Medication Aide Certification Program
In Assisted Living Facilities, Comprehensive Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Programs

QUICK REFERENCE

New Jersey Medication Aide Registry And Testing Service State Contract Vendor

PSI
IBIS Plaza South
3525 Quakerbridge Road
Suite 1000
Hamilton Township, NJ 08619

GENERAL INFORMATION
Contact PSI at (877) 774-4243 to:

• Obtain information regarding your score report
  
  
• Change your current address or name prior to examination results being sent to the Registry
  
  
• Request a duplicate score report
  
  
• Obtain information regarding the examination
  
  
• Arrange special examination requests and services
  
  
• Request a Candidate Information Bulletin

EXAM RESERVATIONS
Contact PSI at 800-733-9267 to:

1. Make an examination reservation
   
2. Cancel or change an examination reservation
   
3. Reschedule an exam
   
4. Correct or update personal information
   

WEB SITE INFORMATION

Go to PSI Exams Web site at http://www.PSIEXAMS.com to:

• Download a Candidate Information Bulletin
  
  
• Search the Nurse Aide Registry to verify medication aide and nurse aide status.
  

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES (NJDOH)

In accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:37-6.2, only a registered professional nurse may delegate the medication administration task. Licensed practical nurses are not authorized to delegate this task to Certified Medication Aides (CMAs). Delegation of the medication administration task to a CMA may occur in Assisted Living Residences and Comprehensive Personal Care Homes, or only as part of an Assisted Living Program. These facilities are licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH).

Facility Trainers/Instructors are responsible for selecting qualified Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs), Certified Homemaker/Home Health Aides (CHHHAs), and/or Certified Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) for the responsibility of administering medications, under the circumstances when a registered professional nurse delegates this task.

To receive a New Jersey Medication Aide Program Candidate Handbook, or if you have questions, please contact the Assisted Living Program:

Fax:
A 24-hour FAX line, (609) 633-9060, is available for your requests.

Phone:
(609) 633-8993

Mail (U.S. Postal Services):
Assisted Living Program
Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing
New Jersey Department of Health
P.O. Box 367
Trenton, NJ 08625-0367

Mail (Courier Service: i.e. DHL/Airborne, FedEx, UPS):
Assisted Living Program
Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing
New Jersey Department of Health
120 South Stockton Street Lower Level
Trenton, NJ 08611-1730

Email:  Email Form

To help us respond to your inquiry efficiently, please include:

• Your specific request
  
• Your name and mailing address, including zip code
  
• Daytime phone number including area code
  
• Your e-mail address
  

Contact DOH to:

• Obtain information on official regulations and guidelines
• Obtain information regarding the medication aide certification and recertification process
  

Fax: Twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week
Phone: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

CERTIFICATION

In order to be eligible for certification as a medication aide, candidates must:

• Be currently certified in New Jersey as a nurse aide, homemaker/home health aide, or personal care assistant.
  
• Have successfully completed a medication aide training program approved by the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) before registering for the examination.
  
• Register for and take the examination within three (3) months of successful completion of the training program
  
• Successfully complete (pass) the PSI Medication Aide Examination.
  
• If candidates do NOT pass the examination within six (6) months of completion of the training program, they will be required to retrain.
  

In order to be permitted to sit for the Certified Medication Aide examination at a PSI testing center, prospective medication aide candidates will be required to produce evidence that certification is held as a certified Nurse Aide (CNA), personal care assistant (PCA), or homemaker/home health aide (HHHA).

In order to provide for a smooth process in obtaining the medication aide certification, candidates need to bring their CNA or Certified PCA (CPCA) laminated wallet cards, or proof of homemaker/home health aide certification. PSI Assessment Center employees have been directed to turn away candidates who do not have evidence of certification.

RECERTIFICATION

In order to be eligible for recertification as a medication aide, candidates must:

• Be currently certified in New Jersey as a nurse aide, homemaker/home health aide, or personal care assistant.
  
• Complete at least 10 hours of continuing education, seminars, or in-service training every two year certification period
  (N.J.A.C. 8:36-1.8(t) )
  
• Five hours shall include a review of the fundamental principals of, and the skills and knowledge for the task of medication administration.
  
• Five hours shall include topics on current medication used in the elderly population.
  
• Provide proof of certification at the PSI testing center prior to receipt of the renewal certification.
  

In order to be recertified as a Certified Medication Aide, medication aides will be required to produce evidence that certification is held as a certified Nurse Aide (CNA), personal care assistant (PCA), or homemaker/home health aide (HHHA).

In order to provide for a smooth process in obtaining the medication aide certification, candidates need to bring their CNA or CPCA laminated wallet cards, or proof of homemaker/home health aide certification to the testing center. PSI Assessment Center employees have been directed to turn away candidates who do not have evidence of certification.  

Medication aides MUST retain current certification as a homemaker/home health aide, nurse aide, or personal care assistant.

To replace a lost medication aide certificate, or report a name, address or employer change, please contact:

New Jersey Medication Aide Registry
PSI 3525 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 1000
Hamilton Township, New Jersey 08619

The toll-free telephone number is:
1-877-774-4243

Verification of Medication Aide Certification

A health care facility or employer may also verify an individual's certification status on the New Jersey Medication Aide Registry by calling the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system.

To access the New Jersey Nurse Aide Registry through the IVR system, call:1-800-274-8970.

The status of a medication aide may also be verified by using the PSI web site at:http://www.PSIEXAMS.com

Click on Government/State Licensing Agencies then select New Jersey in the Select Jurisdiction drop down box.  Then select NJ Department of Health (Nurse Aide) in the Select Account drop down box.  On the next page under “Messages”, click the New Jersey Nurse Aide Public Registry.  Both Nurse Aide and Medication license information is available from this registry.

The IVR 24-hour, seven days per week automated telephone service is designed to FAX back a written verification of the nurse aide directly to the employer or potential employer as soon as possible. If the employer does not have a FAX machine available, the verification will be mailed directly to the employer the following business day.

Obtaining Medication Aide Certification Through Reciprocity

The NJDOH does NOT reciprocate with any other states' medication aide program.

In order to provide a Medication Aide Training Course, individuals must:

• Be currently licensed as a New Jersey Registered Professional Nurse in good standing.
  
• Have at least 24 months of clinical experience including medication administration responsibilities, or at least two years experience teaching nursing courses, within the past five years.
  
• Provide consultation/collaboration with a registered pharmacist.  The pharmacist's credentials must be submitted at the time that the registered professional nurse applies to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) to become a Trainer/Instructor.
  
• Attend and complete an NJDOH-approved, one-day orientation course or workshop regarding use of this Resource Guide.
  
• Have the New Jersey Registered Pharmacist complete the one-day orientation course.
  
• Submit to the NJDOH all documentation of required credentials and professional experience.  Only those individuals who have been approved by the NJDOH will be eligible to take the orientation course and to become Trainers/Instructors.
  

Visit the Department Web site for an upcoming Medication Aide Instructor training workshop.

You may contact us at:

U.S. Post Office Mail:
Assisted Living Program
Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing
New Jersey Department of Health
P.O. Box 367
Trenton, NJ 08625-0367

Courier Service:
Assisted Living Program
Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing
New Jersey Department of Health
120 South Stockton Street, Lower Level
Trenton, NJ 08611-1730

FAX: 1-609-633-9060
Your FAX transmissions must include the following information:

• Your specific request
  
• Name of the facility or school and mailing address including Zip Code
  
• Your name and mailing address including Zip Code
  
• Daytime phone number including area code
  
• Email:
  

Obtaining an Application Form for Training Program Approval

• Request Application for Approval of a Certified Medication Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (MATCEP) in Assisted Living Residences, Assisted Living Programs or Comprehensive Personal Care Homes. (NA-4  pdf 16k - dot 57k)
  
• Enter name where classroom program will be held
  
• Enter contact person with telephone
  
• Enter dates, number of students and name and address for clinical site (licensed Assisted Living or Comprehensive Personal Care Home)
  
• Enter all Instructors, clinical and supplemental, and check if classroom (Instructor) or clinical (delegation and pharmacist).
  
• Responsible party signature required
  
• All delegatory/supplemental nursing staff STRONGLY recommended to attend
  
• DO NOT complete "For State Use Only" section.
  
• Agenda or curriculum MUST indicate exact Duty Areas taught, and who will teach the Duty Area (i.e. RN or RPh)
  
• Be sure curriculum totals a minimum of 30 hours
  
• Clinical sites MUST be a licensed Assisted Living Facility, Assisted Living Program, or Comprehensive Personal Care Home.
  
• Include the Addendum, with name, Social Security number, category of aide, certification number, and expiration date of all attendees. 
  
• APPROVAL WILL NOT BE GIVEN WITHOUT THIS ADDENDUM.
  

PROBLEMS WITH PSI CUSTOMER CARE

If you are experiencing any problems with Customer Care and would like the assistance of the Certification Program, please contact us by:

Phone:          (609) 633-9051
FAX:              (609) 633-9087
Email:            Email Form

When contacting the Certification Program for problem resolution, please include or have available the following information:

• The name of the Testing Center and Testing Center employee;
  
• The exact problem or concern;
  
• The nurse aide or personal care assistant's name;
  
• The nurse aide or personal care assistant's social security number;
  
• The nurse aide or personal care assistant's certificate number (if certified);
  
• The name of the PSI representative with whom you spoke;
  
• The information that was provided by the PSI representative.
  

NOTE: Nurse aide and personal care assistant candidates are encouraged to retain the Nurse Aide & Personal Care Assistant Candidate Handbook for future reference.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION (CBI) PROCESS

The laws of the State of New Jersey require that all new nurse aide candidates, new personal care assistant candidates, and nurse aides (N.J.S.A. 26:2H-83 et seq.) applying for recertification or reciprocity, and homemaker/home health aides (N.J.S.A. 45:11-24.3 et seq.) undergo a criminal background investigation (CBI) by the New Jersey State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Since the medication aide certification is valid ONLY when you have a current certification as a nurse aide, personal care assistant, or homemaker/home health aide, you are not required to submit fingerprints as part of the certification and recertification process for medication aide.  You MUST comply with the requirements for your nurse aide, personal care assistant, or homemaker/home health aide/certifications.