Certification Organizations for Medical Assistants

There are several different certification organizations for medical assistants, each with its own certification process and requirements. The most common certification organizations are the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the National Healthcare Association (NHA), and the Certified medical assistant (CMA) from the American Medical Technologists (AMT). There are also several state-specific certification organizations, such as the California Board of Medical Assistants (CBMA) and the Texas Board of Medical Assistants (TBMA).

To become certified through one of these organizations, medical assistants must typically complete an accredited medical assisting program and pass a standardized exam. Some states also have additional requirements, such as passing a criminal background check. Once certified, medical assistants must usually recertify every few years to maintain their certification.

Duties of medical assistants

A medical assistant performs administrative and clinical tasks in a healthcare facility under the supervision of licensed medical staff, such as physicians and nurses. Administrative duties may include answering phones, scheduling appointments, billing and coding insurance forms, handling correspondence, and ordering medical supplies Clinical duties may include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, preparing patients for examination, helping during the exam, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, performing basic laboratory tests, administering medications and injections, and providing postoperative care.

Most states do not regulate the profession of medical assistant. However, certification is available from several organizations. The most common credential is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), which is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To be eligible for certification, candidates must graduate from an accredited medical assisting program and pass a written examination.

Education and training for medical assistants

Medical assistants are health care professionals who support the work of physicians and other health care workers. They perform administrative and clinical tasks in hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, and other healthcare facilities.

Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate or diploma from an accredited program. Programs typically take about 1 year to complete and include classroom, laboratory, and clinical components. Some states have certification requirements for medical assistants.

There are several organizations that offer certification for medical assistants. To be certified, candidates must pass an exam. The Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) offers the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential. To maintain their credential, CMAs must recertify every 60 months.

Employment outlook for medical assistants

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of medical assistants will grow by 29 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. The increasing reliance on physician assistants to perform routine duties, such as taking medical histories and giving shots, will allow physicians to see more patients. As a result, demand for medical assistants will continue to grow as our population ages.

Medical assistants held about 727,000 jobs in 2019. Most worked in physicians’ offices, including those of generalists and specialists. Others worked in hospitals; outpatient care centers; the offices of other health practitioners; or in the offices of state, local, and private hospitals. A small number worked in nursing and residential care facilities or in government agencies.

Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate from a community college program or a diploma from a vocational school. Some states have certification requirements for medical assistants.

Medical assisting salary

How much does a medical assistant make? The median annual wage for medical assistants was $34,800 in May 2017. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,710, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $49,550.

Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate. Although not required, certification may give jobseekers a competitive edge.There are several certification organizations for medical assistants:

The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) offers the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential. To earn this credential, candidates must graduate from an accredited medical assisting program and pass a national exam administered by the Certifying Board of the AAMA.

The National Healthcare Association (NHA) offers the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential. To earn this credential, candidates must pass an exam administered by NHA.

The National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) offers the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) credential. To earn this credential, candidates must pass an exam administered by NCCT.

Medical assistant job description

Most medical assistant programs lead to a certificate or diploma, although some community colleges offer associate degrees.Programs typically take 1 to 2 years to complete and include classroom, laboratory, and clinical components. Although most medical assistants have postsecondary education, such as a certificate, some states allow formal on-the-job training to substitute for educational requirements.

Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate, but some states allow formal on-the-job training to substitute for educational requirements. Programs typically take 1-2 years to complete and include classroom, laboratory, and clinical components.
The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the size and location of the practice and the practitioners’ specialty. In small practices, medical assistants usually are responsible for many administrative and clinical duties.

Medical assistant certification

The following organizations offer medical assistant certification:
-The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) offers the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential.
-The National Healthcare Association (NHA) offers the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential.
-The American Medical Technologists (AMT) offers the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential.

What is a medical assistant

A medical assistant is an allied health professional that supports the work of physicians and other health professionals, usually in a clinic setting. Medical assistants can perform a variety of tasks, including taking medical histories, scheduling appointments, drawing blood, administering injections, and handling laboratory work. Many medical assistants also take on administrative duties such as handling patients’ bills and managing insurance paperwork.

While there is no formal education requirement to become a medical assistant, most employers prefer to hire candidates who have completed a postsecondary medical assisting program. These programs are offered at community colleges, technical schools, and some four-year colleges. After completing a medical assisting program, graduates may choose to earn voluntary certification to demonstrate their competency and commitment to the profession. The two primary organizations that offer medical assistant certification are the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the National Commission forCertifying Agencies (NCCA).

How to become a medical assistant

There are a few different ways that you can become a medical assistant. You can go to a traditional college or university and get a degree, you can go to a trade or vocational school, or you can get certified by an accredited organization. Each of these ways has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to choose the one that’s right for you.

If you want to go to a traditional college or university, you’ll need to make sure that the school is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). These accreditations are important because they guarantee that you’ll be getting a quality education that will prepare you for your career.

Another option is to go to a trade or vocational school. These schools typically have shorter programs than traditional colleges and universities, so they can be a good option if you’re looking to get into the workforce quickly. However, it’s important to make sure that the school you choose is accredited by either CAAHEP or ABHES.

If you want to become certified by an accredited organization, there are several options available to you. The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) offers both certification and registration for medical assistants. To be eligible for certification, you must have graduated from an accredited medical assisting program and passed the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam. To be eligible for registration, you must have graduated from an accredited medical assisting program but do not need to take the CMA exam.

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) also offers certification for medical assistants. To be eligible, you must have graduated from an accredited medical assisting program and passed the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam.

And finally, the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) offers certification for medical assistants as well. To be eligible, you must have graduated from an accredited medical assisting program and passed either the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) exam or the National Competency Exam (NCE).

All of these organizations require that you graduate from an accredited medical assistant program before taking their exams. So if you’re thinking about becoming certified, make sure that your first step is finding an accredited program that meets your needs and interests

Why become a medical assistant

There are many reasons to pursue a career in medical assisting. First and foremost, medical assistants play a vital role in the healthcare industry, providing much-needed support to physicians and other medical professionals. In addition, medical assistants are in high demand, and the field is expected to grow much faster than average in the coming years. Finally, becoming a certified medical assistant can open the door to many different job opportunities and career paths.

If you’re considering a career in medical assisting, you may be wondering what certification organizations are best for you. Here are a few of the most popular certification organizations for medical assistants:

-The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) offers the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential. To qualify for this credential, candidates must pass an exam administered by the AAMA.
-The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offers the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential. To qualify for this credential, candidates must pass an exam administered by the NHA.
-The American Medical Technologists (AMT) offers the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential. To qualify for this credential, candidates must pass an exam administered by AMT.

Certification Organizations for Medical Assistants