How to Renew Your Medication Administration Training (MAT) Certificate

Background

The Office of Children and Family Services requires all child day care providers to meet certain requirements if they are administering medication, other than over-the-counter topical ointments, sunscreen and topically applied insect repellent, to children in their care. One of these requirements is the successful completion of an approved medication administration training class.

All child care providers must have a MAT certificate to give medication. The original certificate is valid for three years. When your certificate is about to expire, you must renew it to continue giving medication.

Renewal Options

You must renew your MAT certificate before the expiration date to continue to administer medication in your child day care program. You have the following option to renew your MAT certificate for another three years:

• Online testing

Renewal Test

The MAT renewal test assesses your ability to use safe medication administration practices you learned during the MAT course. The renewal test is 50 questions. It should take about one to two hours to complete. You must score 90% or above to pass.

Your new certificate expiration date will be three years from the date you successfully complete the renewal test. You must have a username and password to access the online test. You will receive your username and password in a letter from the MAT Program before your certificate expires. You must take the test before your MAT certificate expires.

If you do not pass the renewal test on your first try, you can take the test a second time.

If you would like to continue giving medication but you do not want to take the renewal test, didn’t pass the renewal test or your original MAT certificate has expired, you can take the MAT course again. You can apply for funding to help pay for the training.

Medication Error

If your certificate is due to expire and your program has a medication error resulting in a regulatory violation, you will need to take the MAT course again. However, if you were not directly involved in the medication error, you may be able to renew your certificate by taking the renewal test online. Ask your licensor or registrar to complete the Medication Violation Clarification Form you received from the MAT Program. Once you have submitted the completed form, we’ll send you a username and password.