1. (a) The Board, after consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall adopt regulations establishing:

   1. (1) Qualifications for certified nursing assistants, including certified medicine aides;
   2. (2) Qualifications for certified dialysis technicians;
   3. (3) Qualifications for certified medication technicians;
   4. (4) Standards for qualification of applicants for certification, including the applicant's criminal history, work record, and prohibitions against behavior which may be potentially harmful to patients; and
   5. (5) Standards for the online provision of didactic instruction in a nursing assistant training program that meets the requirements established by the Board.

2. (b)

   1. (1) To qualify for certification as a nursing assistant, a certified medicine aide, a dialysis technician, or a medication technician, an applicant shall meet the requirements set by the Board.
   2. (2) Requirements set by the Board under paragraph (1) of this subsection regarding qualifications for certification as a certified nursing assistant-I shall include provisions to allow an individual who has been practicing as a temporary nursing assistant, in accordance with the waiver of the requirements of 42 C.F.R. § 483.35(d) issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on March 6, 2020, to apply on-the-job experience as a nursing assistant toward the total number of training hours required for certification as a certified nursing assistant-I.

3. (c)

   1. (1) An applicant for a certificate shall:

      1. (i) Submit to a criminal history records check in accordance with § 8-303 of this title;

      2. (ii) Submit to the Board:

         1. 1. An application to the Board on the form that the Board requires; and
         2. 2. Written verification that the requirement in item (i) of this paragraph is being or has been met;

      3. (iii) Provide evidence, as required by the Board, of successful completion of:

         1. 1. An approved nursing assistant training program or approved acute care nursing assistant training program;
         2. 2. An approved dialysis technician training program;
         3. 3. An approved course in medication administration; or
         4. 4. A portion of an approved nursing education program that the Board determines meets the requirements of an approved nursing assistant training program or medication administration course;
      4. (iv) Pay to the Board an application fee set by the Board;
      5. (v) Be of good moral character;
      6. (vi) Be at least 16 years old to apply for certification as a nursing assistant;
      7. (vii) Be at least 18 years old to apply for certification as a dialysis technician; and
      8. (viii) Be at least 18 years old to apply for certification as a medication technician.

   2. (2)

      1. (i) An applicant for certification as a certified nursing assistant shall submit to the Board satisfactory evidence of passing a nursing assistant competency evaluation.
      2. (ii) An applicant who has completed an approved acute care nursing assistant training program shall be deemed to have fulfilled the classroom and clinical standards to sit for the nursing assistant competency evaluation.

   3. (3) An applicant for a certificate may not:

      1. (i) Have committed any act or omission that would be grounds for discipline or denial of certification under this subtitle; and
      2. (ii) Have a record of abuse, negligence, misappropriation of a resident's property, or any disciplinary action taken or pending in any other state or territory of the United States against the certification of the nursing assistant or medication technician in the state or territory.

   4. (4) Beginning October 1, 2025, a certified nursing assistant-II may be certified as a certified nursing assistant-I by:

      1. (i) Submitting an application to the Board on the form that the Board requires; and

      2. (ii) Providing satisfactory evidence of:

         1. 1. Successful completion of an approved nursing assistant training program; and
         2. 2. Passing a nursing assistant competency evaluation.

Added by Acts 1998, c. 393, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1998. Amended by Acts 2001, c. 360, § 1, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2004, c. 270, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2004; Acts 2004, c. 455, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2004; Acts 2004, c. 456, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2004; Acts 2006, c. 390, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2006; Acts 2006, c. 481, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2006; Acts 2008, c. 653, § 1, eff. May 22, 2008; Acts 2010, c. 585, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010; Acts 2010, c. 586, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010; Acts 2012, c. 486, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Acts 2012, c. 487, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2012; Acts 2012, c. 621, § 1, eff. June 1, 2012; Acts 2013, c. 43, § 1, eff. April 9, 2013; Acts 2022, c. 675, § 1, eff. June 1, 2022; Acts 2022, c. 681, § 1, eff. July 1, 2022; Acts 2024, c. 818, § 1, eff. April 1, 2026; Acts 2024, c. 819, § 1, eff. April 1, 2026; Acts 2025, c. 416, § 2, eff. April 1, 2026; Acts 2026, c. 370, § 1, eff. June 1, 2026; Acts 2026, c. 371, § 1, eff. June 1, 2026.