Health Facilities

Medication Administration Program

Purpose of the Medication Administration Program

The medication administration program is established in accordance with Section 25-1.5-301, C.R.S et seq.

The medication administration course is designed to teach unlicensed staff to safely administer medications in settings authorized by law. Staff who successfully complete the medication administration course are not certified or licensed in any way, and are not trained or authorized to make any type of judgment, assessment or evaluation of a client. Staff who successfully complete the course are considered Qualified Medication Administration Persons. Classes are $55 for the course and exams. There is a written exam and a hands-on practical exam.

To register for a class

To register for a class, find an instructor from either the schedule or the list of instructors, and contact the instructor directly. Many instructors are willing to travel - please contact the instructor for more details on the classes.

• Schedule
• List of instructors

Authorized settings

• Assisted living residences
• Adult foster care facilities
• Alternative care facilities
• Residential child care facilities
• Secure residential treatment centers
• Residential facilities that provide treatment for mentally ill persons
• Services in support of persons with developmental disabilities funded and regulated by the Department of Human Services
• State certified adult day programs

Objectives

• To administer medications according to written physician's orders
• To maintain proper documentation of the administration of both prescription and non-prescription drugs
• To use proper techniques when administering medications by the various routes
• To safely and accurately fill and administer medications to and from medication reminder boxes with oversight from a licensed person or qualified manager

Instructors

Only approved instructors can teach the class, and contract with the state on a fiscal year basis. Instructors are selected each year prior to June 30, and contracts run for one year only, from July 1 to the following June 30. Instructors must be a licensed nurse, physician, pharmacist or physician's assistant. Persons interested in learning more about the instructor packet, please send an email to health.facilities@state.co.us.   

Regulations and video handbook

• Medication Administration regulations
• Medication Administration Video Handbook

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