Ind. Code ch. 16-27.5-4

in effect

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-4-1 Certification of qualified medication aides; requirements; exceptions; competency examination attempts; renewal; inservice education

Sec. 1. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) through (f), a nurse aide shall do the following to be certified as a qualified medication aide: (1) Apply for the certification in the manner prescribed by the state department. (2) Complete the qualified medication aide training and competency evaluation program. (3) Pass the qualified medication aide competency examination with at least the minimum score, as prescribed by the commission. (b) A nursing student of an accredited nursing education program shall do the following to be certified as a qualified medication aide: (1) Apply for the certification in the manner prescribed by the state department. (2) Be currently enrolled in an accredited nursing education program. (3) Satisfactorily complete a course in pharmacology or its equivalent course and submit a transcript verifying the successful completion of the course. (4) Successfully complete the supervised practicum portion of the qualified medication aide training and competency evaluation program. (5) Pass the qualified medication aide competency examination with at least the minimum score, as prescribed by the commission. (c) A nursing student who has graduated from an accredited nursing education program shall do the following to be certified as a qualified medication aide: (1) Apply for the certification in the manner prescribed by the state department. (2) Provide a transcript verifying successful completion of the accredited nursing program in the previous twenty-four (24) months. (3) Pass the qualified medication aide competency examination with at least the minimum score, as prescribed by the commission. (d) An individual who is a qualified medication aide, or the equivalent in another state, shall do the following to be certified as a qualified medication aide in Indiana: (1) Apply for the certification in the manner prescribed by the state department. (2) Submit proof that the individual is a qualified medication aide in good standing with no verified complaints in another state. (3) Submit to a national criminal history background check under IC 25-1-1.1-4. (e) An emergency medical technician (as defined in IC 16-18-2-112), an advanced emergency medical technician (as defined in IC 16-18-2-6.5), a paramedic (as defined in IC 16-18-2-266), a psychiatric attendant, or another health care practitioner, as determined by the commission, shall do the following to be certified as a qualified medication aide: (1) Apply for the certification in the manner prescribed by the state department. (2) Pass the qualified medication aide competency examination with at least a minimum score, as prescribed by the commission. (3) Submit to a national criminal history background check under IC 25-1-1.1-4. (f) An individual with military health care training who does not qualify under another subsection shall do the following to be certified as a qualified medication aide: (1) Apply for the certification in the manner prescribed by the state department. (2) Submit documented evidence of the completed military health care training. (3) Pass the qualified medication aide competency examination with at least a minimum score, as prescribed by the commission. (4) Submit to a national criminal history background check under IC 25-1-1.1-4. (g) An individual applying for certification under this chapter shall provide on the individual's application the individual's: (1) full name; (2) telephone number; (3) mailing address; and (4) electronic mail address; and any other information required by the state department and commission. (h) An individual described in subsection (b), (c), (e), or (f) may take the qualified medication aide competency examination not more than four (4) times during a two (2) year period. If an individual does not pass the examination after four (4) attempts in a two (2) year period, the applicant must personally appear before the commission before reapplying for certification under this chapter. (i) Certification under this section is valid for two (2) years. The state department may prescribe the manner in which to renew certification. An individual certified under this section who wants to renew the certification shall do so in the manner prescribed by the state department. (j) Before directing the state department to issue or renew a certification to an individual who applies for certification under this section, the commission may require the individual to personally appear before the commission to discuss questions concerning the individual's application. (k) In order to renew a certification described in this section, a qualified medication aide shall complete at least six (6) hours of inservice education during the two (2) year certification period. (l) A qualified medication aide who is authorized to administer insulin shall complete at least seven (7) hours of inservice education, with at least one (1) hour dedicated to insulin administration, during the two (2) year certification period in order to renew the certification. (m) The application requirements for certification under this chapter must comply with federal law. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-4-2 Prohibitions; participation in approved qualified medication aide training and competency evaluation program

Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in section 1 of this chapter, an individual may not work as a qualified medication aide unless the individual has: (1) satisfactorily completed an approved qualified medication aide training and competency evaluation program; and (2) passed the qualified medication aide competency examination. (b) An individual must meet the following requirements in order to participate in an approved qualified medication aide training and competency evaluation program: (1) Provide proof that the individual has received a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate. (2) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age. (3) Provide proof of certification as a nurse aide in good standing. (4) Have either: (A) completed at least one thousand (1,000) hours of documented work experience as a nurse aide; or (B) requested and been granted by the commission a waiver of the hours required in clause (A) for a reduced work requirement. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-4-3 Program requirements; revocation of approval

Sec. 3. (a) A qualified medication aide training and competency evaluation program must meet the following requirements: (1) Be composed of not more than one hundred (100) hours of training composed of classroom instruction and supervised practicum. (2) Be taught by instructors who meet the requirements of section 8 of this chapter. (b) Upon direction of the commission, the state department may revoke approval of a qualified medication aide training program for cause following proceedings described in IC 4-21.5. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-4-4 Health care facility verification of certification requirements; exception

Sec. 4. Before a health care facility may allow an individual to work as a qualified medication aide, the health care facility must verify that an individual has met certification requirements of this chapter and is included on the registry established under IC 16-27.5-1. However, an individual may begin working if the individual can prove that the individual: (1) successfully completed a qualified medication aide training and competency evaluation program approved by the commission; and (2) has not yet been included on the registry. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-4-5 Location of training

Sec. 5. (a) Supervised practicum requirements for a qualified medication aide training and competency evaluation program must occur at a health care facility. (b) The classroom training requirements for qualified medication aide training may be provided by any of the following: (1) A health facility licensed under IC 16-28. (2) A program operated by an Indiana vocational school governed by the department of education or the North Central Association of College and Schools. (3) An accredited nursing education program. (4) A nonfacility program. A classroom training program or site must have the necessary supplies and equipment to train qualified medication aides. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-4-6 Required program training; supervised practicum

Sec. 6. (a) A qualified medication aide training and competency evaluation program curriculum must include the following training: (1) Communication and interpersonal skills concerning patients, including the following: (A) Techniques for addressing the unique needs and behaviors of individuals with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. (B) Communication with cognitively impaired patients. (C) Understanding the behavior of cognitively impaired patients. (D) Appropriate responses to behavior of cognitively impaired patients. (E) Methods of reducing the effects of cognitive impairments. (2) Infection control. (3) Safety and emergency procedures, including the Heimlich maneuver. (4) Patient independence. (5) Patient rights. (6) Abuse, neglect, and misappropriation of patient property. (7) Fundamentals of pharmacology. (8) Medication orders. (9) Care of long term patients and monitoring for effects of medication usage. (10) Fundamentals of the following systems and medications affecting each system: (A) Gastrointestinal. (B) Musculoskeletal. (C) Skin and sensory. (D) Urinary. (E) Cardiovascular. (F) Respiratory. (G) Endocrine. (H) Male and female reproductive. (I) Nervous. (11) Psychotherapeutic medications. (12) Inflammation, infection, immunity, and malignant disease. (13) Nutritional deficiencies. (14) Principles of administering medications. (15) Documentation of medication administration. (16) Positioning of patients in preparation for medication and treatment administration, including the following: (A) Supine position. (B) Lateral or Sim's position. (C) Fowler's position. (D) Prone position. (E) Semi Fowler's position. (F) Dorsal recumbent position. (17) Temperature taking via oral, axillary, otic, temporal artery, or rectal using a thermometer. (18) Measurement of vital signs, including pulse, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. (19) Observation reporting to a licensed nurse and documentation of the observations in the medical record. (20) Clean technique in handling medications and dressings. (21) Administration of oxygen through a nasal cannula or nonsealing mask. (22) Use of an oximeter to obtain oxygen saturation. (23) Administration of medications through a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) and a jejunostomy tube (J-tube). (24) Administration of medication through a metered dose inhaler. (25) Hemoccult testing. (26) Finger stick blood glucose testing. (27) Dressing application for a minor skin tear. (28) Dressing application for a healed gastrostomy tube (G-tube) and a jejunostomy tube (J-tube) site. (29) Colostomy bag emptying and changing. (30) Insertion of a commercially prepared disposable enema. (31) Administration of a sitz bath. (32) Application of cold dry compresses. (33) Performance of diabetic urine testing. (34) Collection of fecal and urine specimens. (b) A qualified medication aide training and competency evaluation program curriculum must require an individual in the program to do the following: (1) Demonstrate competency through return demonstration of skills under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. (2) Complete a supervised practicum checklist, approved by the commission. (c) The supervised practicum checklist described in subsection (b)(2) must include the following: (1) The date of each observation signed by the individual in the program and the registered nurse or licensed practical nurse who observed the individual. (2) A competency achievement statement signed by the individual in the program and the registered nurse or licensed practical nurse who observed the individual demonstrate competency in the following: (A) Initial steps, as determined by the commission. (B) Final steps, as determined by the commission. (C) Preparation and administration of oral, liquid, and powdered medication, including controlled substances. (D) Application of the following: (i) Topical lotion, ointment, or cream. (ii) A transdermal patch. (E) Administration of the following: (i) Eye drops and ophthalmic ointment. (ii) Ear drops. (iii) Nasal medication through an atomizer. (iv) Nasal drops through a dropper. (v) Vaginal cream. (F) Insertion of a vaginal and a rectal suppository. (G) Treatment of scabies and pediculosis. (H) The skills described in the following: (i) Subsection (a)(16) through (a)(18). (ii) Subsection (a)(21). (iii) Subsection (a)(23) through (a)(27). (iv) Subsection (a)(29) through (a)(30). (v) Subsection (a)(32). (vi) Subsection (a)(34). (d) An individual in the program may attempt each task on the supervised practicum checklist described in subsection (b)(2) until satisfactorily completing the task. (e) If a task described in subsection (b)(2) is not available for an individual in the program to perform during the supervised practicum, the registered nurse or licensed practical nurse supervising the individual shall: (1) allow the individual to simulate the task in a laboratory setting; and (2) document on the supervised practicum checklist that the task was simulated in a laboratory setting. (f) A completed supervised practicum checklist must be placed in the individual's file and be made available to the commission upon request. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-4-7 Revocation of program approval

Sec. 7. The commission may remove approval to provide training for qualified medication aides if the entity providing the training does any of the following: (1) Fails to meet the requirements of this chapter or any other state regulation. (2) Falsifies any documents concerning the training of qualified medication aides. (3) Has a pattern of excessive failure rates on the competency evaluation test. (4) Has validated training improprieties. (5) Violates requirements of this chapter, as determined by the commission. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-4-8 Certification of program instructors; requirements

Sec. 8. (a) An individual must meet the following requirements in order to be certified as an instructor of a qualified medication aide training and competency evaluation program: (1) Be licensed as a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse. (2) Have at least one (1) year of nursing experience. (3) Have completed a qualified medication aide training and competency evaluation instructor course approved by the commission. (b) An individual shall apply to the state department for certification as an instructor of a qualified medication aide training and competency evaluation program in the manner prescribed by the commission. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-4-9 Competency evaluation test requirements

Sec. 9. A qualified medication aide competency evaluation test must meet the following requirements: (1) Be administered by a state approved testing entity. (2) Consist of multiple choice questions. (3) Be updated to include new medications, medication classifications, or otherwise to maintain a valid exam. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-4-10 Scope of practice; prohibitions; exceptions

Sec. 10. (a) The following tasks are within the scope of practice of a qualified medication aide certified under this chapter unless prohibited by health care facility policy: (1) Observing and reporting to the health care facility's licensed nurse a patient's exhibited reactions or side effects to medications. (2) Measuring and documenting vital signs before the administration of medications that could impact vital signs, and reporting to the health care facility's licensed nurse a patient's abnormalities that may prohibit medication administration. (3) Administering and documenting regularly prescribed medications for which the qualified medication aide has received training to administer after personally preparing and administering the medication. (4) Initiating oxygen per nasal cannula or nonsealing mask only if the following are met: (A) The situation is an emergency. (B) The qualified medication aide notifies the health care facility's licensed nurse. (C) The qualified medication aide documents the action and notification. (5) Obtaining oxygen saturation using an oximeter that has been calibrated by another health care provider within that provider's scope of practice and reporting the result to the health care facility's licensed nurse. (6) Applying physician or other authorized health care provider ordered oral, ophthalmic, otic, nasal, vaginal, and rectal medications. (7) Crushing and administering medications in accordance with the drug manufacturer's instructions, physician's orders, or other authorized health care provider's orders. (8) Altering capsules if a physician or other authorized health care provider has prescribed the medication to be altered in that manner. (9) Counting, administering, and documenting controlled substances. (10) Administering medications through a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) and a jejunostomy tube (J-tube). (11) Administering previously ordered pro re nata medication when authorization is obtained from the health care facility's licensed nurse. (12) Applying topical medication to minor skin conditions. (13) Administering medication through a metered dose inhaler. (14) Conducting hemoccult testing and reporting results to the health care facility's licensed nurse. (15) Conducting finger stick blood glucose testing and reporting the result to the health care facility's licensed nurse. (16) Applying a dressing to a minor skin tear that has been assessed by the health care facility's licensed nurse. (17) Providing ordered site care and applying a dressing to a healed gastrostomy tube (G-tube) and a jejunostomy tube (J-tube) site. (18) Emptying and changing a colostomy bag. (19) Instilling a commercially prepared disposable enema after the patient has been assessed by the health care facility's licensed nurse and the licensed nurse has instructed the qualified medication aide to instill the enema. (20) Applying a cold, dry compress as directed by a physician, other authorized health care provider, or the health care facility's licensed nurse in an emergency situation that requires first aid treatment. (21) Collecting fecal or urine specimens, as ordered by a physician or other authorized health care provider. (22) Documenting observations and issues in the medical record that are reported to the qualified medication aide by the patient. (b) Except as provided in section 11 of this chapter, a qualified medication aide may not perform the following tasks which are outside of the qualified medication aide's scope of practice: (1) Administering medications by the injection route, including the following routes: (A) Intramuscular. (B) Intravenous. (C) Subcutaneous. (D) Intradermal. (2) Administering medications used for intermittent positive pressure breathing treatments or any form of medication inhalation treatments. This subdivision does not include a prohibition on metered dose inhalers. (3) Administering medications through a nasogastric tube. (4) Except as provided in subsection (a)(19), instilling irrigation fluids of any type. (5) Assuming responsibility for receiving in writing or receiving a verbal telephone order. (6) Administering a treatment that involves advanced skin conditions, including stages II through IV decubitus ulcers. (c) A qualified medication aide may not document any medication that was administered by another person or not administered at all in a patient's medical record. (d) If a qualified medication aide obtains authorization to administer a previously ordered pro re nata medication as described in subsection (a)(11), the qualified medication aide shall do the following: (1) Document any symptoms indicating the need for the medication and the time the symptoms occurred in the patient's medical record. (2) Document that protocol was followed by notifying the health care facility's licensed nurse describing the symptoms and that authorization was obtained to administer the medication and the time of contact. (3) Obtain permission to administer the medication each time the symptoms occur in the patient. (4) Ensure that the patient's medical record is cosigned by the health care facility's licensed nurse who granted authorization by the end of the shift or if the licensed nurse was on call, by the end of the licensed nurse's next tour of duty. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-4-11 Administration of insulin; optional training; requirements

Sec. 11. (a) The commission shall establish an optional training module in the administration of insulin to be used to train a qualified medication aide. The training module must include the following: (1) At least four (4) and not more than eight (8) hours of classroom training. (2) At least two (2) and not more than four (4) hours of practical training. (3) The administration of a written and practical examination administered by the trainer. A qualified medication aide must successfully complete the course, pass the examination, and meet the requirements of this chapter in order to administer insulin. (b) A qualified medication aide certified under this chapter may administer insulin to a specific patient at a health care facility if the following conditions are met: (1) A registered nurse providing registered nursing (as defined in IC 25-23-1-1.1(b)): (A) supervises the qualified medication aide in administering the insulin; or (B) delegates responsibility for administering the insulin to the qualified medication aide based on the registered nurse's assessment of the qualified medication aide's competency to administer insulin. (2) The health care facility where the qualified medication aide is employed: (A) permits the qualified medication aide to administer insulin; (B) establishes a procedure for: (i) the delegation of insulin administration from a registered nurse to a qualified medication aide that includes patient specific clinical parameters based on the registered nurse's assessment of the patient and the qualified medication aide's competency to administer the insulin; and (ii) when the patient specific parameters require a new assessment by the registered nurse; (C) retains documentation that the qualified medication aide has completed the optional training module for the administration of insulin under this section; and (D) notifies each patient upon admission to the health care facility that the health care facility may allow a qualified medication aide to administer insulin. (3) The qualified medication aide may not administer a dose of concentrated insulin equal to or greater in strength or activity than a dose of U-500 insulin. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-4-12 Report of alleged abuse, neglect, misappropriation, or misconduct

Sec. 12. A health facility licensed under IC 16-28 shall report any incident of alleged abuse, neglect, misappropriation of patient property, or misconduct by a qualified medication aide to the state department. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-4-13 Notice of change of address

Sec. 13. A qualified medication aide shall notify the state department of any change in the qualified medication aide's mailing address or electronic mail address not later than thirty (30) days after the date on which the address changed. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-4-14 Prohibitions; violations

Sec. 14. (a) An individual may not: (1) profess to be a qualified medication aide; or (2) use the initials "QMA" or any other words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying that the individual is a qualified medication aide; unless the individual has a valid certification issued under this chapter. (b) An individual who knowingly or intentionally violates this section commits a Class A misdemeanor. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/16Fetched: 10/17/2026