Delegation Requirement

Only Medication Aides who administer medications in a skilled nursing facility (SNF), assisted living center (ALC), or a hospital are registered by the Board.

Delegation by Nurse

South Dakota requires that a licensed RN or LPN educate and train medication aides. Medication aides may only administer medications if a licensed nurse delegates the specific medication administration tasks to the trained individual.  A licensed nurse must also supervise the medication aide to ensure safe outcomes and appropriate medication administration has occured.

Registration by the board is only required for medication aides in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living centers, and hospitals. Only a registered medication aide may use the title "Registered Medication Aide",  abbreviated "RMA". 

Associated Rules

• Administrative rules on Medication Aide Training Programs (MATP) are located in ARSD chapter 20:48:04.01.
• Administrative rules on the registration requirements are located in ARSD chapter 20:48:16. 

Responsibility of Employers and Nurses 

• Verify the aide completed a SDBON approved MATP; the aide should have a completion certificate from a SDBON approved training program.
• If the aide is administering medications in a SNF, ALC, or hospital, the aide must be registered as a RMA. Verify current registration status on the Board's Verification Site.