Certified Medication Aide Job Description Template

Certified medication aides, also called medication technicians (med techs), are nursing service personnel with specialized training in medication administration. They earn a medication aide certification after completing the required education and training hours. In many states, candidates must have experience as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) to become a medication aide. However, background requirements and practice privileges vary by state.

Medication aides are most commonly found working in long-term care settings such as assisted living facilities. Adding a med tech to your team can offload some of the burdens on direct care nursing staff who already have challenging workloads. Here’s a medication aide job description template that you can use to post your next job opening.

Need more hiring resources? Couple your posting with thoughtful interview questions to find the most qualified aides for your facility. You can also browse medication aide job postings from other facilities to figure out how to set yourself apart from the crowd.

Certified Medication Aide

Tips: From the start, the candidate should have a clear understanding of your organization and the expectations for the role. Use the intro section to give an overview of what sets your facility apart from others and aspects of the role that may be interesting to a potential candidate.

Because many facilities require medication aides to have a CNA background, they may be required to flex between the two roles. Consult with your nursing leadership team to confirm the certified medication aide’s duties within a care team. You don’t have to know which medications a medication aide can administer, but having an idea of their duties will help guide the job posting.

A word of caution: Some states prohibit medication aides from having direct care duties, as it can distract from the medication administration process. In Louisiana, for example, a medication attendant certified (MAC) prepares and administers medication, but may not perform direct care. Check your state practice laws to ensure your facility is compliant with the necessary measures to prevent medication errors.

Template:

[Facility name] is looking for a certified medication aide to work at our beautiful lakeside campus. Consistently ranked within the top 10 best hospitals in the state, our teams understand how to deliver consistent, high-quality, and patient-centered care. If you would like to join our lively and collaborative network of healthcare professionals, we welcome you to apply.

Under the direction of a licensed nurse, the certified medication aide administers oral and topical medications to assisted living residents. The medication aide must follow the five rights of medication administration while following provider’s orders for scheduled and PRN medications. This role is also expected to help residents with activities of daily life (ADLs) such as meal setup, dressing, and bathing.

Benefits

Tips: After leading with a catchy intro to your med tech aide job description, show the candidate what will make them want to stay. Leverage your facility’s financial incentives to motivate them to apply.

Template:

• Referral and sign-on bonus opportunities
• $1,000 retention bonus after 6 months of employment
• 401(k) with employer match
• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Tuition assistance
• Employee wellness discounts
• Collaborative team environment

Certified Medication Aide Duties and Responsibilities

Tips: Certified medication aide job duties are different in each state, so check with your state board of nursing to confirm the nuances of the role. For example, in Maine, certified residential medication aides can check blood glucose levels and administer insulin. Special privileges like this may appeal to the candidate, so be sure to highlight similar job features in your medication aide job description.

Template:

• Preparing and administering medications to residents on assisted living and memory care floors
• Supervising medication resident self-administration or performing medication reminders
• Accessing Medication Administration Record (MAR) to verify the right person, drug, dose, route, and time against the resident’s record
• Appropriately documenting vital signs, interventions, or other pertinent data related to medication administration
• Maintaining resident confidentiality
• Reporting any issues to the supervising nurse
• Assisting residents with ADLs

Compensation and Shifts

Tips: CNAs may be interested in advancing their skillset to better serve their residents as certified medication aides. Another incentive for this career advancement is a pay increase. The average hourly rate for a CNA is around $13-15/hour, whereas the average pay for medication aides is $15-18/hour.

In this section of your medication aide job description, be sure to highlight the pay increase at your facility to motivate potential candidates to apply for the role or to encourage CNAs to get certified.

Template:

• Five 8’s, day or evening shift, 7a – 3p or 3p – 11p; every other weekend
• Starting pay $17/hr
• Shift differentials
• Weekly pay
• Direct deposit — get paid instantly every week

Certified Medication Aide Qualifications and Skills

Tips: It takes more than completing a medication aide skills checklist to become a medication aide. In addition to didactic studies and skills training, candidates must pass a nationalized exam to become certified. Passage of the Medication Administration Certification Exam (MACE) demonstrates competency in safe medication administration. This section should include the education, training, and skills required to take on the role.

Template:

• High school diploma
• Certified medication aide certification
• 1-2 years of experience as a medication aide in assisted living or long-term care
• AHA Basic Life Support (BLS)
• COVID-19 vaccination and annual flu shot

Call to Action

Tips: Bring your medication aide job description to a close with a strong call to action. This section allows the candidate to act on their momentum and submit an application. Show them how and where to apply, and list any requirements such as a reference letter.

Template:

Get rewarded for hard work, skills, and education as a medication aide. Submit an application today to become a valued member of our team. Apply now.

Fill Your Certified Medication Aide Positions Effortlessly

Getting the right certified medication aide job description is a good start. The next step is finding qualified applicants to interview. Use the nationwide reach of our nursing-specific job board to get your job description in front of the right candidates, at the right time.