Medication Aide Certification
E TAT S • C - A M
MA
Program
State Board of Nursing — Medication Administration
STATE EXAM
S A F E A D M I N I S T R AT I O N · Q U A L I T Y C A R E
Medication Aide — State Certification Test
M E D I C AT I O N A D M I N I ST R AT I O N , D R U G C L A SS I F I C AT I O N S & R O U T E S
INSTITUTION State Board of Nursing — Medication Aide EXAM CODE MA-C-STATE-2026
Program
PROGRAM Medication Aide (MA-C) Certification ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Medication Aide State Certification TOTAL QUESTIONS Comprehensive State Test Review
Examination
COURSE TITLE Medication Aide Training Program FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover medication administration fundamentals: routes of administration, drug classifications, the seven rights, MAR
checking, military time, medication orders, and safety protocols.
▸ Distinguish carefully between medication order types (STAT, single, standing, PRN), routes (oral, sublingual, buccal, topical,
ophthalmic, otic), and drug class effects.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for comprehensive review.
▸ All content is derived from the Medication Aide State Certification Test curriculum.
SECTION I — MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION, ROUTES & DRUG Comprehensive
CLASSIFICATIONS Review
1. How many milliliters (mL) are in 1 ounce?
A. 15 mL
B. 30 mL
C. 60 mL
D. 100 mL
CORRECT ANSWER B — 30 mL. One fluid ounce equals exactly 30 milliliters (30 cc).
RATIONALE Critical conversion for medication administration: 1 fl oz = 30 mL = 30 cc = 2 tablespoons. Other essential
conversions: 1 tsp = 5 mL, 1 Tbsp = 15 mL, 1 cup = 8 oz = 240 mL. Medication aides must know these
conversions to accurately measure and administer liquid medications. Household measurements should
never be used in healthcare settings.
, 2. Convert 1545 military time to standard time:
A. 1:45 PM
B. 2:45 PM
C. 3:45 PM
D. 4:45 PM
CORRECT ANSWER C — 3:45 PM. 1545 – 1200 = 3:45 PM.
RATIONALE Military time conversion: For times 1300 and larger, subtract 1200 to get PM time. 1545 – 1200 = 3:45 PM. For
times 0100–1159, add a colon (0100 = 1:00 AM, 0930 = 9:30 AM). 1200 = 12:00 noon. 2400/0000 = 12:00
midnight. Military time eliminates AM/PM confusion and is the standard in healthcare documentation.
3. A STAT medication order means the medication should be given:
A. At bedtime only
B. Immediately
C. As needed
D. Once daily
CORRECT ANSWER B — Immediately. STAT orders must be administered right away, without delay.
RATIONALE STAT comes from the Latin "statim" meaning immediately. STAT orders are the highest priority — they must
be given right away. However, medication aides are generally NOT allowed to accept or administer STAT
orders; these require licensed nurse assessment. Other order types: Single (one time only), Standing (daily at
scheduled times), PRN (as needed, requiring assessment before administration).
4. A single medication order means the medication is to be given:
A. Every day at the same time
B. One time only
C. As needed
D. At bedtime
CORRECT ANSWER B — One time only. A single order is administered once and not repeated.
RATIONALE Single (one-time) orders are given only once, often for preoperative medications, diagnostic procedures, or
one-time treatments. After administration, the order is complete. This differs from standing orders (daily
scheduled), PRN orders (as needed), and STAT orders (immediate). The medication aide must understand
each order type to administer correctly.
5. A standing medication order means:
A. Given immediately
B. Given one time only
C. Given daily at a certain time — most medications fall into this category
D. Given only when the resident requests it
CORRECT ANSWER C — Given daily at a certain time. Standing orders are routine, scheduled medications that continue
until discontinued by the prescriber.
RATIONALE Standing orders are the most common medication order type — they specify a medication to be given at
regular scheduled times (e.g., "Lisinopril 10mg PO daily at 0900"). The order remains active until the
prescriber discontinues it or a specified stop date is reached. Most maintenance medications for chronic
conditions are standing orders.
E TAT S • C - A M
MA
Program
State Board of Nursing — Medication Administration
STATE EXAM
S A F E A D M I N I S T R AT I O N · Q U A L I T Y C A R E
Medication Aide — State Certification Test
M E D I C AT I O N A D M I N I ST R AT I O N , D R U G C L A SS I F I C AT I O N S & R O U T E S
INSTITUTION State Board of Nursing — Medication Aide EXAM CODE MA-C-STATE-2026
Program
PROGRAM Medication Aide (MA-C) Certification ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE Medication Aide State Certification TOTAL QUESTIONS Comprehensive State Test Review
Examination
COURSE TITLE Medication Aide Training Program FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the Single Best
Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover medication administration fundamentals: routes of administration, drug classifications, the seven rights, MAR
checking, military time, medication orders, and safety protocols.
▸ Distinguish carefully between medication order types (STAT, single, standing, PRN), routes (oral, sublingual, buccal, topical,
ophthalmic, otic), and drug class effects.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for comprehensive review.
▸ All content is derived from the Medication Aide State Certification Test curriculum.
SECTION I — MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION, ROUTES & DRUG Comprehensive
CLASSIFICATIONS Review
1. How many milliliters (mL) are in 1 ounce?
A. 15 mL
B. 30 mL
C. 60 mL
D. 100 mL
CORRECT ANSWER B — 30 mL. One fluid ounce equals exactly 30 milliliters (30 cc).
RATIONALE Critical conversion for medication administration: 1 fl oz = 30 mL = 30 cc = 2 tablespoons. Other essential
conversions: 1 tsp = 5 mL, 1 Tbsp = 15 mL, 1 cup = 8 oz = 240 mL. Medication aides must know these
conversions to accurately measure and administer liquid medications. Household measurements should
never be used in healthcare settings.
, 2. Convert 1545 military time to standard time:
A. 1:45 PM
B. 2:45 PM
C. 3:45 PM
D. 4:45 PM
CORRECT ANSWER C — 3:45 PM. 1545 – 1200 = 3:45 PM.
RATIONALE Military time conversion: For times 1300 and larger, subtract 1200 to get PM time. 1545 – 1200 = 3:45 PM. For
times 0100–1159, add a colon (0100 = 1:00 AM, 0930 = 9:30 AM). 1200 = 12:00 noon. 2400/0000 = 12:00
midnight. Military time eliminates AM/PM confusion and is the standard in healthcare documentation.
3. A STAT medication order means the medication should be given:
A. At bedtime only
B. Immediately
C. As needed
D. Once daily
CORRECT ANSWER B — Immediately. STAT orders must be administered right away, without delay.
RATIONALE STAT comes from the Latin "statim" meaning immediately. STAT orders are the highest priority — they must
be given right away. However, medication aides are generally NOT allowed to accept or administer STAT
orders; these require licensed nurse assessment. Other order types: Single (one time only), Standing (daily at
scheduled times), PRN (as needed, requiring assessment before administration).
4. A single medication order means the medication is to be given:
A. Every day at the same time
B. One time only
C. As needed
D. At bedtime
CORRECT ANSWER B — One time only. A single order is administered once and not repeated.
RATIONALE Single (one-time) orders are given only once, often for preoperative medications, diagnostic procedures, or
one-time treatments. After administration, the order is complete. This differs from standing orders (daily
scheduled), PRN orders (as needed), and STAT orders (immediate). The medication aide must understand
each order type to administer correctly.
5. A standing medication order means:
A. Given immediately
B. Given one time only
C. Given daily at a certain time — most medications fall into this category
D. Given only when the resident requests it
CORRECT ANSWER C — Given daily at a certain time. Standing orders are routine, scheduled medications that continue
until discontinued by the prescriber.
RATIONALE Standing orders are the most common medication order type — they specify a medication to be given at
regular scheduled times (e.g., "Lisinopril 10mg PO daily at 0900"). The order remains active until the
prescriber discontinues it or a specified stop date is reached. Most maintenance medications for chronic
conditions are standing orders.
