Virginia Medication Aide Program
C I R R U C • AV
VA State Curriculum Tests & Answer Keys
SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS
MED AIDE
Virginia Medication Aide — Curriculum Tests & Keys
L E G A L / E T H I C A L STA N D A R D S , A D M I N I ST R AT I O N , D I A B E T E S & P SYC H OT R O P I C M E D I C AT I O N S
INSTITUTION Virginia Board of Nursing — Medication EXAM CODE VA-MA-CURRIC-2026
Aide Program
PROGRAM Virginia Medication Aide Registration ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Virginia Medication Aide Curriculum Tests TOTAL QUESTIONS Comprehensive Curriculum Review
COURSE TITLE Medication Aide Training Program — FORMAT Multiple Choice / True-False / Fill-in-the-
Virginia Blank
CURRICULUM TEST INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover Virginia-specific regulations, legal/ethical standards, medication administration procedures, drug
classifications, diabetes management, psychotropic medications, documentation, and safety protocols.
▸ Distinguish carefully between Virginia regulatory bodies (Board of Nursing, Board of Pharmacy, Department of Social Services)
and their respective roles.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for comprehensive review.
▸ All content is derived from the Virginia Medication Aide Curriculum Tests and Keys.
SECTION I — VIRGINIA REGULATIONS, ETHICS & MEDICATION Comprehensive Curriculum
FUNDAMENTALS Review
1. Abuse is defined as:
A. Accidentally causing harm to a resident during routine care
B. Willfully inflicting physical pain, injury, or mental anguish or unreasonable confinement
C. Failing to provide prescribed medications on time
D. Any mistake made during medication administration
CORRECT ANSWER B — Willfully inflicting physical pain, injury, or mental anguish or unreasonable confinement. Abuse is
intentional harm.
RATIONALE Abuse is purposeful mistreatment — physical, mental, emotional, or through unreasonable confinement. It is
distinguished from neglect (failure to provide care) and from accidents (unintentional). Medication aides are
mandated reporters — any suspicion of abuse must be reported immediately to the supervisor and
appropriate authorities per Virginia law.
, 2. In Virginia, which regulatory body regulates nursing practice?
A. Virginia Board of Pharmacy
B. Virginia Department of Social Services
C. Virginia Board of Nursing
D. Virginia State Police
CORRECT ANSWER C — Virginia Board of Nursing. The Board of Nursing regulates nursing practice, including medication
aide registration.
RATIONALE Virginia regulatory bodies: Board of Nursing — regulates nursing practice and medication aide registration;
Board of Pharmacy — regulates pharmacy practice; Department of Social Services — licenses Assisted Living
Facilities; Virginia State Police — does NOT maintain the medication aide registry. The medication aide must
pass a competency examination as part of the registration process with the Board of Nursing.
3. In Virginia, Assisted Living Facilities are licensed by:
A. Virginia Board of Nursing
B. Virginia Board of Pharmacy
C. Department of Social Services
D. Virginia Department of Health
CORRECT ANSWER C — Department of Social Services (DSS). DSS licenses and regulates Assisted Living Facilities in
Virginia.
RATIONALE Virginia DSS Standards for Assisted Living Facilities include requirements for medication storage (locked, well-
lighted area), medication administration, and documentation. The medication aide must be familiar with DSS
standards as they govern the facility environment where they work. The Board of Nursing regulates the
individual medication aide's registration.
4. Prohibited practices for Medication Aides include:
A. Administering oral medications
B. Intra-muscular injections
C. Applying topical medications
D. Administering eye drops
CORRECT ANSWER B — Intra-muscular injections are prohibited by Medication Aides. Injections require licensed nursing
assessment and skill.
RATIONALE Medication aides may NOT administer injectable medications (IM, IV, SubQ in most cases), receive medication
orders by phone, transcribe orders, assess PRN need independently, or administer first doses of new
medications. MAs MAY administer: established oral, topical, ophthalmic, otic, nasal, inhalation, rectal, and
vaginal medications per the MAR under nurse supervision.
C I R R U C • AV
VA State Curriculum Tests & Answer Keys
SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS
MED AIDE
Virginia Medication Aide — Curriculum Tests & Keys
L E G A L / E T H I C A L STA N D A R D S , A D M I N I ST R AT I O N , D I A B E T E S & P SYC H OT R O P I C M E D I C AT I O N S
INSTITUTION Virginia Board of Nursing — Medication EXAM CODE VA-MA-CURRIC-2026
Aide Program
PROGRAM Virginia Medication Aide Registration ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Virginia Medication Aide Curriculum Tests TOTAL QUESTIONS Comprehensive Curriculum Review
COURSE TITLE Medication Aide Training Program — FORMAT Multiple Choice / True-False / Fill-in-the-
Virginia Blank
CURRICULUM TEST INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover Virginia-specific regulations, legal/ethical standards, medication administration procedures, drug
classifications, diabetes management, psychotropic medications, documentation, and safety protocols.
▸ Distinguish carefully between Virginia regulatory bodies (Board of Nursing, Board of Pharmacy, Department of Social Services)
and their respective roles.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for comprehensive review.
▸ All content is derived from the Virginia Medication Aide Curriculum Tests and Keys.
SECTION I — VIRGINIA REGULATIONS, ETHICS & MEDICATION Comprehensive Curriculum
FUNDAMENTALS Review
1. Abuse is defined as:
A. Accidentally causing harm to a resident during routine care
B. Willfully inflicting physical pain, injury, or mental anguish or unreasonable confinement
C. Failing to provide prescribed medications on time
D. Any mistake made during medication administration
CORRECT ANSWER B — Willfully inflicting physical pain, injury, or mental anguish or unreasonable confinement. Abuse is
intentional harm.
RATIONALE Abuse is purposeful mistreatment — physical, mental, emotional, or through unreasonable confinement. It is
distinguished from neglect (failure to provide care) and from accidents (unintentional). Medication aides are
mandated reporters — any suspicion of abuse must be reported immediately to the supervisor and
appropriate authorities per Virginia law.
, 2. In Virginia, which regulatory body regulates nursing practice?
A. Virginia Board of Pharmacy
B. Virginia Department of Social Services
C. Virginia Board of Nursing
D. Virginia State Police
CORRECT ANSWER C — Virginia Board of Nursing. The Board of Nursing regulates nursing practice, including medication
aide registration.
RATIONALE Virginia regulatory bodies: Board of Nursing — regulates nursing practice and medication aide registration;
Board of Pharmacy — regulates pharmacy practice; Department of Social Services — licenses Assisted Living
Facilities; Virginia State Police — does NOT maintain the medication aide registry. The medication aide must
pass a competency examination as part of the registration process with the Board of Nursing.
3. In Virginia, Assisted Living Facilities are licensed by:
A. Virginia Board of Nursing
B. Virginia Board of Pharmacy
C. Department of Social Services
D. Virginia Department of Health
CORRECT ANSWER C — Department of Social Services (DSS). DSS licenses and regulates Assisted Living Facilities in
Virginia.
RATIONALE Virginia DSS Standards for Assisted Living Facilities include requirements for medication storage (locked, well-
lighted area), medication administration, and documentation. The medication aide must be familiar with DSS
standards as they govern the facility environment where they work. The Board of Nursing regulates the
individual medication aide's registration.
4. Prohibited practices for Medication Aides include:
A. Administering oral medications
B. Intra-muscular injections
C. Applying topical medications
D. Administering eye drops
CORRECT ANSWER B — Intra-muscular injections are prohibited by Medication Aides. Injections require licensed nursing
assessment and skill.
RATIONALE Medication aides may NOT administer injectable medications (IM, IV, SubQ in most cases), receive medication
orders by phone, transcribe orders, assess PRN need independently, or administer first doses of new
medications. MAs MAY administer: established oral, topical, ophthalmic, otic, nasal, inhalation, rectal, and
vaginal medications per the MAR under nurse supervision.
