Update on ALF Medication Aide Requirements

VHCA (02/01/08)

The Virginia General Assembly passed a law in 2005 that required the Board of Nursing to regulate medication aides in Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) beginning July 2007.  We are currently in a 12-month transition period to accomplish this.  By July 1, 2008, all medication aides working in Assisted Living Facilities are required to be registered with the Board of Nursing. 

Eligibility requirements include:

1. Completion of a Board approved Medication Training Course
2. Completion and submission of an application, inclusive of fees
3. Successful passing of a standardized exam (administered by PSI) with a 70% pass rate

The following items must be submitted to the Board of Nursing when applying to take the exam:

1. A completed application (available on the Board of Nursing website)
2. Application Fee ($50)
3. Documentation of successful completion of direct care courses or CNA course
4. Documentation of successful completion of Board approved 68 hour curriculum or eight-hour refresher course. (Certificate of completion must include the program provider approval number assigned by the Board of Nursing)
5. If completing the eight-hour refresher course, must have documentation of 12 months employment as a medication aide in an ALF
6. A passport photo that has been signed on the front of the picture (driver’s license pictures are not acceptable)   

As of January 31, 2008, 22 applicants have taken the registration examination; 20 of the 22 have passed a 91% pass rate.

For more information on the Medication Aide program and a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), log on to the Board of Nursing website.

A list of approved program providers with contact information is available on this site.  This list is updated on a daily basis as program providers are approved.  In addition, all approved program providers will have provider numbers that are only given to them once they are approved.  These numbers must be on the certificate of completion that is provided to students.

To assist ALF providers with training of their instructors, VHCA is offering a Train the Trainer program for Medication Aides on February 26th in the VHCA office for licensed nurses and pharmacists to qualify them to teach an approved Medication Aide program.  More information on the VHCA’s training is available on the VHCA website.