REQUIREMENTS FOR PRACTICING AS A MEDICATION AIDE
Refer to 16.12.5 NMAC – Medication Aides for all CMA 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.
Certification by examination
Graduate nurses and nursing students currently enrolled in a nursing program.
Individuals who hold current certification from another state.
CMA II certification by examination.
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. Applicants should monitor the status of their applications in their BON nurse portal accounts and submit any questions through the Message Center.
The examination will be administered by PROV, a third party vendor. Click here for a step-by-step overview of the process. For more information about PROV, click here.
Exam letter. Upon verification that an applicant has met the requirements for examination, PROV will send the candidate a letter with instructions.
Recertification (renewal). 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. While the BON provides notification of pending renewal status as a courtesy, 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.
Click here for continuing education and work hour requirements and a proration table for renewal terms of less than two years. 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, click here.
Click on the following links 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.