How to Get Certified as a Medical Assistant

Learn how to get certified as a medical assistant and what the requirements are for becoming certified.

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Introduction

Medical assistants are in high demand. They play a vital role in helping doctors and other medical staff provide patient care. If you’re considering a career in healthcare, becoming a medical assistant is a great place to start.

The first step to becoming a medical assistant is to get certified. Certification shows that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the job. It also demonstrates your commitment to your career.

There are several different ways to become certified as a medical assistant. The most common way is to graduate from an accredited Medical Assistant program. These programs are typically offered at community colleges and technical schools.

Once you’ve completed a Medical Assistant program, you can take the certification exam offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Passing this exam will earn you the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential.

You can also become certified through on-the-job training or by completing a Military Medical Assistant program. If you go this route, you’ll need to have your employer sign off on your training hours and pass an exam administered by the AAMA or another certifying organization such as the National Healthcare Association (NHA).

Once you’re certified, you’ll need to renew your credential every few years by completing continuing education credits or retaking the certification exam. Renewing your credential shows employers that you’re keeping up with the latest developments in the field and that you’re committed to your career as a medical assistant.

What is a medical assistant?

A medical assistant is a person who has graduated from an accredited medical assisting program and has passed a certification exam. Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks in hospitals, physician’s offices, and other healthcare facilities. They are responsible for patient care, patient education, and administrative duties such as scheduling appointments and billing insurance companies.

There are many different certifications that a medical assistant can earn, but the two most common are the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) and the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). The CMA is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), and the RMA is offered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT). To become a CMA, you must graduate from an accredited medical assisting program and pass the AAMA Certification Examination. To become an RMA, you must graduate from an accredited medical assisting program and pass the AMT Registration Examination.

The duties of a medical assistant

A medical assistant is a professional who provides support to medical practitioners in both the clinical and administrative aspects of running a medical facility. Their duties can be both behind-the-scenes, such as preparing medical records and stocking supplies, as well as direct patient care, such as taking vitals and administering injections. Medical assistants must be able to handle both the physical and emotional demands of the job, as they regularly work with sick and injured patients.

Becoming a certified medical assistant (CMA) requires completing an accredited training program and passing a certification exam. Once certified, CMAs must recertify every few years to maintain their credential.

The educational requirements of a medical assistant

To become a certified medical assistant, you will need to earn your high school diploma or equivalent and successfully pass a certified medical assistant exam. Although not required, completing an accredited medical assistant program can give you the skills and knowledge necessary to perform your duties as a medical assistant.

Medical assistants are trained to perform both clinical and administrative tasks in medical offices and other healthcare settings. Clinical tasks may include taking and recording patient vital signs, performing basic laboratory tests, collecting and processing specimens for testing, preparing patients for examination, and assisting the physician during the exam. Administrative tasks may include scheduling appointments, verifying insurance benefits, handling billing and coding information, ordering supplies, maintaining Medical records and handling correspondence.

Most medical assistants work in physician’s offices, but they may also work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes or other healthcare facilities. Some medical assistants work in specialist’s offices such as podiatrists, chiropractors, or ophthalmologists. With experience and additional training, some medical assistants may advance to positions such as office manager or supervisor.

The certification process of a medical assistant

Although certification is not required in all states, many employers prefer or require certification as a medical assistant. Certification demonstrates that an individual has the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the job tasks of a medical assistant. There are three main organizations that offer certification for medical assistants: The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the American Medical Technologists (AMT), and the National Healthcare Association (NHA).

The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) offers the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential. To qualify for the CMA credential, an individual must graduate from an accredited medical assisting program and pass the CMA Certification/Recertification Exam. The CMA credential is valid for 60 months and can be renewed through continuing education or retesting.

The American Medical Technologists (AMT) offers the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential. To qualify for the RMA credential, an individual must graduate from an accredited medical assisting program and pass the AMT Medical Assistant Certification Exam. The RMA credential is valid for 60 months and can be renewed through continuing education or retesting.

The National Healthcare Association (NHA) offers three credentials for medical assistants: the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), and the Certified EKG Technician (CET). To qualify for any of these credentials, an individual must pass the respective examination offered by NHA. The CCMA credential is valid for 24 months, while both the CPT and CET credentials are valid for 12 months. All three credentials can be renewed through continuing education or retesting.

The benefits of becoming a certified medical assistant

Medical assistants are key members of the healthcare team, providing support to both patients and doctors. If you’re interested in a career in healthcare, becoming a certified medical assistant (CMA) is a great option. CMAs are in high demand, and the job outlook for medical assistants is excellent. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about becoming a CMA, including the benefits of certification, what it takes to become certified, and how to maintain your certification.

The benefits of becoming a certified medical assistant
As a CMA, you’ll enjoy many professional benefits, including:

• Increased job security: CMAs are in high demand, and the demand for medical assistants is expected to continue to grow. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of medical assistants will grow 23% from 2019 to 2029 — much faster than the average for all occupations.

• Higher earning potential: CMAs earn a median annual salary of $34,800, and those with certification can earn even more. In addition, many employers offer bonuses and other incentives to employees who obtain certification.

• Greater career opportunities: Certification gives you the opportunity to specialize in certain areas of medicine and advance your career. For example, you may choose to become a certified ophthalmic medical assistant (COMA) or certified electrocardiography technician (CET).

What it takes to become certified
There are several steps you’ll need to take to become a CMA:

1. Complete an accredited medical assistant program. Accredited programs are available at community colleges, vocational schools, and online institutions. Most programs take about two years to complete and include both classroom instruction and clinical experience.
2. Pass the Certified Medical Assistant Exam (CMAE). The CMAE is administered by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To be eligible for the exam, you must have graduated from an accredited medical assistant program within the last five years or have completed at least five years of work experience as a medical assistant within the last 10 years. The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as anatomy and physiology, Medical Terminology patient confidentiality, and laws governing healthcare facilities. 3. Maintain your certification by renewing it every 60 months. To renew your certification, you must complete at least 50 credits of continuing education every five years or retake the CMAE every 10 years. You can obtain continuing education credits by attending workshops or conferences related to medical assisting or completing online courses offered by accredited providers such as the AAMA or American Medical Technologists (AMT).

The different types of medical assistant certification

There are three different types of medical assistant certification: the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) and the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). Each type of certification has different requirements, but all three are recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA).

The CMA is the most common type of certification, and it requires successful completion of an accredited medical assistant program. RMAs must have completed an accredited medical assistant program or have at least five years of experience working as a medical assistant. To become a CCMA, candidates must have completed an accredited medical assistant program and have passed a clinical skills exam.

There are many benefits to becoming certified as a medical assistant. Certification can lead to increased job opportunities and higher wages. In some states, certification may even be required for certain types of positions. Employers often prefer to hire certified medical assistants because they know that these individuals have the skills and knowledge necessary to perform their job duties effectively.

How to maintain your medical assistant certification

Maintaining your medical assistant certification is important to ensure you can continue working in your chosen field. There are a few different ways to maintain your certification, depending on which organization you are certified through. Generally, you will need to complete continuing education credits and/or retake the exam every few years.

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offers a few different ways to maintain your medical assistant certification. You can take an online renewing course, which will allow you to renew your certification for another year. You can also retake the exam, or participate in the NHAPortfolio Program. The Portfolio Program is designed for those who have been certified for more than five years and want to update their skills.

The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) offers a similar program to renew your certification. You can retake the exam, or earn recertification points through continuing education courses and activities related to medical assisting. You can also participate in the AAMA’s Re-Entry program, which is designed for those who have been out of the workforce for a period of time and want to update their skills.

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The importance of continuing education for medical assistants

The medical field is constantly changing, which means that medical assistants need to keep up-to-date on the latest information and procedures. One way to do this is by continuing their education. There are a number of benefits to continuing education for medical assistants, including:

1. Staying current on the latest information and procedures
2. Enhancing job performance
3. Increasing job satisfaction
4. Improving chances for promotion and earning potential
5. Fulfilling state requirements for licensure or certification

Medical assistant certification FAQs

Is medical assistant certification required?

No, medical assistants are not required to be certified. However, many employers prefer to hire certified medical assistants, and some states have laws governing the use of the title “medical assistant.” In addition, certification may be required for some medical assisting positions, such as those in specialized fields such as ophthalmology or podiatry.

What are the different types of medical assistant certification?

There are several different types of medical assistant certification. The most common type is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential, which is offered by the Medical Assistant Education Review Board (MAERB). Other types of certification include the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential offered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT) and the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential offered by the National Healthcare Association (NHA).

How do I become certified as a medical assistant?

To become certified as a medical assistant, you must first complete an accredited medical assisting program. Once you have completed your training, you can then take a certification exam offered by one of the certifying organizations listed above.