Medical Assistant Certification in West Virginia – WV

Medical assistants must combine general office work with medical knowledge. As such, the coursework typically covers standard office practices, recordkeeping, accounting, keyboarding, computer applications and the like. To supply the medical knowledge necessary to become a medical assistant, medical assistant schools in West Virginia include courses in medical terminology, laboratory techniques, pharmacology, human anatomy, physiology, pathology and medical law and ethics. In addition, courses in patient relations and medical coding and insurance billing are also helpful.

Certification credentials can be obtained from two organizations, although the first organization is generally preferred.

• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), awarded by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), http://www.aama-ntl.org/. This organization utilizes the National Board of Medical Examiners as a test consultant to ensure the reliability of the examination.
• Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), awarded by the American Medical Technologists (AMT), http://www.amt1.com

Apply to take the certification exam. The CMA from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) can now be taken at various times throughout the entire year. To find dates and locations that are convenient for you, visit the AAMA Web site. Please keep in mind that in order to take the certification exam on a certain date, the application itself must be submitted and postmarked approximately three months before the date that you wish to take the examination. For example, to take the CMA Certification exam during the month of June, your application must have a postmark that is dated no later than March 1 of the same year. Please remember that the AAMA does not accept applications that are faxed or sent via e-mail.

Your application will be reviewed and within 45 days of receipt, you will be notified if your application has been accepted. If so, you will receive a Scheduling Permit. Schedule a testing appointment using the instructions that are included along with your Scheduling Permit. Take the medical assistant certification examination after getting formal training through a West Virginia medical assistant school. This examination is electronic, with multiple-choice questions. You must complete the examination within three hours and 15 minutes. This time allotment includes a 15 minute tutorial. After completing the examination, you will find out if you passed or did not pass the examination.

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Medical Assistants in Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg and Wheeling, West Virginia may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Charleston Area Medical Center General Hospital, Wheeling Hospital, Saint Mary's Medical Center and Ruby Memorial Hospital.