How to Renew Your Medical Assistant Certification

How to Renew Your medical assistant Certification – The Complete Guide

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Introduction

Medical assistants are vital members of the healthcare team, providing support in both administrative and clinical tasks in physician’s offices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. If you are a medical assistant you may be wondering how to renew your certification.

The process for renewing your medical assistant certification varies depending on the certifying body that initially credentialed you. However, there are some general steps that all Medical Assistants will need to take in order to maintain their certification. Read on to learn more about how to renew your medical assistant certification.

Why You Might Need to Renew Your Certification

There are a number of reasons why you might need to renew your medical assistant certification. You may have let your certification lapse and need to reinstate it. You may be changing jobs and need to transfer your certification to a new state. Or you may simply need to renew your certification to keep it up to date.

Whatever the reason, the process for renewing your medical assistant certification is generally the same. You will need to submit a new application, along with the required fees, and complete any necessary continuing education requirements. Once your application has been processed, you will be issued a new certificate with an updated expiration date.

Keep in mind that each state has its own rules and regulations regarding medical assistant certification, so be sure to check with your state Board of Medicine for specific renewal requirements.

How to Check If Your Certification Is Expired

The National Healthcare Association (NHA) offers different ways to check the status of your medical assistant certification. You can either visit their website or call their customer service number.

When calling, you will need to provide your full name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. NHA will then tell you the expiration date of your certification and whether or not you are currently certified.

You can also check the status of your certification online. To do this, go to the NHA website and click on the “ Verify a Certification ” link. Again, you will need to provide your full name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. NHA will then tell you the expiration date of your certification and whether or not you are currently certified.

How to Renew Your Certification

The process of renewing your medical assistant certification may vary depending on the state in which you are certified, but there are some general steps that are typically followed. Here is an overview of the renewal process.

It is important to note that you will need to complete all requirements for renewing your medical assistant certification before your certification expires. If you do not renew your certification on time, you will need to retake the certified medical assistant exam.

In most cases, you will need to complete continuing education (CE) credits in order to renew your certification. The number of CE credits required may vary, but is typically between 10 and 20 credits. These credits can be earned through attending workshops, taking classes, or participating in other activities approved by your state’s certifying body.

Once you have completed the necessary CE credits, you will need to submit a renewal application to your state’s certifying body. This application will likely include a fee. Once your application is processed, you will be issued a new certificate with a new expiration date.

The Different Ways You Can Renew Your Certification

There are a few different ways that you can renew your medical assistant certification. You can either retake the certification exam, take an approved refresher course, or earn continuing education credits.

Retaking the certification exam is generally only necessary if your certification has lapsed and you let it expire for more than two years. If it has been less than two years since your certification expired, you may be able to renew by taking an approved refresher course.

You can also renew your medical assistant certification by earning continuing education credits. Most certifying bodies require that you earn a certain number of credits every few years in order to maintain your certification. You can usually earn these credits by taking courses or attending conferences related to medical assisting.

Online Renewal

The AAMA offers an online renewal system for those certified medical assistants (CMAs) seeking to renew their credential. The process is simple: log in to the AAMA website, provide some basic contact information, and pay the renewal fee using a credit card. You will then have access to a printable PDF of your renewed certification, which will be valid for the next five years.

Renewal by Recertification

Recertification by taking a approved refresher course or courses is the most common way to renew your medical assistant certification. Depending on the credentialing organization, you may need to complete a certain number of continuing education (CE) credits every few years and/or pass an exam to maintain your credential. CE requirements and acceptable activities vary by organization, so check with your credentialing body for specific details. Once you have fulfilled all requirements, you will be issued a new certificate or card with a new expiration date.

Renewal by Reexamination

All medical assistants must renew their certification periodically to maintain their registration and to stay current in the field. The Medical Assistant Certification Renewal Application and Renewal by Reexamination Application are available for download below.

The renewal process for certified medical assistants is different from that of other health care professionals. MA renewals are handled by the certifying organization, not the Department of Health. Certification is valid for a set period of time, generally four years. To renew, medical assistants must submit a new application and fee to their certifying organization, as well as documentation of completing continuing education (CE) credits.

Renewal by Endorsement

Renewal by endorsement is available to medical assistants who are currently certified in another state or territory of the United States or its equivalent and meet the following requirements:
-Submit a completed renewal application including the required non-refundable fee.
– certify that you have worked as a medical assistant for five out of the last ten years preceding your application, and submit documentation verifying your employment as a medical assistant during those years; OR
– document completion of an approved medical assistant training program within the last ten years preceding your application; OR
– document completion of 30 credit hours from an accredited institution of higher learning within the last five years preceding your application, with 15 of those credit hours related to medical assisting coursework, and submit official transcripts documenting completion of the credit hours.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, renewing your medical assistant certification is a process that is entirely up to you. You will need to decide when and how often you want to renew your certification, and what type of courses or training you want to take in order to keep your skills up-to-date. However, as long as you stay on top of your certification requirements and keep your skills sharp, you should have no problem maintaining your status as a certified medical assistant.