(1) Baccalaureate and associate degree RN programs must be administered by a full-time program director who shall be responsible for program administration and preparation, presentation and administration of the budget of the nursing program. The directors of the professional programs shall possess the following licensure, education and experience qualifications:

(a) a current unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Montana;

(b) at least two years of experience in nursing practice; and

(c) at least two years of experience in nursing education, including didactic and clinical teaching.

(2) The director of the baccalaureate program shall possess a doctorate in nursing or a related field, from a nationally recognized accredited program, with preparation in education and administration. If a master's degree is not held, one of the graduate degrees must be in nursing.

(a) The board may allow an exception to the educational requirement of a doctorate for a period not to exceed one academic year. Such an exception would require the interim director to hold at least a master's degree in nursing.

(3) The director of the associate degree RN program shall possess a master's degree in nursing or public health with a major in nursing, from a nationally recognized accredited program, with preparation in education and administration.

(4) Practical nursing education programs must be administered by a full-time program director who shall devote a minimum of 50 percent time to administrative activities and shall possess the following qualifications:

(a) a current unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Montana;

(b) a master's degree with a major in nursing or a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in nursing, supplemented by courses in curriculum development, principles and methods of teaching, and measurement and evaluation;

(c) at least two years of experience in nursing practice; and

(d) at least two years of experience in nursing education, including didactic and clinical teaching.

(5) All program directors shall have appropriate rank, position and authority to carry out the duties set forth above.