Medication Aide & Medication Manager Certification

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Medication Aides

To become a certified medication aide (CMA) in Iowa, a person must have successfully completed a DIAL-approved medication aide course, or passed a DIAL-approved medication aide challenge exam administered by an Iowa community college. 

The course for CMAs is offered at community colleges across Iowa. It is a 50+ hour course. After successful completion, the CMA may administer medications in long-term care facilities (NF/SNFs, aka nursing homes), intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/IIDs), residential care facilities (RCFs), and other types of facilities within the state. DIAL does not have a registry for CMAs, nor does it maintain a database of medication aide certifications. DIAL does not maintain records for or a database of CMAs. If you need a copy of your certification, please contact the college or entity where you took the medication aide course. 

A person does not need to be a certified nursing assistant (CNA) before becoming certified as a medication aide in Iowa.

Nursing students or graduate nurses may take a challenge examination in place of taking a medication aide course. An individual will need to do all of the following prior to taking the medication aide challenge exam:

  1. Complete a clinical or nursing theory course within six months before taking the exam;
  2. Successfully complete a nursing program pharmacology course within one year before taking the exam;
  3. Provide to the community college a written statement from the nursing program's pharmacology or clinical instructor stating the individual is competent in medical administration.

Transferring Credentials: A person who has written documentation of certification as a medication aide in another state may become a medication aide in Iowa by successfully completing a DIAL-approved nurse aide competency exam and a medication aide challenge exam.

In addition to Iowa community colleges, medication aide courses are available from the following organizations:

Medication Managers

To become a certified medication manager in Iowa, a person must have successfully completed a DIAL-approved medication manager course and passed a DIAL-approved medication manager exam. 

The course for certified medication managers is offered at community colleges across Iowa, as well as some health care facilities, training institutions, and provider associations.  

Upon successful completion of a 20+ hour course, the certified medication manager may pass medications in assisted living programs (ALPs) and residential care facilities (RCFs) with 15 or fewer beds. DIAL does not maintain records for or a database of certified medication managers. If you need a copy of your certification, please contact the college or entity where you took the medication manager course.

In addition to Iowa community colleges, medication manager courses are available from the following organizations: