
Your path to a CMA license starts with our…
Medication Aide program
- Expert instructors with decades of industry experience
- Flexible schedules
- Prepares you for the Kansas CMA exam
- You may qualify for financial assistance
Course duration: 4, 5, or 6 weeks
Available schedules: Hybrid (4 weeks), Weekday Evening (6 weeks), and Weekend (5 weeks).
Medication Aide program info
Program Description
The Medication Aide program at Mid-America College of Health Sciences is 75-clock-hours and designed to enrich students with the knowledge and skills to be successful as medication aides upon completing the program and passing the state examination.
The role of a Medication Aide is to ensure that clients in nursing communities receive their prescribed medication therapy as outlined by the prescribing physician and nursing community protocols. The Medication Aide administers medications under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and works with other care team members like the Nurse Aide.
There are three flexible schedules to choose from: a Hybrid schedule (4 weeks), a Weekend schedule (5 weeks), and a Weekday Evening schedule (6 weeks). A complete breakdown of each schedule can be seen below.
Students taking the hybrid schedule of classes are required to have a working computer, basic knowledge of Microsoft office suite, and a reliable Internet service.
Program Topics
The program content includes but is not limited to:
- Medication Administration Methods
- Medication Compliance
- Infection Control
- Drug References
- Basic Anatomy and Physiology of body systems
- Common Diseases and Medication-Related Treatments
CNA & CPR/BLS certifications are required
An active CNA and a current CPR/BLS certification for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association (AHA) is required. If you are not a CNA or CPR/BLS certified, you can take our Nurse Aide program or CPR/BLS course to satisfy these requirements.
CPR/BLS Certifications must be from American Heart Association (AHA). Certifications from other providers will not be accepted.
Prerequisite Exams & Courses
- Current Kansas CNA License
- Current CPR/BLS Certification from the American Heart Association (AHA)
- Reading Assessment
Orientation:
Hybrid Medication Aide applicants are required to attend a mandatory orientation on campus Wednesday before the course start date from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Orientation for Hybrid students will cover a variety of information such as the course schedule, expectations, requirements, etc. The required Reading Assessment will be taken during this time as well. Students that miss orientation will be required to switch to a later program start date.
General Admission Requirements
Along with the specific prerequisites stated in the previous section, prospective applicants must submit or meet each of the requirements listed below, and copies of required documents must be submitted to the admissions office before the first day of class. Enrollments are conditional until all fees, paperwork, and admission requirements are completed.
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Valid State ID
- Valid SSN Card
- CPR/BLS Certification from the American Heart Association (AHA)
- Negative Tuberculosis (TB) Test Result
- Plain Black Scrub Set and White Long-Sleeve Undershirt
Clinicals
Clinicals are an integral part of the Medication Aide course. Clinical days and times are within the course dates but times may vary to align with a nursing community’s shift schedule. Your instructor will provide you up to date info about the clinicals for your class.

Program Schedule
Our Medication Aide programs run from 4 to 6 weeks training, with a laboratory and clinical component at nursing communities located in Kansas under the supervision of experienced registered nurses (RNs). Students will have the option to select from three schedule options: Weekday Evening, Weekend, or Hybrid.
The Hybrid schedule will be a mix of online lectures, in-person lab sessions, and in-person clinical rotations in nursing communities. The online portion of this program schedule will be done via the Blackboard Learning Management System.
Upon completion of the Medication Aide program, students are awarded a Certificate of Completion. The next step after that will be to take the Kansas State Medication Aide Certification Exam. Passing that exam makes you a Certified Medication Aide in the state of Kansas.
Schedule
|
Class Time
|
Lab Time
|
Clinical Time
|
---|---|---|---|
Weekday Evening (6 weeks. Thur. & Fri.)
|
2 p.m. – 9 p.m.
|
2 p.m. – 9 p.m.
|
25 hours
|
Hybrid (4 weeks. Online session meets Tuesdays)
|
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
|
7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
|
25 hours
|
Weekend (5 weeks. Sat. & Sun.)
|
7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
|
7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
|
25 hours
|
Available Start Dates
Our Hybrid (Blended – on campus & online) Medication Aide program is 4 weeks of online instruction with in-person labs and clinical rotations at approved nursing facilities. The online portion of this program will be done via Blackboard. The lab sessions are done on campus on Mondays and Thursdays. The program schedule, including dates/times of in-person labs and clinical, is reviewed with students during orientation and again on the first day of class.
Students taking the hybrid schedule are required to have a working computer, basic knowledge of Microsoft office suite, and a reliable Internet service. Acknowledgment of ability to take online courses is required at time of enrollment.
The following start dates are available:
- Feb. 1 – 28, 2024
- Mar. 1 – 30, 2024
- Apr. 1 – 30, 2024
- May 1 – 31, 2024
- June 3 – 30, 2024
The following dates are available for the Weekday Evening (6-week) Medication Aide program schedule:
- Feb 1 – Mar 8, 2024
- Mar 14 – Apr 19, 2024
- Apr 25 – May 31, 2024
- June 6 – July 12, 2024
- July 18 – Aug 23, 2024
The following dates are available for the Weekend (5-week) Medication Aide program schedule:
- Jan. 13 – Feb. 11, 2024
- Mar. 2 – 31, 2024
- April 6 – May 6, 2024
- June 1 – 30, 2024
Financial assistance is available
The Great Jobs KC Job Training Program will pay all tuition and fees for qualifying applicants.
Catholic Charities of North Kansas City provides financial assistance to qualifying applicants.
Cost & Registration
The Medication Aide program is $900.00 which includes the cost of tuition, textbook, lab supplies, and fee for one attempt of the Kansas CMA State Exam. There is an additional $25.00 non-refundable registration fee.
Acceptable forms of payment are:
- Cash
- Money order
- Cashier’s check
- Zelle
Tuition and fees are due in full before the first day of class unless the student has been approved for funding by a third-party sponsor or has been approved for a tuition payment plan. Students must meet with our admissions staff and sign a Financial Responsibility Agreement to be approved for a payment plan. Payment plans are only available for the 5-week and 6-week program schedules.
Students may qualify for financial assistance through Great Jobs KC, Kansas Workforce Partnership, Missouri Full Employment Council (FEC), and more. Please see our Financial Assistance page for more details.
To speak with our admissions staff about this program, text or leave a voicemail at 888-585-0725. You can also speak to us in person at
1342 81st Ave NE, Spring Lake Park, MN 55432, USA.
If you’ve made up your mind, register and start the enrollment process now by clicking the green button.
Register Now!Frequently Asked Questions
No. Receiving a Certificate of Completion at the end of this course does not make you a Certified Medication Aide, or CMA. To become a CMA, you must also take and pass the the Kansas State Medication Aide Certification exam.
Your registration for this Medication Aide course entitles you to one attempt of the CMA exam, which you’ll take in our testing center. You’ll earn a CMA certification if you pass. Otherwise, you’ll have to register for another attempt at your own expense.
You have a total of 2 attempts within a year, counting from the start date of your Medication Aide course.
Yes. It expires in two years.
You can verify or check the expiration date of your CMA certificate at the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Nurse Aide Registry. Relevant instructions are on that page.
You’re required to take a CMA Update class before your license expires.