Working as a trained medication aide can be one of the most fulfilling careers you can have in the healthcare industry. If you’re on the path to becoming a TMA, there are specific courses, prerequisites, and certain steps to take to get you there faster. Keep reading to learn what a TMA is, explore the benefits, and discover what’s needed to get certified in Minnesota.
What is a Trained Medication Aide?
A trained medication aide (TMA), or medication assistant, is a certified professional who is authorized to administer medications to patients. Working under a licensed nurse, TMAs take care of preparing, distributing, and documenting medication and its administration. Often working in nursing homes, assisted living homes, group homes, hospitals, and other healthcare settings, they are well-versed in the intricacies of medicating patients.
A day in the life of a TMA often includes:
- Alleviating pain and promoting health
- Administering medication
- Documenting medication times, doses, and dates
- Monitoring patients and reporting as needed
- Communicating with other healthcare staff
Read More: What Is Trained Medication Administration and Why It Matters
Benefits of Being a TMA
Working as a trained medication aide means that you get to join a career where you help people and make a difference in their lives. There are even more benefits that you can experience as a TMA, including:
- Great work-life balance
- Higher earnings compared to standard CNAs
- Career advancement opportunities
- Greater job satisfaction
- More flexible job scheduling
There are quite a few benefits to becoming a trained medication aide in both your career and in regards to helping others.
What Does the TMA Course Include?
To become a trained medication aide, our TMA course at HeartCert is a hybrid class program that includes:
- 48 hours of online instruction
- Time needed for independent study
- In-person lab days once a week
- In-person final testing
- One included retest, retraining, or remediation if needed
How to Become a Trained Medication Aide
Now that you have a better understanding of the role of a TMA, you may want to know your path to becoming a trained medication aide. To become a TMA in Minnesota, there are a few prerequisites and training requirements needed before taking the final exam and getting certified. Here’s how to become a trained medication aide in Minnesota.
1. Meet TMA Prerequisites
Before signing up for trained medication administration, there are a few prerequisites you need to have first. To enroll and go on your way to becoming a certified medication aide, you must match these TMA requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Has a high school diploma or GED
- CNA-certified
With these prerequisites in place, you’ll already be qualified for the TMA training program when you sign up.
If you need to get your CNA certification, we offer hybrid programs around the Twin Cities. You can also add our Trained Medication Administration (TMA) class when you register.
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2. Enroll in a Training Program
To enroll in a TMA training program, you need to make sure to sign up early, before the classroom enrollment fills up. You can often find training programs in your local area. Most students enroll a month or more in advance to ensure they get in the class.
If you live in Minnesota, HeartCert offers a variety of classroom locations, days, and times throughout the year to make it more accessible for registrants.
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3. Complete TMA Training
Once enrolled, you’ll be able to attend and finish your virtual and in-person training in under two weeks. HeartCert makes it easy to attend classes with a hybrid learning style. With a couple of in-person labs and the rest accomplished virtually, it’s easier than you think to finish your training.
During the average trained medication aide class, you’ll expect to learn:
- Knowledge of how medications work in the body
- Legal requirements and ethical considerations
- Basic patient care and safety protocols
- Patient observations after medicating
With this new knowledge, you’ll have a better understanding of how medications work in a clinical setting. Once you pass your exam, you’ll be on your way to utilizing these skills and helping others.
4. Pass the Certification Exam
With your course finished, the only thing you have left to do before getting your certification is to take the exam.
The TMA training exam tests knowledge around medication and administration, pharmacology basics, patient rights, just to name a few. The exam consists of multiple choice questions, written portions, and a skills demonstration that covers.
Once you pass the exam, you become a certified trained medication aide. The next step is finding an open position if you’re not already hired somewhere as a CNA. With the new certification, you can unlock more work opportunities, higher pay, and more flexibility with your work schedule.
5. Keep Your Certification Up-to-Date
As with any certification, your TMA license can expire if it’s not kept up to date. Some expire after a couple of years, while others expire after 5 years. However, it’s important to take refresher courses to stay on top of new knowledge and ensure your expertise evolves with the changing industry.
In Minnesota, your certification doesn’t technically expire, but you do need to keep your CNA certification up to date. If it lapses, you may have to take the full course and test over again.
Get TMA-Certified with HeartCert Training
Your path to becoming a trained medication aide can be as easy as taking a two-week course and taking your exam. With HeartCert’s hybrid classroom approach, you’ll be able to get the knowledge for the role without spending every moment in person. If you’re ready to sign up and see what upcoming classes are available, check out our classroom training options while we still have availability.
HeartCert is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, TMA, IV, EKG and more, throughout the United States.
Courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.We offer virtual courses and certifications, in all 50 states as well as in-person classes at our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan and major cities in Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.
