Want personalized recommendations?
Let's match you to the right program
Medication Aide
Are you interested in a healthcare career that involves assisting patients with their medication needs? If so, becoming a Qualified Medication Aide (QMA) in Indiana might be the right path for you. In this blog post, we will explore what Medication Aides do, where they work, the requirements to become one in Indiana, and where to find Medication Aide classes.
Summary
QMAs perform specific tasks under nurse supervision. They work within a defined scope of practice, assisting registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in healthcare settings.
The Indiana Department of Health categorizes six ways to become a QMA, but enrolling in a 100-hour training course is the most common route. Here are the steps:
To become a QMA in Indiana, you must first become a Certified Nurse Assistant/Aide (CNA). Dreambound offers resources to help you find approved CNA training programs throughout Indiana, allowing you to search based on your preferences for location, program duration, and payment options.
Once you've completed your CNA certification, you can then choose from Dreambound's extensive selection of medication aide training programs to further your healthcare career and achieve your CMA certification.
The Indiana Department of Health's Division of Healthcare Education and Quality oversees the Qualified Medication Aide (QMA) certification program. This program verifies that candidates meet all QMA requirements and maintain their status on the Indiana Aides Registry.
The requirements that you have to meet include:
To become a QMA in Indiana, you must complete the 100-hour QMA training program— 60 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of supervised practicum. You must also demonstrate competency in medication administration and treatment application. This includes safely dispensing medications and performing various healthcare treatments.
The fee for both the written and skills tests is $75. If you're only taking one test (written or skills), the fee is $65. You can pay using facility checks, money orders, or credit cards—no personal checks are accepted. Checks should be made payable to Ivy Tech Community College.
Ivy Tech will email you once your QMA application and payment are approved. This email will include important information about the QMA exam and how to schedule it at an Ivy Tech Testing Center. You will receive this email within 30 days of submitting your valid application.
You must complete 6 hours of QMA Annual In-service Training every year and keep the records yourself. Here’s your guide to maintaining your certification:
If you don't have a CNA, your QMA certification will expire every 2 years. For example: If your current expiration date is 03/31/2018, your new expiration date will be 03/31/2020. If you have a CNA, your QMA will expire on the same day as your CNA.
Get courses selected just for you
Try our powerful search engine
Article continues after recommendations
Dreambound makes it easy for you to look for medication aide classes. Simply select your closest city to begin exploring your options.
You'll need to complete 100 hours of training for the Medication Aide program in Indiana. Typically, you can finish this course in about 4-6 weeks, depending on your schedule and the specific program you choose. Some programs offer full-time options that you can complete more quickly, while others provide part-time schedules that may take longer.
In Illinois, Medication Aides (classified under Orderlies) earned an average of $17.63 per hour. This translates to an annual salary of approximately $36,680 as of May 2023.
After completing your training, expect to wait about 4-6 weeks before your license arrives and your information appears in the online registry. You can check your status at the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency website.
If you're looking for a better fit, these other articles could be more in line with your expectations if this one isn't precisely what you had in mind:
Athena is Co-founder and CEO of Dreambound.