REQUIREMENTS FOR PRACTICING AS A MEDICATION AIDE
Refer to 16.12.5 NMAC – Medication Aides for all application requirements
Any person who wants to practice as a medication aide in the State of New Mexico must hold a certificate issued by the NM Board of Nursing (BON). An individual may become a Certified Medication Aide (CMA) in one of three ways. Click on the links below to learn more about the requirements for each.
All CMA candidates must submit an online application and pay a fee.
- To submit an application, applicants must first create an account in the nurse portal. There is not a separate portal for certificate candidates; all applicants apply through the nurse portal.
- Applicants should monitor the status of their applications in their BON nurse portal accounts and submit any questions through the Message Center.
Certification examinations
- For a step-by-step overview of the process, click here.
- The examination will be administered by PROV, a third party vendor.
- Upon verification that an applicant has met the requirements for examination, Prov will email the candidate a letter with instructions.
- For more information about PROV, click here.
Recertification (renewal). Complete information about recertification may be found in the Rules in Subsection E of 16.12.5.9 NMAC.
- Initial certificates will expire in the holder’s birth month immediately following the first anniversary of the initial date of certification. After renewal, the term will be two years. It is the holder’s responsibility to know their certificate expiration date and renew it on time. Practicing without a current certificate will result in disciplinary action.
- Medication aides with expired certificates of over six months duration must complete a refresher course in order to be recertified.
- Continuing education and work hour requirements for renewal terms of less than two years may be prorated. Certificate holders should log into CE Broker to confirm their individual requirements.
- CMAs who hold both CMA I and CMA II certificates and want to renew both will need to first submit the CMA I renewal application followed by the CMA II renewal application
- Applicants are required to upload their continuing education certificates and evidence of work hour requirements to CE Broker. For more information about CE Broker, click here.
Click on the links below for rules for medication aides and board-approved training programs.
Rules for medication aides. The Rules contain information about certification and recertification requirements, standards of function, disciplinary action, and training program requirements.
Board-approved medication aide training programs. A list of currently approved training programs with addresses and telephone numbers.