Minnesota State Medication Aide Training
Minneapolis College CEWD provides the required training to work as a Medication Aide in a skilled nursing facility. In this course, students will
- develop an understanding of drug administration.
- Participate in a wide variety of exercises and activities enabling students to apply their knowledge to healthcare settings.
- utilize training and supplemental resources to prepare for written and skills exams by building knowledge and developing skills competency.
This training fulfills the Minnesota State Statute requirements for a standardized medication administration training program for unlicensed personnel in nursing homes offered through a Minnesota postsecondary educational institution.
Minnesota law governs the qualifications required ;to work as a medication aide in a licensed nursing home. If you question your eligibility or the eligibility of your employees, please read the Minnesota State Statute requirements.
Course Format
This course requires a minimum of forty-eight hours of instruction.
Training for Individuals
This is a hybrid class containing both on-line classroom and in-person skills training.
Classroom learning is primarily self-paced, and instructor facilitated. Students are required to attend a 2-hour instructor led zoom classroom session once per week.
A minimum of 8-hours of in-person skills training is provided at Minneapolis College in our state-of-the-art nursing lab.
Students successfully completing both classroom learning requirements and the minimum skills training requirements are eligible for participation in the Medication Aide certification exam. This in-person certification exam is administered at Minneapolis College.
Customized Training Options for Employers
Available in two delivery models, in-person classroom or hybrid, the Minnesota State Medication Aide training will reinforce your employees understanding of drug administration through consistent and customized training options to meet your needs.
- Upskill your current workforce
- Invest in your team’s training and growth
- Reduce medication administration errors
- Choose your delivery model: in-person or hybrid
- Cost of the training may be reimbursable to nursing facilities participating in the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Nursing Facility Employee Scholarship Program
Contact us at customized.training@minneapolis.edu or 612-659-6500 to learn about options to bring customized training to your group or organization.
Eligibility
This course is open to everyone who wants to learn more about how to safely administer medication.
Most often, people take this course to satisfy the requirements needed to work as a medication aide in a skilled nursing facility in Minnesota. People also take the course for their own enrichment, to help them in another work-related role, like assisted living, or for guidance in caring for a family member that may need medications administered.
If this course is taken to fulfill a work requirement, it is recommended that a person works as a certified nursing assistant for six months before taking this course and be at least 18 years of age. Minnesota law governs the qualifications required to work as a medication aide in a licensed nursing home.
To work as a Medication Aide in a skilled nursing facility, students must have completed a nursing assistant training program approved by the Minnesota Department of Health before enrollment in a trained medication aide program. These employees are not required to take the nursing assistant exam, nor to have ever been on the nursing assistant registry.
A person who challenges the Minnesota nursing assistant exam or transfers in from another state, for example, would not be eligible. It is the responsibility of the facility to document completion of an approved nursing assistant training program.
If you have questions regarding eligibility, please visit the Office of Revisor of Statues website at revisor.mn.gov/rules/4658.1360.
Cost
The cost of this training is $775 per participant. This includes textbook and skills kit. Participants will be responsible for purchasing their own drug reference guide.
Payment Options
For Individuals
- Personal pay cash, check or credit card.
- The cost of the course may be covered by dislocated worker or WIOA funds. Please contact your local CareerForce Center to determine eligibility.
- Some employers may cover the cost for their employee’s training. Please contact the campus of your choice to learn more about third party payment options.
For Employers
The cost of the course and books may be covered by the DHS Nursing Facility Scholarship program. Participating nursing facilities can claim the allowable costs and receive reimbursement. Certified nursing facilities that have questions about what is and isn’t reimbursable under this scholarship program should contact Munna Yasiri.
FAQs
How do I sign up for training?
Four ways to register:
- Online: Visit our website for registration details.
- By Phone: Call 612-659-6500
- In-Person: Visit the Continuing Education office T4900 during business hours
- If your company is covering the cost of your test, download the Third Party Contact Form and return your completed form to continuing.education@minneapolis.edu.
Who should take the Medication Aide training?
This course is open to everyone who wants to learn more about how to safely administer medication.
Most often, people take this course to satisfy the requirements needed to work as a medication aide in a skilled nursing facility in Minnesota. People also take the course for their own enrichment, to help them in another work-related role, like assisted living, or for guidance in caring for a family member that may need medications administered.
If the course is taken to fulfill a work requirement, it is recommended that a person works as a certified nursing assistant for six months before taking this course and be at least 18 years of age. Minnesota law governs the qualifications required to work as a medication aide in a licensed nursing home.
Please note: To work as a medication aide in a skilled nursing facility, a person must have completed a nursing assistant training program approved by the Minnesota Department of Health before enrollment in a trained medication aide program.
The skilled nursing facility that employs the medication aide is responsible for documenting the completion of an approved nursing assistant training program and completion of the medication aide training.
What are the prerequisites for taking this course?
Minnesota law governs the qualifications required to work as a medication aide in a licensed nursing home.
To work as a medication aide in a skilled nursing facility, a person must have completed a nursing assistant training program approved by the Minnesota Department of Health before enrollment in a trained medication aide program. The skilled nursing facility that employs the medication aide is responsible for documenting the completion of an approved nursing assistant training program and completion of the medication aide training.
If the course is taken to fulfill a work requirement, it is also recommended that a person works as a certified nursing assistant for six months before taking this course and be at least 18 years of age.
If someone is a trained medication aide in another state, do they have to take this class?
Yes, they must take this class if they want to use this class to meet the requirements to work as a medication aide in a skilled nursing facility in Minnesota. This is true even if someone was trained as a trained medication aide in another state. Minnesota law governs the qualifications required to work as a medication aide in a licensed nursing home.
Can the Medication Aide test be challenged (like the Nursing Assistant Registry test)?
No, this is not like the nursing assistant registry test. The state statute requires that a person takes (and passes) the training that meets the state statute’s requirements. A challenge test is not an option.
Minnesota law governs the qualifications required to work as a medication aide in a licensed nursing home.
Is there a test-out option for this course?
No, there is not a test-out option in Minnesota, even if you have completed a similar training in another state or country. Minnesota law governs the qualifications required to work as a medication aide in a licensed nursing home.
Is there a recertification for this course?
Taking and passing this course does not result in a certification, therefore there is no recertification. Upon successful completion, students earn a certificate of completion, which is different than a certification. Minnesota law governs the qualifications required to work as a medication aide in a licensed nursing home.
How long is the course good for? Will I need to be recertified?
There is no expiration date on the certificate of completion. Once a person has taken the class, they do not need to retake the class – unless, of course, they lose their certificate of completion which may be needed for work purposes.
The skilled nursing facility that employs the medication aide is responsible for documenting the completion of an approved nursing assistant training program and completion of the medication aide training. Minnesota law governs the qualifications required to work as a medication aide in a licensed nursing home.
Is the cost of the course reimbursable
The cost of the course may be reimbursable.
DHS Nursing Facility Scholarship program
For participating nursing facilities, the cost of the course and books may be covered by the DHS Nursing Facility Scholarship program. Participating nursing facilities can claim the allowable costs and receive reimbursement. Certified nursing facilities that have questions about what is and isn’t reimbursable under this scholarship program should contact Munna Yasiri. Please check with your employer's HR department before enrolling in a course if you are seeking reimbursement for the training.
Dislocated worker or WIOA funds
The cost of the course may also be covered by dislocated worker or WIOA funds. Please contact your dislocated worker or WIOA career navigator to learn more.
Employer Reimbursement
Some employers may cover the cost for their employee’s training. Please contact the campus of your choice to learn more about third party payment options.