Certified Medication Technician Training and Certification
Find out what training and certification is required to become a certified medication technician.
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<p>Nurses have a lot on their plates, and often the job of administering medication is delegated to staff members called medication technicians.
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<p>Medication technicians are often certified nursing assistants, but the requirements vary by state. Below, we've broken down what medication technicians do and how to become one.
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<h2 id="section---WhatIsACertifiedMedicationTechnician">What is a Certified Medication Technician?</h2>
<p><a href="https://learn.org/articles/Medication_Technician_Career_and_Salary_FAQs.html">Medication technicians</a> are medical personnel who administer medication under the guidance of <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/General_Medical_Career_Profiles.html">medical professionals</a> such as registered nurses.
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<p><b>Job duties of a medication technician may include:</b>
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<ul><li>administering the correct dosage of the right medications
</li><li>documenting medication doses and side effects in patient charts
</li><li>monitoring patients for adverse reactions to medications
</li><li>preparing doses of medication
</li><li>using specialized equipment to administer medication
</li><li>watching for physical and emotional changes in patients who have started a new medication
</li></ul><p>Medication technicians may work in hospital settings as well as long-term care facilities such as nursing homes or residential care facilities.
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<p>A certified medication technician (CMT) is a medical technician who has obtained certification. Many states require medication technicians to be certified before they can work.
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<p>Some places will use the terms 'medication technician' and 'medication aide' interchangeably. However, sometimes 'medication aide' is used for more entry-level staff that focus on administrative work.
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<h2 id="section---HowToBecomeACertifiedMedicationTechnicianStepByStep">How to Become a Certified Medication Technician: Step by Step</h2>
<p>Below, we'll explain how you can become a certified medication technician.
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<h3 id="section---Step1TakeACertifiedNursingAssistantTrainingProgram">Step 1: Take a Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program</h3>
<p>In most states, certified medication technicians are certified nursing assistants (CNA) with additional qualifications.
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<p>This means you'll need to become a certified nursing assistant before you can become a certified medication technician.
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<p>As with becoming a CMT, the requirements for becoming a CNA vary by state, and you'll need to check your state's requirements to learn how to become a CNA.
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<p>Typically, you must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent and then complete a CNA training program.
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<p>You can find <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Nursing_Assistant_FAQs.html">CNA training programs</a> through community colleges and trade schools and even through some medical facilities.
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<p>Be sure to choose a program that has been approved by your state's nursing board and the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Association (NLN–CNEA).
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<p>You can find a directory of NLN–CNEA-accredited programs at cnea.nln.org.
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<p>These programs usually take a few months and require both classroom courses and clinical practice experience.
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<p>Depending on your program, you may need to complete additional hours of in-person clinical training before you are eligible to take the exam and become certified.
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<h3 id="section---Step2BecomeACertifiedNursingAssistant">Step 2: Become a Certified Nursing Assistant</h3>
<p>To become a certified nursing assistant, you'll need to pass a CNA certification exam. The exam you take will depend on your state.
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<p>Several states use the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam. The exam consists of two parts: a written or oral portion and a skills demonstration portion.
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<p>The first portion is typically made up of multiple-choice questions and takes about 90 minutes. You can choose if you'd rather answer these questions in an oral or written format.
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<p>The second part is 30 minutes. You'll sit one-on-one with a test proctor and be tested on four randomly selected clinical skills.
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<p><b>The states that use the NNAAP exam currently include:</b>
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<ul><li>Alabama
</li><li>Alaska
</li><li>California
</li><li>Colorado
</li><li>Georgia
</li><li>Maryland
</li><li>Mississippi
</li><li>North Carolina
</li><li>Pennsylvania
</li><li>Rhode Island
</li><li>South Carolina
</li><li>Virginia
</li><li>Washington
</li><li>Washington, D.C.
</li></ul><p>All other states have their own CNA exams. Depending on your state, there may be additional requirements you need to meet to become a CNA, so check with your state's nursing board.
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<h3 id="section---Step3EarnYourMedicationTechnicianCertification">Step 3: Earn your Medication Technician Certification</h3>
<p>Once you've earned your certified nursing assistant certification or license, you may be eligible to earn your medication technician certification.
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<p>Requirements vary by state. Many states require that you've worked as a CNA for a certain amount of time before training to become a CMT.
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<p>You'll need to find a state-offered medication aide or technologist training program. These are often offered through community and technical colleges.
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<p>These programs can vary in length depending on your state. You will likely be required to complete a certain number of clinic hours outside of the scheduled courses.
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<p>Some states simply require you to complete a training program, while others require you to pass a certification exam.
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<h3 id="section---Step4ObtainAdditionalTrainingOrCertification">Step 4: Obtain Additional Training or Certification</h3>
<p>In most states, you will periodically need to renew your medication technician certification. To do so, you may be required to take an exam or take a certain number of continuing education credits.
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<p>Additionally, some employers may require you to have certain life-saving skills certifications, such as basic life support (BLS) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.
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<p>To further your career, you may consider obtaining additional training or certification.
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<p>For example, you can become a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/LPN_Certification_Requirements_Answers_to_Your_Questions.html">licensed practical nurse (LPN)</a> or <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Licensed_Vocational_Nurse_Salary_and_Career_FAQs.html">licensed vocational nurse (LVN)</a>. You'll need to complete a state-approved program. These usually take about a year.
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<p>After completing your education program, you'll need to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX–PN).
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<p>While being an LPN or LVN isn't required, it may increase your chances of landing a job as a certified medication technician and of earning a higher salary.
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<h2 id="section---BecomeACertifiedMedicationTechnician">Become a Certified Medication Technician</h2>
<p>While the requirements to become a certified medication technician depend on your state, you will likely have to first become a certified nursing assistant and then train to become a certified medication technician.</p>