt and paid on a salary basis rather than hourly. That said, classification depends on the actual duties and the applicable salary threshold, not the job title, and some facilities structure the role differently, especially where it is combined with hourly floor nursing. Confirm the correct classification for your specific arrangement, and remember that state rules can be stricter than the federal standard. This is general information, not legal advice.
Federal Regulation Reserves the Role for an RN
Under 42 CFR 483.20(h), a registered nurse must conduct or coordinate each resident assessment, and the person completing a portion must certify its accuracy. The MDS is part of the federally mandated Resident Assessment Instrument, so the coordinator role requires an active RN license, with RAC-CT as the standard certification. This is general information, not legal advice.
MDS Coordinators combine an RN license, deep knowledge of the RAI process, and precise documentation, with certification as the key credential. Scale the requirements to the variation and facility type.
Requirement
What to look for
License
Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in your state (required)
Certification
RAC-CT required or strongly preferred, at hire or within a window
Knowledge
RAI process, MDS 3.0, 42 CFR 483.20, PDPM, ICD-10-CM
Experience
Skilled nursing or long-term care assessment experience
Skills
Accurate documentation, deadline management, team coordination
Classification
Typically exempt, salaried professional
Keep the posting neutral and inclusive, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on a protected characteristic, and the SHRM guide covers the standard sections of a job description.
MDS Coordinator Pay
MDS Coordinators are paid as registered nurses, generally on a salary. Set your range to your region and facility type, and remember that independent facilities often pay below large chains.
Benchmarked to the RN Occupation (BLS)
MDS Coordinator pay clusters in roughly the high seventies to high nineties thousand dollars a year, varying by region, facility type, and experience. As a benchmark for the underlying occupation, registered nurses had a median wage of $93,600 a year (May 2024), with the lowest 10 percent under $66,030, though pay in nursing care facilities tends to run somewhat below the all-industry RN figure.
RAC-CT certification and strong PDPM and reimbursement skills can raise pay, since accurate MDS coding directly affects facility revenue. The RN occupation is projected to grow about 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, so demand for experienced assessment nurses stays steady. Benchmark to your specific region and facility type rather than the national RN figure alone.
Hiring for a Small Independent Facility
Most attention goes to the large nursing home chains, but a meaningful share of facilities are independent, owner-led operations. At a smaller facility, the MDS Coordinator role is often combined with floor or supervisory nursing, and the owner or administrator handles hiring directly. The federal requirements, though, do not scale down.
Same Federal Rules, Smaller Team
An independent skilled nursing facility owes the same federal MDS obligations as a large chain. The assessment still has to be coordinated and certified by an RN under 42 CFR 483.20, still has to be submitted to CMS on the required timeline, and still drives both care planning and reimbursement. The practical difference is that a smaller facility often combines the role with other nursing duties and handles hiring and onboarding in-house. That is where FirstHR fits: offer-letter e-signature, document management for the RN license and RAC-CT certification, and onboarding workflows for orientation. FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a clinical, MDS, or reimbursement system, and it does not run payroll, so pair it with those providers. Applicant tracking is coming soon.
From Hiring to Onboarding
The job description is step one. Once a candidate accepts, the same document becomes the basis for the offer and a credential-focused onboarding. Because the role is licensed, certified, and compliance-critical, verifying credentials and orienting the new coordinator to your process quickly matters.
Send the offer
Confirm the role, salary, and exempt status in writing, with an offer letter the new coordinator can e-sign before the start date.
Verify license and certification
Collect and store the active RN license and any RAC-CT certification, with a plan and timeline if certification is expected after hire.
Orient on facility process
Onboard to your assessment schedule, software, and interdisciplinary team so the coordinator can manage the MDS cycle quickly.
Store the records
Keep the signed offer, license, certification, and onboarding documents organized and current for surveys and renewals.
Once your offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the next step, and an onboarding template gives the new coordinator a structured start. FirstHR connects the offer, e-signatures, onboarding workflow, and document management for the RN license and RAC-CT certification in one place so a facility can manage the people side of hiring from one system. FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a clinical, MDS, or reimbursement tool, and it does not run payroll, so connect those separately. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
An MDS Coordinator is a registered nurse who conducts, coordinates, and certifies resident assessments using the Minimum Data Set.
Use the template that matches the role: base coordinator, MDS nurse, assessment coordinator, long-term care, director, or small independent SNF.
Federal regulation (42 CFR 483.20) requires an RN to coordinate and certify each assessment, so the role requires an active RN license.
The standard certification is RAC-CT, often required at hire or within the first year, and the role is typically exempt and salaried.
Pay clusters in the high seventies to high nineties thousand; the RN occupation reports a $93,600 median, with facility pay often lower.
MDS drives care planning and Medicare reimbursement under PDPM, with strict CMS submission deadlines and F-Tag risk for errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an MDS Coordinator do?
An MDS Coordinator conducts and coordinates resident assessments in a skilled nursing or long-term care facility using the Minimum Data Set, which is part of the federally required Resident Assessment Instrument. Day to day, that means setting the Assessment Reference Date, completing the MDS and the Care Area Assessments, leading the interdisciplinary team to ensure accurate coding, certifying the assessment as a registered nurse, and submitting the data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services within required time frames. The assessments drive both the resident care plan and, under the Patient Driven Payment Model, Medicare reimbursement for the stay. The role is clinical, deadline-driven, and compliance-critical, sitting at the intersection of nursing, documentation, and federal regulation. This is general information, not legal advice.
Does an MDS Coordinator have to be a registered nurse?
Yes, in practice. Under federal regulation at 42 CFR 483.20(h), a registered nurse must conduct or coordinate each resident assessment, and the person completing a portion must sign and certify its accuracy. Because coordinating and certifying the assessment is the core of the job, the MDS Coordinator role requires an active RN license. A licensed practical nurse may complete parts of the assessment, but cannot certify it or serve as the coordinating nurse. This is why job postings for the role specify an RN license as a hard requirement, and why a facility cannot simply assign the function to an unlicensed administrator. State the RN requirement clearly in any MDS Coordinator posting. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the MDS and the RAI process?
The MDS, or Minimum Data Set, is a standardized clinical assessment of every resident in a Medicare or Medicaid certified nursing facility. It is one part of the broader Resident Assessment Instrument, or RAI, which also includes the Care Area Assessment process and utilization guidelines that tell facilities when and how to assess. The RAI process is federally mandated under the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 and detailed in the CMS RAI Manual. The MDS Coordinator manages this process: assessing residents on a set schedule, coding accurately, triggering care planning, and transmitting the data to CMS. The assessment data feeds care plans, quality measures, survey results, and reimbursement, which is why accuracy and timeliness matter so much. This is general information, not legal advice.
What certification does an MDS Coordinator need?
Beyond an active RN license, the recognized certification is the RAC-CT, which stands for Resident Assessment Coordinator Certified, offered by the trade association for the field. It is widely considered the standard credential for the role and covers the RAI process, MDS coding, the Patient Driven Payment Model, and reimbursement. Many facilities require RAC-CT either at hire or within a set period afterward, commonly the first year, and it is renewed on a regular cycle. For a job description, a common approach is to list the RN license as required and RAC-CT as either required or strongly preferred, with a willingness to obtain it within a stated window if you are open to training the right nurse. State your expectation clearly. This is general information, not legal advice.
Is an MDS Coordinator exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
An MDS Coordinator is typically exempt and salaried. The role is performed by a registered nurse doing professional, knowledge-based work, which generally satisfies the professional exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act, so most facilities classify it as exempt and pay a salary rather than an hourly wage. However, classification depends on the actual duties performed and the applicable salary threshold, not on the job title alone, and the picture can change where the role is combined with hourly floor nursing at a smaller facility. Confirm the correct classification for your specific arrangement, and note that some states apply stricter overtime and salary rules than the federal standard. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does an MDS Coordinator make?
MDS Coordinators are paid as registered nurses, generally on a salary. Compensation data for the role clusters in roughly the high seventies to high nineties thousand dollars a year, varying by region, facility type, and experience, with independent facilities often paying below large chains and hospital systems. As a benchmark for the underlying occupation, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median wage of 93,600 dollars a year for registered nurses as of May 2024, though pay specifically in nursing care facilities tends to run somewhat lower than the all-industry RN figure. RAC-CT certification and strong PDPM and reimbursement skills can raise pay. For a posting, benchmark to your region and facility type rather than the national RN figure alone. This is general information, not compensation advice.
What is the difference between an MDS Coordinator and a Director of MDS?
The difference is scope and seniority. An MDS Coordinator does the hands-on assessment work: conducting, coordinating, certifying, and submitting the MDS for residents. A Director of MDS is a leadership role at a larger facility or organization, overseeing a team of coordinators, setting accuracy and process standards, owning compliance and reimbursement integrity across the facility, and often auditing and training. Both require an active RN license and deep RAI knowledge, but the director role adds team leadership and higher-level accountability. One note on terminology: Director of MDS here means the Minimum Data Set clinical leadership role, which is occasionally confused with an unrelated data-systems or IT title, so make the healthcare context clear in the posting. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should an MDS Coordinator job description include?
Start by naming the setting and the RN requirement up front, since the role legally requires a registered nurse to coordinate and certify assessments. Include a short facility summary, a role summary that frames the position around the RAI and MDS process, and responsibilities grouped into assessment and coding, compliance and submission, care team coordination, and quality oversight. State the FLSA exempt, salaried classification, the active RN license requirement, and your RAC-CT expectation, whether required at hire or within a set window. The most valuable additions that generic templates skip are the 42 CFR 483.20 RN requirement, the CMS submission timelines, PDPM, and the RAC-CT certification. Close with an equal opportunity statement and clear apply instructions. This is general information, not legal advice.
