Certified Medication Assistant

Certified Medication Assistant

A Certified Medication Assistant (CMA) is a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) who has worked for a minimum of 6 months as an LNA/CNA prior to applying to the CMA program and has no complaints/restrictions on their certificate/license. A CMA has completed a medication training program, and passed an Arizona written and skills test for CMA’s.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Hold one of the following:
    • A diploma issued by a high school located in the U.S. OR
    • A general equivalency diploma issued in the U.S. OR
    • A transcript from a nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary school in the U.S. or from the U.S. military OR
    • Evidence of completion of at least 12 years of education in a foreign country
  • Be an LNA.
  • Have worked as a CNA/LNA for at least 6 months before starting a medication assistant training program.
  • Completed a CMA training program.
    • Education Exception (Exam Only)
      Applicants enrolled in an Arizona Board approved nursing education program that have completed:
      • A nursing course as part of an approved RN/LPN program; which includes a block I or nursing fundamentals course with theory and clinical.
      • A 3-credit pharmacology course
      • Instructor verification of 40 hours of experience in medication administration in a long-term care facility.
      • Submit the waiver request in addition to the application.
  • Passed a CMA exam.
  • A previous or current license in another state or territory.
  • Board approval for applicants under investigation.
  • Foreign Educated Applicants (Including Canada and Puerto Rico):
    If the official language of the country was not English, must pass an English language proficiency exam.

Certification by Endorsement

Application Requirements

  • Submission of an CMA endorsement application via the Nurse Portal.
  • Payment of applicable fees.
  • Submit Diploma
  • Request Verification of Medication Assistant Registration from your original state of certification.
  • Documentation of meeting practice requirements by:
    • Having practiced as a medication assistant in a long-term care facility for at least 160 hours in the past 2 years OR
    • Completed a CMA training program in the past year.
  • Citizenship/Lawful Presence Documentation
    • All applicants must upload a copy of documentation regarding citizenship/nationality/alien status. For a list of acceptable documents visit Citizenship and Alien Status.
  • Fingerprints
    • Applicants are required to submit a full set of fingerprints for the purpose of obtaining State and Federal criminal background checks.
    • Applicants are only exempt from this requirement if they have submitted a fingerprint card to AZBN within the previous two years.
    • A copy of a clearance card issued by DPS is not a substitute.
    • AZBN now offers electronic fingerprinting services for applicants who are physically in Arizona. At this time there are no location partners outside of Arizona.
    • The only physical fingerprint card accepted is the FD-258 Blue & White applicant cards. Call your local police department, sheriff’s office or check for names of private agencies that do fingerprint to find out hours and whether they have the correct cards. If you are unable to obtain the correct fingerprint card, contact us and we will mail you a FD-258 card.  (The agency you use must validate your identification with a driver’s license or a state issued ID. Fingerprints done by an applicant on themselves will not be accepted and will delay processing time.)
    • Submit the fingerprint card as soon as possible to expedite the application process.
    • A certification will not be issued until fingerprint results are received.
    • Results can take approximately 30 days for electronic, and 8-12 weeks for physical cards.

Certification by Exam

  • Submission of an CMA initial application via the Nurse Portal.
  • Payment of applicable fees.
  • Submit Official Letter of Completion
  • Pass the Arizona written and skill tests for a CMA.
  • Citizenship/Lawful Presence Documentation
    • All applicants must upload a copy of documentation regarding citizenship/nationality/alien status. For a list of acceptable documents visit Citizenship and Alien Status.
  • Fingerprints
    • Applicants are required to submit a full set of fingerprints for the purpose of obtaining State and Federal criminal background checks.
    • Applicants are only exempt from this requirement if they have submitted a fingerprint card to AZBN within the previous two years.
    • A copy of a clearance card issued by DPS is not a substitute.
    • AZBN now offers electronic fingerprinting services for applicants who are physically in Arizona. At this time there are no location partners outside of Arizona.
    • The only physical fingerprint card accepted is the FD-258 Blue & White applicant cards. Call your local police department, sheriff’s office or check for names of private agencies that do fingerprint to find out hours and whether they have the correct cards. If you are unable to obtain the correct fingerprint card, contact us and we will mail you a FD-258 card.  (The agency you use must validate your identification with a driver’s license or a state issued ID. Fingerprints done by an applicant on themselves will not be accepted and will delay processing time.)
    • Submit the fingerprint card as soon as possible to expedite the application process.
    • A certification will not be issued until fingerprint results are received.
    • Results can take approximately 30 days for electronic, and 8-12 weeks for physical cards.

CMA Application FAQs

Application Fees

All fees are in U.S Dollars and are non-refundable.

  • Application Fee: $50
  • Background Check Fee: $50

  • Applicants are required to submit a full set of fingerprints for the purpose of obtaining State and Federal criminal background checks.
  • Applicants are only exempt from this requirement if they have submitted a fingerprint card to AZBN within the previous two years.
  • A copy of a clearance card issued by DPS is not a substitute.

CNA Applicants are NOT required to submit fingerprints to the Arizona State Board of Nursing to be certified.

Call your local police department, sheriff’s office or check for names of private agencies that do fingerprint to find out hours and whether they have the correct cards. If you are unable to obtain the correct fingerprint card, contact us and we will mail you a FD-258 card.  (The agency you use must validate your identification with a driver’s license or a state issued ID. Fingerprints done by an applicant on themselves will not be accepted and will delay processing time.)

AZBN now offers electronic fingerprinting services for applicants who are physically in Arizona. At this time there are no location partners outside of Arizona. View Fingerprints for more information.

Submit the fingerprint card as soon as possible to expedite the application process. Results can take approximately 30 days for electronic, and 8-12 weeks for physical cards. (A certification will not be issued until fingerprint results are received.)

To check the status of your application, login to your Nurse Portal.

When you submit an application, AZBN will send you a notice identifying any elements of the application process which remain outstanding. If you fail to remediate the deficiency within the applicable time period, your application will be withdrawn. After withdrawal, if you are still interested in obtaining licensure you would need to submit a new application and pay the application fee.

The Board is required to process applications for licensure/certification within certain time periods, per R4-19-102.

Item Business Days
Board Overall Time Frame without Investigation 150
Board Overall Time Frame with Investigation 270
Board Administrative Completeness Review Time Frame 30
Applicant Time to Respond to Deficiency Notice 270
Board Substantive Review Time Frame without Investigation 120
Board Substantive Review Time Frame with Investigation 240
Applicant Time to Respond to Comprehensive Written Request 150

 

You must disclose criminal charges on your application. If it occurred after you had already submitted your application, you must notify AZBN of criminal charges within 10 days of being charged. For further information visit, Reporting Criminal Charges.

Felony Convictions

According to A.R.S. § 32-1606(B)(17), an applicant for licensure or certification is not eligible if the applicant has any felony convictions and has not received an absolute discharge from the sentences for all felony convictions. The absolute discharge from the sentence for all felony conviction(s) must be received 3 or more years before submitting this application. If you cannot prove that the absolute discharge date is 3 or more years, the Board will notify you that you do not meet the requirements.

A licensee, certificate holder or applicant who legally changes their name must notify the Board in writing within 30 days of the name change. A copy of the official document evidencing the name change must be submitted. Do not send original documents.

Provide documentation to verify license/certificate holder’s previous name (i.e. birth certificate, a social security card, marriage license, divorce decree, High School diploma) and documentation that verifies the licensee/certificate holder’s current name (i.e. divorce decree, driver’s license, social security card, marriage license).

Name and address changes must be made through the Nurse Portal.

The Arizona State Board of Nursing stopped issuing hard copy licenses and certificates as of September 21, 2018. License or certificate information for LPN/RN/APRN can be verified through Nursys.com and CNA/LNA/CMA/LHA can be verified through the License/Certificate Verification Portal.