Medical Assisting Certification

Is there a national certification or credentials for medical assistants?

Although not a requirement, employers typically prefer to hire those with formal education and certification. Being certified shows employers their candidate has passed a national exam proving they are competent in the field.

There are several certifications available including: The Certified Medical Assistant credential (CMA) is awarded through The American Association of Medical Assistants,

The Registered Medical Assistant credential (RMA) is awarded by the American Medical Technologists, The Podiatric Medical Assistant credential is awarded through the American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants, and The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology offers three credentialing levels: Certified Ophthalmic Assistant, Certified Ophthalmic Technician, and Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist.

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There is currently not a state license in any state for medical assistants but some states require additional courses or exams for certain job duties. One example of this would be some states require an additional test before medical assistants can take x-rays to ensure they are competent in that area.

Who is eligible to take the certification exams?

Eligibility for medical assistant certifications depends on which organization one is becoming certified by. Currently, the American Association of Medical Technologists is the only organization that requires individuals taking the exam to have graduated from an accredited medical assisting program. The American Medical Technologists requires candidates to have either graduated from an accredited program or have five years of experience working as a medical assistant.

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What is the certification exam like?

The exam given by the AAMA, which is the most well recognized credential organization, is made up of 200 multiple-choice questions. This computer-based exam covers a wide array of topics, which are all typically taught in a formal medical assistant program. Those taking the exam are given a three hour and 15 minutes time limit.

What continuing education requirements do medical assistants need to meet?

The number of continuing education units required for medical assistants varies based on which organization they are credentialed by. For example, The American Association of Medical Assistants gives two options for recertification; one is to retake the certification exam and the other is to obtain continuing education units. For those individuals who choose the continuing education route, they are required to accumulate 60 “points” in a five-year certification period. These 60 points must be broken down as follows:

10 Administrative
10 Clinical
10 General
30 from any combination of the above three categories

Continuing education units can be earned through programs and events hosted by The American Association of Medical Assistants, as well as outside the AAMA. The options for CEUs include:

Self-study courses offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants. These courses include an exam at the end that must be passed with a score of 70 percent or higher.
Attending sessions at the AAMA Annual Convention. These types of events are educational as well as good for networking with other professionals in the field.
State societies and local chapters of AAMA provide continuing education workshops.
Up to 30 Non-AAMA points can be earned through programs, courses, and seminars.