MAT - Medication Administration Training

Purpose of the MAT Course

The MAT course certifies providers or staff in child day programs and accredited private schools to administer over the counter and prescription medication in a child care care setting using six routes:  oral, topical, inhaled, eye, ear and emergency injection of epinephrine using an auto-injector device.

Who Must Attend MAT?

The Code of Virginia (§54.1-3408) states that providers or staff members who work in licensed or regulated child day programs and who administer prescription medication must satisfactorily complete the MAT course. The regulations for licensed child day centers and family day homes contain a standard that goes beyond the requirements of the law and require medication administration training for anyone who administers prescription AND non-prescription medication. During 2013, the Code of Virginia was revised to include individuals who work in private schools accredited by the Virginia Council for Private Education to the list of individuals who must successfully complete the MAT course prior to administering prescription medication to children. Code of Virginia Section 54.1-3408 provides more information on this requirement.

MAT Course Requirements

To attend a MAT course, a child care provider or employee of the program must be:

  • at least 18 years of age
  • be able to read, write and comprehend in the English language
  • have current first aid certification that includes a hands-on component
  • have current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification that includes a hands-on component

Recertification

The MAT certification is valid for three years from the date it was issued. The child care provider or staff member must be recertified before the expiration date to continue to administer medication to children in a child day program.

(courtesy of Medhomeplus.org)

Medication Administration Training MAT – Full Day Class

MAT is a competency-based course and must be taught by an approved MAT Trainer.  A written test of 20 questions, a randomized skills demonstration, a liquid measurement demonstration and an Epipen demonstration must be successfully completed before certification can be issued.  The MAT class (content and practice) last approximately eight hours.  However, since participants are given two opportunities to pass each competency, class time may need to be extended in order to accommodate testing and retesting. (courtesy of medhomeplus.org)

In the traditional MAT class, participants are with the instructor for the entire class and the instructor provides the handouts.  

Please bring your FA/CPR card as well as snacks and lunch with you to class.  There will not be time available for participants to leave and grab food.

Please review the MAT Training checklist prior to class. Click here for checklist.

Student materials: Handouts and all supplies are provided by instructor.

  • Student to instructor ratio: 8:1
  • Class fee: $125 per person
  • Approximate class length: 8 to 10 hours

Class may be divided into two sessions.  Three hands-on skills tests and a written exam must be passed for the course certificate. Students are allowed to use their handouts for skills demonstrations as well as the written test.

Certificates are issued when all testing is completed and are good for three years. 

Medication Administration Training  –  Independent Study

This MAT class has two parts.

Part one allows the participant to view the MAT training video at mat-elearning.medhomeplus.org.  Participants follow the instructions set forth on the website on how to create their account.  The Part 1 Completion Certificate is valid for 6 months.

Part two of this class is completed with your MAT instructor. Participants will practice skills learned from the video. Skills testing includes three hands on tests. The written exam is the same as the traditional MAT. The skills tests and written exam must be passed for a course certificate. Certificate is good for three years. 

Please bring your FA/CPR as well as your Part 1 certificate with you to the testing.  

Please review the MAT Training checklist prior to class. Click here to view the checklist

Student materials: Handouts need to be printed by participant from the Medhomeplus website. Instructor will provide supplies for skills practice and skills tests. 

  • Student to instructor ratio: 8:1
  • Class fee: $100.00
  • Approximate class length: 3 to 4 hours

Please print out the MAT IS handouts to have when viewing the videos and bring to the class when meeting with the instructor.

Medication Administration Training  –  First Renewal

This MAT class has two parts.

Part one allows the participant to take the written test at mat-elearning.medhomeplus.org.  Participants follow the instructions set forth on the website on how to create their account.  The Part 1 Completion Certificate is valid for 3 months.

Part two of this class is completed with your MAT instructor. Participants will perform the 3 skills demonstrations.  There is no practice with this course.  The skills tests must be passed for a course certificate. Certificate is good for three years. 

Only providers who hold a current or recently expired (within 90 days) MAT certificate are eligible to take the MAT First Renewal course.  Providers who hold a current MAT First Renewal Certificate are NOT eligible to renew via the MAT First Renewal.  These participants will need to take the MAT Full Day or MAT IS course.  You must bring your qualifying MAT Certificate as well as your online Part 1 MAT First Renewal certificate to the MAT First Renewal Part 2 class.  Participants will not be permitted into the testing without these certificates.

Please bring your  FA/CPR to the testing.

Please review the MAT Training checklist prior to class. Click here to view the checklist

Student materials: Instructor will provide supplies for skills practice and skills tests. 

  • Student to instructor ratio: 1:1
  • Class fee: $50.00
  • Approximate class length: 30 minutes

Medication Administration Training  –  AMAT

The AMAT (Allergy and Anaphylaxis Medication Administration Training) Course (formerly EMAT) covers medication administration skills that can help you prevent asthma and allergy emergencies.  This course covers ONLY administering liquid Benadryl, metered-dose inhalers, and Epipen epinephrine auto-injector. (courtesy Medhomeplus.org)

This MAT class has two parts.

Part one allows the participant to view the MAT training video at mat-elearning.medhomeplus.org.  Participants follow the instructions set forth on the website on how to create their account.  The Part 1 Completion Certificate is valid for 6 months.

Part two of this class is completed with your MAT instructor. Participants will practice skills learned from the video. Skills testing include two hands on demonstrations.  The skills test  must be passed for a course certificate. Certificate is good for three years. 

You will need to bring the online AMAT Part 1 certificate with you to the testing as well as your FA/CPR card.

Please review the MAT Training checklist prior to class. Click here to view the checklist

Student materials:  Instructor will provide supplies for skills practice and skills tests as well as handouts. 

  • Student to instructor ratio: 8:1
  • Class fee: $75.00
  • Approximate class length: 3 to 4 hours

Medication Administration Training  –  EpiPen Only Course

In this course, you’ll learn to give epinephrine using the EpiPen® auto-injector ONLY.  This course ONLY covers the Epi-Pen® epinephrine auto-injector.  NO other epinephrine auto-injectors or other medications/routes are covered in this course. 

Participants will practice the skills discussed during the class.  A demonstration test must be passed for a course certificate.

Certificate is good for three years. 

You will need to bring your FA/CPR card with you the day of the class.

Please review the MAT Training checklist prior to class. Click here to view the checklist

Student materials:  Instructor will provide supplies for skills practice and skills tests as well as handouts. 

  • Student to instructor ratio: 16:1
  • Class fee: $35.00
  • Approximate class length: 1 to 2 hours

Medication Administration Training  –  Diabetes Course

This course covers administering blood glucose and urine ketone tests, as well as calculating insulin doses, giving insulin by syringe and pen injector, and giving glucagon.  ONLY providers who hold a current MAT Certificate or MAT Renewal Certificate are eligible to take the MAT Diabetes Part 2 class that completes this course.

This MAT class has two parts.

Part one allows the participant to view the MAT training video at mat-elearning.medhomeplus.org.  Participants follow the instructions set forth on the website on how to create their account.  The Part 1 Completion Certificate is valid for 6 months.

Part two of this class is completed with your MAT instructor. Participants will practice skills learned from the video. Skills testing includes a hands on demonstrations and written test.  The skills tests and written test must be passed for a course certificate. Certificate is good for three years. 

You will need to bring the online Diabetes Part 1 certificate with you to the testing as well as your FA/CPR card.  Your current MAT certificate will need to be emailed to the trainer before the class date.  Please bring snacks and lunch with you to class.  There will not be time for participants to leave to grab food.

Please review the MAT Training checklist prior to class. Click here to view the checklist

Student materials:  Instructor will provide supplies for skills practice and skills tests as well as handouts. 

  • Student to instructor ratio: 4:1
  • Class fee: $125.00
  • Approximate class length: 6 hours

Medication Administration Training  –  Auvi-Q

This course covers only the Auvi-Q epinephrine auto-injector device. It is designed for providers who have already been certified in safe medication administration practices by successfully completing one of the MAT foundation courses (MAT, MAT IS, MAT First Renewal, AMAT or EpiPen).  The video component is located at mat-elearning.medhomeplus.org.  There is not a Part 2 with a trainer for this course.

The Auvi-Q certificate is only valid with a current valid MAT, MAT IS, MAT First Renewal, AMAT or Epipen certificate.  The certificate is valid for 3 years.