| Training Required | Some courses require at least six months of trained experience, others require none |
| Certification | Required, through a written exam and a clinical practice exam |
| Job Duties | Prepare medications, administer medications, recognize side effects, accurately record patient reactions |
| Job Growth (2020-2030) | 8% (for nursing assistants)* |
| Median Salary (2020) | $30,850 (for nursing assistants)* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
How Do I Become a Certified Medication Technician?
A certified medication technician (CMT) is typically a certified nurse assistant (CNA) who has completed additional specialty training in medication and records. Some medication technician courses require that you currently work as a CNA and have at least six months of experience. A drug test and background test may also be necessary. Other medication technician courses do not mandate that you're already a certified nurse assistant and include relevant CNA training in the CMT course.
In a medication technician course, you'll study medical terminology and drug abbreviations, pharmacology, medication classification, drug dosage and medication storage protocol. You'll learn the documentation involved in ordering and administering medication, examine how drugs affect body systems and develop patient communication skills.
You're trained through classroom instruction and clinical lab work to sanitarily prepare medications and administer them via oral, nasal, pulmonary, subcutaneous and ophthalmic methods, among others. You're also taught to recognize typical side effects, appropriate responses and signs of medication errors so that you can accurately record your patients' reactions to their medications and help ensure they're receiving proper care.
How Do I Become Certified?
As reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), certified medication technician is not a recognized career in all states. In states where this is a regulated profession, you typically must pass a written exam and a clinical practical exam to get certified. States may impose some restrictions on the types of medications you can administer or have unique requirements. To maintain your certification, you may need to periodically complete continuing education courses, in subjects such as psychotropic drugs and insulin injections.
What Is the Career and Salary Outlook?
Certified medication technicians commonly work in long-term assisted living facilities under the supervision of practical nurses or registered nurses. Although statistics for CMTs aren't specifically available, employment of nurse assistants in general was expected to increase at a faster-than-average rate of 8% between 2020 and 2030, per the BLS. As of 2020, the majority of nursing assistants earned between approximately $22,750 and $42,110 yearly, with the median annual salary being about $30,850.
Instead of working as a CNA who administers medications, you could also think about becoming a home health aide. Instead of working in a medical or long-term care facility, you would provide daily assistance for people who are living mostly independently in their own homes. This could include administering prescription and/or over-the-counter medications. No formal training is required for this job. Alternatively, you could become a pharmacy technician, where you would perform clerical duties and help prepare prescription medications in a retail pharmacy or clinic. You need a high school diploma for this job, and you may also need to be certified by the state in which you work.
