Elevate patient care as a certified medicine aide.
Become a Trusted Provider of Patient Care
The Certified Medicine Aide (CMA) Program prepares Geriatric Nursing Assistants (GNAs) to administer specific medications to residents in a Maryland nursing home under the supervision of a nurse or physician.
Approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing, our 80-hour medicine aide course includes 48 hours of theory and 32 hours of clinical. Some topics include administering non-parental medications, procedures and techniques for administering drugs, drug classification, drug solutions, measurements, and standards.
How to Get Started
- Open to geriatric nursing assistants working in Maryland nursing homes with proof of one year of full-time work experience.
- Must present a letter of recommendation from the current director of nursing.
- Must be in good standing with the Maryland Board of Nursing.
- Take and pass the Reading Accuplacer Test, scoring at least 250 or higher.
- Register for both CMA Theory and Clinical.
- Pay for the course
- Complete the program successfully.
Program Costs
- HES-666 CMA Theory: $630
- HES-667 CMA Clinical: $450
- CMA Textbook: Hartman’s Complete Guide for The Medication Aide
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) card certified by the American Heart Association
- Medical records: Recent PPD/TB skin test, COVID-19 vaccination card, and a recent flu vaccine
Summer 2026 Schedule
HES-666-28718 – Medicine Aide: Theory
Monday and Wednesday, 5/4 - 6/17
5-9 p.m.
Location: Center for Health Studies, Room 2211
HES-667-28719 – Medicine Aide: Clinical
Saturday-Sunday, 6/13 - 6/21
7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Location: TBD
Certified Medicine Aide Update
Summer 2026 Schedule
NRC-303-28720 | CMA Update
Saturday, 5/16
8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Hybrid (Virtual and Canvas)
NRC-303-28721 | CMA Update
Saturday, 6/13
8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Hybrid (Virtual and Canvas)
NRC-303-28722 | CMA Update
Saturday, 7/11
8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Location: Hybrid (Virtual and Canvas)
Program Costs
- NRC-303 Nursing Home Medicine Aide Update: $105
- Certified Medicine Aide Update Booklet (emailed to students the week of the course start date)
Contact Information
Phone: 301-546-0745
Email: wdcehealthcare@pgcc.edu
- Choose question