16.12.5 Certified Medication Aide Rules were updated in 2026 with an effective date of 7/31/2026. Beginning August 1, 2026, the category of CMA-II has changed to CMA-Residential (CMA-R) and there is an added category that expands into outpatient settings. Certification is now aligned to the setting in which you work.

General Prerequisites for all Medication Aide Certifications:

1. Be a minimum of 18 years of age.
2. Documentation of successful completion of a secondary education program, which shall include:
   1. a high school diploma from an accredited secondary school; or
   2. a high school equivalency credential (e.g., GED or HiSET); or
   3. documentation of completion of a home school program that is compliant with the homeschool requirements of the New Mexico public education department and applicable state law.
3. Applicants who graduated from non-U.S. education programs shall have transcripts translated into English from a board recognized agency to verify education. Please email licensing@bon.nm.gov or call 505-841-8340 for more information.
4. Provide evidence of successfully completing a board-approved program for the preparation of medication aides within the last 12 months.
5. Complete the required application form within the specified deadline and instructions.
   1. CMA-I Application: CMAs working in Intermediate Care Facilities or IDD/DD Waiver sites qualify with 6 months of Healthcare Experience.
      1. Are not allowed to work in other care areas
   2. CMA-R Application: CMAs working in long term care facilities are required to be certified as a CMA-Residential (CMA-R).
      1. Must have held a CNA certificate at some point in the past, does not have to be active
      2. Are allowed to work in both residential and ICF/IDD/DD Waiver care areas.
   3. CMA-O Application: Nationally certified Medical Assistants working in ambulatory/outpatient care areas are qualified to apply for the Certified Medication Aide – Outpatient (CMA-O) role.
6. Complete the certified medication aide or certified hemodialysis technician examination by the deadline
7. Submit an active CPR certification
8. Submit the required fee.

Results of the examination shall be reported by the online portal to the applicant. Successful candidates are not certified until they receive notification from the board. Successful candidates shall be issued an initial certificate.

The examination may be taken a maximum of three times. After the third failure, the applicant must provide verification of repeating and successfully completing the theory and clinical portion of a board-approved medication aide program to be eligible to sit for the exam. Applicants who fail the examination must submit a re-examination application and pay a re-examination fee.

CMA-I

New applicants must meet the prerequisites above and:

1. Submit a letter, on company letter, from the approved CMA program, attesting that applicant has six months of healthcare experience.
2. Complete the CMA-I application and remit the required fee.

CMA-I Renewal

1. Applicant must provide evidence of having accrued 16 clock hours of CE within the two-year renewal period immediately preceding recertification.
   1. CEs may not be duplicate topics within the same renewal period. Topics must be related to medications or medication administration.
2. Applicant must provide evidence of having worked in a board approved facility within the two-year renewal period as a CMA. (attestation from approved CMA program on letterhead, paystub showing date within renewal period and job title of CMA)
3. Complete the CMA-I Renewal Application
4. Submit the required fee.

CMA-I Reinstatement

Lapsed less than 6 months:

1. Submit CMA-I Reactivation application
2. Applicant must provide evidence of having worked in a board approved facility within the two-year renewal period as a CMA. (attestation from approved CMA program on letterhead, paystub showing date within renewal period and job title of CMA)
3. Applicant must provide evidence of having accrued 16 clock hours of CE within the two-year renewal period immediately preceding recertification.
4. Submit the required fee

Lapsed 6 to 24 months

1. The applicant must complete a refresher course. Completion of a refresher course shall meet both the employment and CE requirements for the renewal period.
2. Provide evidence of successfully completing a board-approved CMA-Refresher course
3. Complete the CMA-I reinstatement application
4. Submit the required fee

Lapsed greater than 24 months

1. The applicant must repeat the initial training program and pass the medication aide examination.
2. Provide evidence of successfully completing a board-approved CMA training program with the appropriate clinical hours. The approved program nurse educator submits an attestation on program letter head indicating the didactic (40 hours) and clinical (20 hours)
3. Complete the CMA-I initial application; must meet prerequisites as outline above.
4. Submit the required fee

CMA-I Transfer from another State

1. Minimum of 18 years of age
2. Are a high school graduate, have completed the general education development course, or completion of a home school program that is compliant with the requirements of the New Mexico public education department and applicable state law
3. Submit current CPR certification
4. Successfully completed a board-approved medication administration education from approved nurse educator of have successfully completed a board-approved medication administration education program in New Mexico;
   1. or a medication aide certified program located in another jurisdiction or territory that meets the New Mexico education requirements
   2. If the applicant’s educational criteria does not meet New Mexico requirements the applicant will be required to attend a New Mexico board approved training program.
5. Submit CMA-I Endorsement Application
6. Submit required fee
7. The Board will evaluate the training you received in the origin state.
   1. If it meets NM requirements you can be authorized to test.
   2. If it does not meet NM requirements you may be required to attend either a refresher course or the full training course.
8. Successfully complete the board’s medication aide certification examination
   1. The medication aide candidate must apply within six months to take the examination; an initial certification by examination application with fee must be submitted, processed and accepted by the board according to examination required deadline.
9. Upon successful completion of the examination a certificate will be mailed to the medication aide

CMA-Residential (CMA-R)

CMAII is now retired, all CMAIIs prior to 7/31/2026 are grandfathered into the new category CMA-R

New applicants must meet the prerequisites above and:

1. Must have held a C.N.A. certificate verified by the New Mexico Healthcare Authority C.N.A. Registry. The C.N.A. certificate can be active or inactive.

CMA-R Renewal

1. Applicant must provide evidence of having accrued 16 clock hours of CE within the two-year renewal period immediately preceding recertification.
   1. CEs may not be duplicate topics within the same renewal period. Topics must be related to medications or medication administration.
   2. CMA-Rs must have two of the 16 hours be specific to insulin or insulin pen administration.
2. Applicant must provide evidence of having worked in a board approved facility within the two-year renewal period as a CMA. (attestation from approved CMA program on letterhead, paystub showing date within renewal period and job title of CMA)
3. Complete the CMA-R Renewal Application
4. Submit the required fee.

CMA-R Reinstatement

Lapsed less than 6 months:

5. Submit CMA-R Reactivation application
6. Applicant must provide evidence of having worked in a board approved facility within the two-year renewal period as a CMA. (attestation from approved CMA program on letterhead, paystub showing date within renewal period and job title of CMA)
7. Applicant must provide evidence of having accrued 16 clock hours of CE within the two-year renewal period immediately preceding recertification.
8. Submit the required fee

Lapsed 6 to 24 months

5. The applicant must complete a refresher course. Completion of a refresher course shall meet both the employment and CE requirements for the renewal period.
6. Provide evidence of successfully completing a board-approved CMA-Refresher course
7. Complete the CMA-I reinstatement application
8. Submit the required fee

Lapsed greater than 24 months

5. The applicant must repeat the initial training program and pass the medication aide examination.
6. Provide evidence of successfully completing a board-approved CMA training program with the appropriate clinical hours. The approved program nurse educator submits an attestation on program letter head indicating the didactic (40 hours) and clinical (20 hours)
7. Complete the CMA-I initial application; must meet prerequisites as outlined above.
8. Submit the required fee

CMA-Outpatient (CMA-O)

Reserved for Medical Assistants with an active national certification.

New applicants must meet the prerequisites above and:

1. Must submit evidence of an active nationally recognized Medical Assistant certification.
2. Applicant must provide evidence of having worked in a board approved facility within the two-year renewal period as a CMA. (attestation from approved CMA program on letterhead, paystub showing date within renewal period and job title of CMA)
3. Complete the CMA-O Application
4. Submit the required fee.

CMA-O Renewal

1. Must submit evidence of an active nationally recognized Medical Assistant certification.
   1. An active MA certification indicates continuing education requirements
2. Applicant must provide evidence of having worked in a board approved facility within the two-year renewal period as a CMA. (attestation from approved CMA program on letterhead, paystub showing date within renewal period and job title of CMA)
3. Complete the CMA-R Renewal Application
4. Submit the required fee.

CMA-O Reinstatement

Lapsed less than 6 months:

9. Submit CMA-O Reactivation application
10. Applicant must provide evidence of having worked in a board approved facility within the two-year renewal period as a CMA. (attestation from approved CMA program on letterhead, paystub showing date within renewal period and job title of CMA)
11. Applicant must provide evidence of having accrued 16 clock hours of CE within the two-year renewal period immediately preceding recertification.
12. Submit the required fee

Lapsed 6 to 24 months

9. The applicant must complete a refresher course. Completion of a refresher course shall meet both the employment and CE requirements for the renewal period.
10. Provide evidence of successfully completing a board-approved CMA-Refresher course
11. Complete the CMA-I reinstatement application
12. Submit the required fee

Lapsed greater than 24 months

9. The applicant must repeat the initial training program and pass the medication aide examination.
10. Provide evidence of successfully completing a board-approved CMA training program with the appropriate clinical hours. The approved program nurse educator submits an attestation on program letter head indicating the didactic (40 hours) and clinical (20 hours)
11. Complete the CMA-I initial application; must meet prerequisites as outline above.
12. Submit the required fee

There is no endorsement process for the CMA-O. If you hold an active Nationally Certified Medical Assistant, you may complete the initial CMA-O application.