Certified Medication Aides

On September 26, 2024, the Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health Systems, took over the Medication Aide Registry from Headmaster, L.L.P. The new software system used to maintain the medication Aide Registry by the Bureau is called MI-NATES:  Michigan Nurse Aide, Training, and Enforcement System. The

Michigan Medication Aide Registry pulls data of active medication aides from the MI-NATES system.

To apply to be a medication aide, applicants must first have an active Michigan nurse aide certification. Please visit the CNA Registry webpage for information about becoming a CNA in Michigan. The CNA Registry webpage also contains useful instructional information on how to create the MI-NATES account that is necessary for applicants to request placement on the Michigan Medication Aide Registry.

MI-NATES is UTILIZED FOR:

• Electronic Submission and Payments for Medication Aide Applications and Renewals
• Printing your Certificate of Registration
• Reviewing or Updating Your Registration Information

Steps to access MI-NATES:

• Create a MILogin account at MILogin - Login (michigan.gov). This can be done at any time.
  • Click here for an instructional video on how to create a MILogin account: How To Create a MILogin Account.
  • Click here for a helpful guide to walk you through the account setup instructions: MILogin/MI-NATES Account Setup Guide.
• Request access to MI-NATES and set up your user profile.

• MI-NATES will be available as an application on your MILogin account for management of your medication aide registration.

NOTE: It is recommended that MI-NATES be accessed using a personal computer and not a hand-held mobile device.

RECOMMENDED BROWSER: It is recommended that all users access MI-NATES through the Google Chrome web browser. MI-NATES is supported for use with Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge however, Google Chrome will ensure the best user experience.

MI-NATES is not compatible with the Safari web browser. You will not be able to successfully register using Safari (iPhone, iPad, etc.). MI-NATES should be accessed using the Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge web browser.

The Michigan Medication Aide Registry is maintained by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health Systems.  The registry contains a list of all active medication aide registrations and some lapsed registrations based upon our records retention schedule. Click here to be redirected to the Medication Aide Registry.

Any questions regarding the Michigan Medication Aide Registry can be directed to:

Bureau of Community and Health Systems

Nurse and Medication Aide Section

Phone:  (517) 284-8961

Email:  BCHS-CNA-Registry@michigan.gov

A Michigan medication aide certificate is valid for 2 years. To renew a certificate, an individual must electronically:

• Log into your account in MI-NATES and submit a renewal application.
• Pay the renewal fee ($160).
• Renewals can be initiated no earlier than 45 days prior to the certificate expiration date.

MI-NATES is not compatible with the Safari web browser. You will not be able to successfully register using Safari (iPhone, iPad, etc.). MI-NATES should be accessed using the Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge web browser.

Important information regarding renewing a medication aide certificate:

• The Bureau of Community and Health Systems will send an electronic renewal notice, via email, 45 days before the expiration date listed on the certificate.
• To receive this notice, it is important that your contact information is accurate in the MI-NATES system.
• A certificate must be renewed prior to the expiration date listed on the current certificate.
• It is encouraged to submit renewal requests and payment as soon as possible after receipt of a renewal notice (but not earlier than 45 days before the certification expiration date).
• A renewal certificate is good for 24 months from the last certificate’s expiration date.
• If a renewal is not submitted timely, or is incomplete, the certificate will lapse the day after the expiration date.
• An individual may not work as a medication aide with a lapsed or expired certificate.

Important information regarding a lapsed medication aide certificate less than 24 months of its expiration date:

• The individual will follow the standard renewal process above.
• If a lapsed certificate is renewed, the renewed certificate will only be valid for 24 months from the last certificate's expiration date.

Important information regarding a lapsed medication aide certificate greater than 24 months of its expiration date:

• An individual will be removed from the registry and must retake a Michigan-approved medication aide training course and competency examination. The individual must apply as a new initial certification.

The following locations are currently permitted to conduct a medication aide training program in Michigan:

Glen Oaks Community College
62249 Shimmel Rd.
Centreville, MI  49032
Phone: 269-467-9945

North Central Michigan College
1515 Howard St.
Petosky, MI  49770
Phone: 888-298-6605

Kalamazoo Valley Community College
7107 Elm Valley Dr., P.O. BOX 4070
Kalamazoo, MI  49003
Phone: 269-353-1276

Macomb Community College
14500 East 12 Mile Rd.
SC-125
Warren, MI  48088
Phone: 586-445-7252

Lansing Community College
5708 Cornerstone Dr.
Lansing, MI 48917
Phone: 517-483-9651

Baker College
1020 South Washington St.
Owosso, MI 48867
Phone: 989-729-3616

Schoolcraft College
18600 Haggerty Road
Livonia, Michigan, 48152
Phone: 248-496-6838

Any questions regarding the medication aide training programs can be directed to:

Bureau of Community and Health Systems

Nurse and Medication Aide Section

Phone: 517-896-0511

E-mail: LARA-BCHS-MA-Training-Program@michigan.gov

Per Michigan statute, an individual shall not engage in practice as a medication aide unless the individual holds a valid Michigan certification to engage in practice as a medication aide.

A Michigan certification may be granted to engage in practice as a medication aide in Michigan to an applicant who meets all of the following requirements:

• Possess a valid Michigan nurse aide certificate.
• Must have worked as a nurse aide in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility for at least 2,000 hours during the 2-year period immediately preceding the date of applying for a medication aide certificate.
• Demonstrate successful completion a medication aide training program and a competency examination approved by the Bureau of Community and Health Systems.
• Pay a registration fee of $160.
• Pay a competency exam fee of $175, per examination.

A Michigan Medication Aide certificate is valid for 2 years with a renewal fee of $160.

The State of Michigan does not conduct testing of medication aide candidates.  The Bureau of Community and Health Systems contracts with Headmaster, L.L.P. to conduct Medication Aide Certification Exams. Any questions regarding the testing and certification should be directed to:

Headmaster
P.O. Box 6609
Helena, MT 59604-6609
Phone (800) 393-8664
Fax (406) 442-3357
Michigan@hdmaster.com
https://hdmaster.com

Michigan statute regarding Medication Aides stipulates that certification may be granted to an applicant who is from another state if the applicant provides proof that they have successfully completed a medication aide training program from Indiana, Ohio, or Wisconsin, and the applicant passes a competency examination approved by the Bureau of Community and Health Systems.

Reciprocity applicants must first provide proof of successful completion of a medication aide training program in Indiana, Ohio, or Wisconsin in order to be eligible to take the Michigan Medication Aide competency test. Reciprocity candidates cannot take the Michigan competency test until such proof is provided to the testing contractor. Once Michigan competency testing is passed, reciprocity applicants must do the following to be granted a Michigan medication aide certification:

• Must have a valid/active Michigan nurse aide certification.

• Must use the MI-NATES system to:

• Give an attestation that they have been employed as a CNA at a nursing home/skilled nursing facility for at least 2,000 hours in the 2-year period immediately leading up to submitting the medication aide application (such employment from another state is acceptable).
• Electronically submit a $160 medication aide registration fee.

The State of Michigan does not conduct testing of medication aide candidates. The Bureau of Community and Health Systems contracts with Headmaster, L.L.P. to conduct Medication Aide Certification Exams. Any questions regarding the testing and certification should be directed to:

Headmaster
P.O. Box 6609
Helena, MT 59604-6609
Phone (800) 393-8664
Fax (406) 442-3357
Michigan@hdmaster.com

Medication Aide Webpage

According to the Michigan Public Health Code, 1978 PA 368, Part 219:

• "Practice as a medication aide" means administering regularly scheduled medications to residents of a nursing home or skilled nursing facility while under the supervision of a registered professional nurse licensed under Article 15 of the Michigan Public Health Code.
• An individual shall not engage in practice as a medication aide unless the individual holds a Michigan medication aide registration.
• Practice as a medication aide is not the practice of nursing as that term is defined in Section 17201 of the Michigan Public Health Code.
• Practice as a medication aide DOES NOT include administering controlled substances, administering medications in injectable forms, the initial administration of medications, or the administration of as needed medications including pro re nata (PRN) medications.

A medication aide cannot administer medications, or practice as a medication aide, unless under the supervision of a registered professional nurse (RN) according to section 333.21905(2) of the Michigan Public Health Code.

An RN that supervises a medication aide must provide supervision as defined in section 333.16109(2) of the Michigan Public Health Code. The RN must ensure the following when supervising the medication aide:

• Continuous availability of direct communication in person or by radio, telephone, or telecommunication between the medication aide and the RN.
• Availability of the RN on a regularly scheduled basis to review the practice of the medication aide, to provide consultation to the medication aide, to review records, and to further educate the medication aide.
• RN must provide a predetermined procedure and drug protocol to the medication aide.

The Michigan Board of Nursing Administrative Rules (specifically R 338.10104) also requires that any RN who delegates nursing acts, functions, or tasks and is supervising a medication aide shall do the following:

• Determine whether the act, function, or task delegated is within the RN's scope of practice.
• Determine the qualifications of the medication aide before the delegation.
• Determine whether the medication aide has the necessary knowledge and skills for the acts, functions, or tasks to be carried out safely and competently.
• Supervise and evaluate the performance of the medication aide.
• Provide or recommend remediation of the performance when indicated.
• The RN shall bear ultimate responsibility for the performance of the medication aide that is within the scope of the delegation.

Click here to review the Michigan Medication Aide Supervision Frequently Asked Questions document.

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Bureau of Community & Health Systems
Nurse and Medication Aide Section
Phone: 517-284-8961
E-mail: BCHS-CNA-Registry@michigan.gov