How to Become a Certified Medical Assistant

A medical assistant plays a vital role in the day-to-day operations of a healthcare facility. If you’re looking to start a career in healthcare, becoming a certified medical assistant is a great place to start. This blog will provide you with an overview of what you need to do to become a certified medical assistant

Checkout this video:

Introduction

A medical assistant is a person who has successfully completed an accredited medical assisting program and has passed a certification exam. Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to support the work of physicians and other health care professionals.

In order to become a certified medical assistant, you must first complete an accredited medical assisting program. Once you have completed the program, you will then be eligible to take the certification exam. After passing the exam, you will be officially certified as a medical assistant.

Steps to take

The first step to become a certified medical assistant is to find a training program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). There are many ways to search for accredited programs, but one way is to visit www.caahep.org or www.abhes.org and use their search tool.

After you have completed an accredited training program, the next step is to pass the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To be eligible to take the CMA exam, you must have graduated from a medical assisting program within the last 5 years or be currently enrolled in a medical assisting program. Once you have passed the CMA exam, you will need to maintain your certification by renewing it every 60 months.

Eligibility

In order to become a certified medical assistant, one must graduate from an accredited medical assisting program and pass a certification exam. Most states do not require certification for medical assistants, but many employers prefer or require certification as a way to show that their medical assistants have the knowledge and skills necessary to perform their job tasks effectively. There are numerous organizations that offer certification exams for medical assistants, but the most widely recognized is the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To be eligible to take the AAMA’s Certification Exam, candidates must:

-Have graduated from an accredited medical assisting program
-Have completed a internship or externship
-Be of good moral character
-Not have been convicted of a crime

Certification

Medical assistants can become certified through an accredited program. Certification demonstrates to potential employers that the medical assistant has the necessary skills and knowledge to perform the job.

The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential is offered by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To be eligible for certification, candidates must have completed an accredited medical assisting program and successfully passed a formal written examination.

The CMA credential is valid for 60 months, after which time recertification is required. To recertify, CMAs must earn continuing education credits and pay a recertification fee.

Job outlook

employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 19 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. The growing popularity of group practices, clinics, and other health care facilities that use medical assistants is expected to drive demand for trained medical assistants.

Salary

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how much medical assistants make. Your earnings as a medical assistant will depend on a number of factors, including your level of experience, your geographic location, and the type of medical facility you work in.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for medical assistants was $33,030 in May 2016. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,370, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $48,610.

Salaries for medical assistants vary by state. Here are the five states with the highest average salary for medical assistants, according to May 2016 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Alaska – $42,330 per year
California – $41,760 per year
Hawaii – $39,810 per year
Massachusetts – $38,250 per year
Oregon – $37,540 per year

Education and training

To become a certified medical assistant, you will need to complete an accredited training program. Many community colleges and technical schools offer medical assisting programs that can be completed in about a year. These programs typically include both classroom and clinical instruction. Once you have completed your training, you will need to pass a certification exam to earn your medical assistant certification.

Skills needed

In order to become a certified medical assistant, there are several skills that need to be mastered. These include: Medical Terminology basic human anatomy, physiology, and medical office procedures. In addition, certified medical assistants must be able to effectively communicate with patients and co-workers, have strong organizational skills, and be detail oriented.

What to expect

The medical field is booming, and there is a great demand for certified medical assistants. If you are considering a career in this field, you may be wondering what to expect. Here is an overview of what you can expect when you become a certified medical assistant.

As a certified medical assistant, you will be responsible for assisting physicians and other health care professionals with patient care. This can include taking medical histories and vital signs, preparing patients for examination, administering injections and performing laboratory tests. You may also be responsible for scheduling appointments and handling billing and insurance paperwork.

To become a certified medical assistant, you will need to complete an accredited training program. These programs typically last about 12 months and include both classroom instruction and clinical experience. Once you have completed your training, you will need to pass a certification exam to earn your credential.

With the right training and certification, you can enjoy a stable career as a certified medical assistant. With the aging population and the increasing demand for health care services, there is expected to be strong job growth in this field in the coming years.

Further information

Although certification is not always required, it may be beneficial to become a certified medical assistant. In some states certification may be required in order to work as a medical assistant.

There are a few different ways to become certified. One way is to attend an accredited institution and complete a certified medical assistant program. Alternatively, some individuals choose to take a coding course and pass the certification exam.

Once you have completed a certified medical assistant program or a coding course, you will need to pass the certification exam in order to be considered a certified medical assistant.