OnTrack TMA – Trained Medication Aide Training
Where confident TMAs begins their journey.
Engaging tools. Expert guidance. Real-world readiness.
Program Overview
OnTrack Medication Aide Training Program, OnTrack TMA, provides a Minnesota-approved curriculum designed to prepare learners to safely administer medications in long-term care and assisted living settings.
Modeled after the success of OnTrack Nursing Assistant (CNA), this hybrid program combines on-demand online learning with in-person skills and competency practice managed by your Instructor.
To be eligible to become a TMA, Learners must have completed a Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)-approved Nursing Assistant training program and be active on the Minnesota Nurse Aide registry. Organizations and training program sites are responsible for confirming eligibility.
How the Program Works
A flexible hybrid format makes it easy for organizations to train when and how they need — with no minimum class size.
- 22 hours of online modules completed at the learner’s pace
- 24 hours of in-person lab and clinical practice led by your RN Trainer
- 2 hours for a proctored exam
Curriculum at a Glance
- Key medication concepts
- Safe preparation and administration of medications
- Understanding drug classifications
- Reading and interpreting MARs
- Person-centered approaches to medication support
- Documentation, communication, and error prevention
- Recognizing and reporting side effects
Applied Learning & Engagement
- Real-world scenarios centered on unique residents
- Learning activities that connect knowledge to hands-on care in your setting
- Glossaries of abbreviations, symbols, and terms
- Medication Marty, a lighthearted guide who offers helpful tips along the way
Included Learning Materials
- Online modules with videos, demonstrations, and interactive tools
- Learning Journal (textbook)
- Learning activities and skills checklists for lab and clinical practice
Program Completion Requirements
Learners must:
- Complete all online modules
- Participate in required skills practice
- Demonstrate competency through lab/clinical evaluation
- Pass the final proctored exam (70%)
Support for Instructors
Receive expert guidance from OnTrack’s RN Trainer and support team, including:
- Online Train-the-Trainer courses
- Checklists and best practices for labs and clinicals
- 1:1 personalized support for RN Trainers at every step
Ready to offer OnTrack TMA?
Contact us to get started.
The TMA pathway is designed for individuals who want to work as Trained Medication Aides (TMAs) in Minnesota. It is most often used by registered Nursing Assistants (CNAs) who are looking to expand their role and responsibilities working in a nursing home.
Assisted living, home care, adult day, and group home providers may also choose to utilize the TMA pathway as a training and professional development option for unlicensed staff who assist with or pass medications, as part of enhanced medication administration training. Competency verification and scope of practice requirements must still be met and remain the responsibility of the employer, in accordance with applicable licensure regulations.
Learners must have completed a Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)–approved Nursing Assistant training program and be active on the Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry before enrolling in OnTrack’s TMA program. Employers and training program sites are responsible for verifying learner eligibility. For use of the TMA curriculum in assisted living or other settings to enhance medication competency, there are no learner prerequisites.
For organizations/employers: For participating nursing facilities, the cost of the course and required materials may be covered through the Department of Human Services (DHS) Nursing Facility Scholarship Program. Participating facilities can claim allowable costs and receive reimbursement. Certified nursing facilities with questions about what is and isn’t reimbursable should contact DHS directly.
Other grants and workforce programs—such as the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS) Employee Scholarship Program—may also be available for assisted living providers and other eligible provider types. In addition, nonprofit organizations and private training providers may be eligible to apply for Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) or other workforce funding programs to help support training costs.
For learners: If you are enrolling as an employee or prospective employee, we encourage you to ask your employer whether they offer education assistance, sponsorship, or other workforce development programs that may help cover training costs. Availability of reimbursement or sponsorship varies by employer and program.
Yes. Even if you completed similar training in another state, Minnesota requires completion of an approved TMA training program to work in a Minnesota nursing home.
Completion of TMA training results in a certificate of completion, not a formal certification. There is no renewal requirement. Competency verification and scope of practice requirements must still be met and remain the responsibility of the employer, in accordance with applicable regulations.