Certified Medicine Aide Fact Sheet

  • Admission to the CMA Training Program
A. All applicants for initial CMA training must hold a current, active, unencumbered Maryland nursing assistant certificate.
B. The candidate seeking initial admission must have:
  1. Current employment and two (2) years full time work experience as a CNA in a facility licensed under 42CFR Part 483 et. seq. (e.g. an ICF/MR such as Rosewood) or
  2. ​Current employment and one (1) year full time work experience as a GNA in a facility licensed in Maryland under COMAR 10.07.02 (e.g. a licensed nursing home), and,
C.Be recommended for the CMA Training Program by the Director of Nursing of the employing ICF/MR or licensed nursing home.
  • Initial Certification
A. The initial CMA certification will be effective until the date of expiration of the CNA or CNA/GNA certificate regardless of when the initial CMA program was completed. This may be less than two (2) years for the initial CMA.
B. The individual may not practice as a medicine aide until the Board has certified the individual as a CMA and his/her name appears as a CMA on the Board’s web page.
C. The CMA Training Program must notify the Board when the individual has completed the initial CMA training program. The Board will add the additional certification of medicine aide to the Board’s data base at no additional cost. 
D. Should the Board’s online verification system not contain the CMA certification please contact the Board.
  • When to Complete the Clinical Update 
Regardless of when the CMA completed his/her initial CMA Training Program the CMA certificate is renewed at the same time as the CNA or CNA/GNA certificate(s) are renewed.

 
A. The CMA who is renewing his/her individual CNA, GNA and CMA certificate will need to complete the required CMA Clinical Update, no more than 90 days before the expiration of his/her CNA/GNA/CMA certificate. For example, if the individual’s CNA, GNA and CMA certificate expires September 28, 2008 the individual will need to complete a CMA Clinical Update sometime in July or August or September of 2008. 
B. In addition, there is a thirty (30) day grace period beyond the date of the expiration of the certificate to renew. Therefore, the individual has an additional 30 days following the expiration of the certificate to obtain the Clinical Update. 
C. If one fails to obtain the Clinical Update before the expiration of the grace period, the CMA will be required to repeat the entire 60 hour CMA Training Program. 
  • Admission requirements to the CMA Clinical Update
The CMA applicant must provide the CMA Training Program with the following information: 

 
A. current, active, unencumbered Maryland CNA\GNA\CMA certificate per MBON web page.
B. In the licensed nursing home setting written verification from the employer or the CMA applicant affirming that the applicant has:
  1. practiced as a CNA for at least 16 hours in the two (2) years immediately preceding admission to the CMA Clinical Update;
  2. practice as a GNA for at least eight (8) hours in the preceding two (2) years; and
  3. practice as a CMA for 100 hours in the two (2) years immediately preceding admission to the CMA Clinical Update.
C.In the state licensed ICF/MR written verification from the employer or the CMA applicant affirming that the applicant has:
  1. practiced as a CNA for at least 16 hours in the two (2) years immediately preceding admission to the CMA Clinical Update.
  2. practiced as a CMA for 100 hours in the two (2) years immediately preceding admission to the CMA Clinical Update. 
D.Documentation of previous successful completion of an initial 60-hour CMA course training in Maryland.
  • Where to Attend the CMA Clinical Update Training Program 
The CMA may attend any Board approved Community College for the Clinical Update. The CMA is not required to return to the original school where he/she obtained the initial CMA training to take the Update Course.
  • Expiration and Renewal of Certificate
A. The first renewal of the CMA certificate will be at the same time the CNA or CNA/GNA certificate expires regardless of when the initial CMA Training Program was completed. This may be less than two (2) years for the initial CMA. 
​B. After the first renewal, the CMA certificate will renew every two (2) years on the individual’s birth year/birth month. 

 
Example: If the initial CMA class was completed in January and the CNA certification expired in October of the same year, the CMA certification would also expire at the same time the CNA certification expires (October). In this instance, the Clinical Update would need to be completed between August 1st, and November 30th of that same year. The CMA Clinical Update may not be taken before August 1st and may not be taken after November 30th. If the Clinical Update is not completed by November 30th the entire 60 hour Medicine Aide Training Program must be repeated to retain the CMA certification. 
​C. When renewing the certification, be sure to check all appropriate certifications. Do not check certifications you are not eligible for 
  • Inactive/Non-Renewed Medicine Aide Certificate
When the CMA does not renew his/her CMA Certificate by failing to complete a renewal form and/or failing to complete the CMA Update in the appropriate time frame, the individual must complete the entire 60 hour CMA training program.
 

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