Most UAPs are technicians. A technician is a UAP who may perform limited nursing functions within the ordinary, customary, and usual roles in the person’s field. Examples may include surgical and dialysis technicians and medical assistants.

The North Dakota Board of Nursing (NDBON) registry includes the following individuals:

• Surgical technicians/surgical technician students
• Dialysis technicians/dialysis technician students
• Medical assistants/medical assistant students
• Nursing students/nursing student apprentices
• School personnel who care specifically for a student in a school setting at the request of the parents.
• Medication assistant IIIs who are either:
  • Nursing students who have completed a portion of their formal nursing education program to qualify for registry, or
  • Medical assistant UAPs who have completed a formal medical assistant program that involved pharmacology and medication administration training which must include an in person clinical component in medication administration.

The UAP requirements for surgical technicians, dialysis technicians, and medical assistants include completion of a formal training program. The applicant will be required to provide verification of certification or must have their program submit an official transcript showing completion of the program the individual is applying for.

The NDBON does not approve UAP programs.  The NDBON sets the criteria for registration as a UAP. Your employer may be able to assist you in finding the right program for you.

The NDBON has determined that individuals completing online-only surgical technician programs do not meet criteria for registration in North Dakota.

Yes, the law regarding practice within the state of ND:

43-12.1-03. License or registration required – Title – Abbreviation. Any person who provides nursing care to a resident of this state must hold a current license or registration issued by the board. It is unlawful for a person to practice nursing, offer to practice nursing, assist in the practice of nursing, or use any title, abbreviation, or designation to indicate that the person is practicing nursing or assisting in the practice of nursing in this state unless that person is currently licensed or registered under this chapter.

No, in brief the UAP is:

• A surgical tech or medical assistant who is typically educated through a formal program such as a college or university for their role.
• A dialysis technician who is either formally trained on the job or receives training through a college or university.
• A medication assistant III who is either a medical assistant with evidence of education in medication administration or a nursing student who has completed the required coursework to administer medications in their role. The nursing student qualifies if they are within two (2) years of their nursing program. Due to this limitation, they are not typically eligible for renewal of their registry unless they continue in a nursing education program.
• A school personnel UAP who is an individual in a school setting who has been trained to administer medication and assistance to a particular student in the school.

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS) oversees the registry of CNAs.  More information can be found at: Certified Nurse Aide Information | Health and Human Services North Dakota

The NDBON holds the registry for MAIIIs who are either nursing students who have completed a portion of the nursing program for eligibility or they are medical assistants who have provided evidence they meet criteria to administer medications in their role as a medical assistant. For more information on what cannot be delegated to an MAIII and for what medications an MAIII can administer, see the FAQs that address that information below.

The NDHHS holds the registry for the MAI and MAII roles. The MAI and MAII are CNAs who have completed additional training to be eligible to administer certain medications in their role in long-term care. For more information on MAI and MAII and what medications an MAI or II can administer, contact the NDHHS.

No, according to North Dakota Administrative Code (NDAC) 54-07-05-06(3)(f), the nursing student qualifies only if they can “provide evidence of the clinical practice hours in a nursing education program within the past two (2) years” of their nursing program. Due to this limitation, they are not typically eligible for renewal of their registry unless they continue in a nursing education program.

No, the NDBON does not administer or approve a test or exam for the role of UAP, medical assistant, or medication assistant III. The NDBON does have approved organizations/providers for national certification exams for the various UAP roles.

While the certification provides the evidence that you have the knowledge necessary to hold the registry in North Dakota, the registration provides oversight for the practice within the state to assure the safety of North Dakota citizens.

If you are an MAIII you will need to maintain your certification to renew your registry.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), as part of their End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) mandates, require dialysis centers to employ dialysis technicians who are certified. Therefore, dialysis technicians must maintain their certification if they are employed in a dialysis facility.

Some employers require continued certification for any UAP in their employment.

Surgical technicians or medical assistants (who do not hold MAIII) may be able to use verification of competency from an employer or a licensed nurse to renew their registration.

No, the UAP role is dependent on delegation from a licensed nurse or from a medical provider. The UAP cannot work independently.

The UAP may participate in giving direct care services at the consumer direction.  The UAP is responsible to the individual/consumer directing their own care for services provided to that individual/consumer.

The NDAC (rules) require that an employer/facility only employ individuals to perform nursing tasks if on a registry. To verify if an individual is on the UAP and/or MAIII registry check the online Verification Portal by clicking “Verify” at the top of this page or by visiting: https://ndbon.boardsofnursing.org/licenselookup. A copy of the verification of registry status may be printed off the verification portal.

Interventions that may not be delegated to an UAP/MAIII are interventions that require nursing knowledge, skill, and judgement.  Per NDAC 54-07-03.1-03.1 these activities include:

1. Physical, psychological, and social assessment which requires professional nursing judgment, intervention, referral, or follow-up.
2. Development of nursing diagnosis and care goals.
3. Formulation of the plan of nursing care.
4. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the nursing care provided.
5. Teaching except for that related to promoting independence in activities of daily living.
6. Counseling, except that the unlicensed assistive person may be instructed to recognize and report basic deviations from healthy behavior and communication patterns, and may provide listening, empathy, and support.
7. Coordination and management of care including collaborating, consulting, and referring.
9. Medication administration may not be delegated unless the unlicensed assistive person has met the requirements of NDAC chapter 54-07-05. The exception is when a licensed nurse specifically delegates to a specific unlicensed assistive person the administration of a specific medication for a specific client.
10. Receiving or transmitting verbal or telephone orders.

Medical assistants or nursing students who have met criteria for the MAIII registration and have obtained that registration may administer medications in their role.

School personnel who have been appropriately trained and have met criteria for the school personnel UAP registry may administer medications per the contract between the parent and school administrator.

The ND Administrative Code (rules) provides direction for this:

54-07-05-09. Routes or types of medication administration.

1. Administration of the initial dose of a medication that has not been previously administered to the client must be administered according to organization policy.
2. Conversion or calculation of a medication dosage must be verified with a licensed nurse.
3. Medication assistants III may administer medications by the following routes to individuals or groups of individuals with stable, predictable conditions according to organization policy:
   • Oral, sublingual, and buccal medications;
   • Eye medications;
   • Ear medications;
   • Nasal medications;
   • Rectal medications and enemas;
   • Vaginal medications;
   • Skin ointments, topical medications, including patches and transdermal medications;
   • Metered hand-held inhalants;
   • Unit dose nebulizers;
   • Intramuscular injections;
   • Subcutaneous injections;
   • Intradermal injections;
   • Gastrostomy;
   • Jejunostomy;
   • Nasogastric tube;
   • Nonmetered inhaler; and
   • Non-unit dose aerosol or nebulizer.
4. Medication assistants III may not administer medications by the following routes:
   • Central lines;
   • Colostomy;
   • Intravenous;
   • Intravenous lock; or
   • Urethral catheter.
5. Medication assistants III may not administer the following kinds of medications:
   • Barium and other diagnostic contrast media;
   • Chemotherapeutic agents except oral maintenance chemotherapy; or
   • Through any medication pumps, nor assume responsibility for medication pumps, including client-controlled analgesia.

The rules permit the delegation of the above listed injectable routes to an MAIII. The act of giving injectable medications falls under Chapter 54-07-05 Medication Administration by a Medication Assistant III. MAIII may administer medications by the above routes to individuals or groups of individuals with stable, predictable conditions according to organization policy. It is the responsibility of the licensed nurse delegating the intervention to determine that the MAIII can safely perform the nursing intervention as defined in Chapters 54-05-01; 54-05-02; and 54-05-03.1 Standards for Practice.

The applicant for MAIII registration must have a registration on the UAP registry and:

• Nursing Students: Evidence of successful completion of a course which includes medication administration from an approved nursing education program, which must have included a clinical nursing component. The course must have included basic clinical skills, basic pharmacology, principles of medication administration, and mathematics competency; OR
• Medical Assistants: Evidence of successful completion of a board-recognized medical assistant program which must include a clinical component in medication administration; and  certification from an NDBON-approved certifying organization.

Renewal emails are sent to the current email on file for each UAP. UAP/MAIIIs are responsible updating their Nurse Portal information with any change of address, email address or telephone number so that renewal notices and other correspondence are received. You may change your address, email address or telephone number through your Nurse Portal account at https://ndbon.boardsofnursing.org/ndbn/ . Failure to receive a renewal notice does not relieve you of the obligation to renew your registration before the expiration date.

Initial UAP/MAIII registry is subject to renewal on or before June 30 of the second year and every two (2) years thereafter. Prior to expiration, the UAP/MAIII must verify that they have been employed as a UAP or MAIII and have verification of competence by an employer or licensed nurse. If the registrant fails to provide this information or has not worked as an UAP, their status becomes inactive or “lapsed”. A lapsed registry status may be reactivated by meeting the renewal requirements and payment of the required fee.

The NDBON does not issue wallet registration cards. When a registrant obtains registry or renews their registration, a card is not mailed. To verify if an individual is on the UAP/MAIII registry check the online verification system by clicking “Verify” at the top of this page or visit: https://ndbon.boardsofnursing.org/licenselookup. A copy of the verification may be printed from the website.

A UAP/MAIII previously registered in ND can apply for reactivation by:

1. Completing the reactivation application and submitting to a criminal history record check (54-02.1-01).
2. Pay the non-refundable renewal and reactivation fees.
3. Submit verification of current certification or current registration from board-recognized national bodies acceptable to the board as listed in NDAC Section 54-07-05-07.

The registration issued to an UAP/MAIII, may be revoked, suspended, encumbered, or denied based upon the provisions of chapter 54-02-07 Disciplinary Action.