The purpose of this blog posting is to clarify regulatory requirements for Medication Aides in Virginia.
The Code of Virginia authorizes unlicensed persons to administer medications in congregate housing facilities in Virginia. Such housing includes assisted living facilities, adult day care and youth and residential facilities as well as group homes, juvenile justice facilities and in jails and prisons. Each of these facilities is licensed by a state agency. Different agencies have different rules and regulations governing medication management. Below is a brief summary of a few.

Registered Medication Aide (Assisted Living Facilities only)
In 2005 the Virginia General Assembly passed a law that Medication Aides employed in assisted living facilities must be placed on a registry maintained by the Board of Nursing (BON). To be placed on the registry, an aide must complete the Board of Nursing approved 68-hour medication aide training program taught by an approved trainer, and successfully complete a state competency examination. Once on the registry, the aide must renew annually and abide by Regulations Governing Medication Aides.
These regulations are available at the BON website: www.dhp.virginia.gov/nursing

Medication Aide (All other facilities except child care centers)
Medication Aides employed in non-assisted living facilities must also complete a Board of Nursing approved program. However, these aides are allowed to complete the 32-hour Medication Management for Medication Aides Curriculum, taught by an approved facility trainer. This curriculum was last revised and approved by the Board of Nursing in the year 2000.
Please note that Medication Aides may NOT administer medications in a nursing homes or in home health agencies. Note also that Medication Aides employed in child care centers must complete a special curriculum


MAT (Medication Administration Training for child day programs)
Child care providers who work in licensed or regulated child day programs and who give prescription medications to children are required by the Code of Virginia to satisfactorily complete the MAT course. The MAT is a competency-based course approved by the Board of Nursing (BON) and Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) to train providers who work in child day programs to safely administer medication to children. The MAT course must be facilitated by an approved MAT Trainer.


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