The Certified Medicine Aide (CMA) Program prepares Geriatric Nursing Assistants (GNAs) to administer specific medications to residents in a Maryland nursing home under the supervision of a nurse or physician. This program has been approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing.

The 80-hour Medicine Aide course includes 48 hours of Theory and 32 hours of Clinical. Some of the topics include: the administration of non-parental medications; procedures and techniques for administering drugs; and drug classification, drug solutions, measurements, and standards.

Become a CMA

  1. Open to geriatric nursing assistants working in Maryland nursing homes with proof of one-year, full-time work experience.
  2. Must present a letter of recommendation from the current director of nursing.
  3. Must be in good standing with the Maryland Board of Nursing.
  4. Take and pass the Reading Accuplacer Test, scoring at least 250 or higher.
  5. Register for both CMA Theory and Clinical.
  6. Pay for course (tuition assistance is available).
  7. Successfully complete the program.
  8. Complete the Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) Initial Medication Technician Application.

*Student is required to have an social security number (SSN) or tax ID number to successfully complete program.

Program Costs

Fall 2023 Schedule

HES-666-02493: Medicine Aide Theory | 5 p.m.-9 p.m. | 9/11/23 - 10/18/23 | Mon/Wed

HES-667-02495: Medicine Aide Clinical | 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | 10/21/23 - 10/29/23 | Sat/Sun

Certified Medicine Aide Update

This course provides the continuing education update required by the State of Maryland for renewal of the medicine aide certificate. Students may only register up to two months before or one month after their birthday. Students must be listed on the Maryland Board of Nursing registry as "Active" and, when registering, must have a letter from the Director of Nursing which shows proof of 100 hours of employment as a Certified Medicine Aide (CMA) within the last two years, and eight hours as a Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA).

Program Costs

  • NRC-303 Nursing Home Medicine Aide Update: $105
  • Certified Medicine Aide Update Booklet.
    *Emailed to students the week of the course start date.
  • MBON CMT Renewal Application.

Summer 2023 Course Schedule

HES 365-01674 | Sat, 5/20 | 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

HES 365-01675 | Sat, 6/17 | 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

HES 365-01676 | Sat, 7/22 | 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Fall 2023 Course Schedule

NRC-303-02496 | Medicine Aide Update | 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | 9/9/23 | Sat

NRC-303-02497 | Medicine Aide Update | 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | 10/7/2023 | Sat

NRC-303-02498 | Medicine Aide Update | 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | 11/11/23 | Sat

NRC-303-02499 | Medicine Aide Update | 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | 12/9/23 | Sat

Contact Information

Certified Medicine Aide
Phone: (301) 546-0745
Email: wdcehealthcare@pgcc.edu 

Accreditation Information

This Medicine Aide course and the 8 hour Medicine Aide Update are approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing. www.mbon.org