NC State Regulations for Medical Assistants
Contents
- North Carolina’s medical assistant regulations
- What medical assistants can do in North Carolina
- The requirements to become a medical assistant in North Carolina
- The different types of medical assisting credentials in North Carolina
- The scope of practice for medical assistants in North Carolina
- The supervision requirements for medical assistants in North Carolina
- The continuing education requirements for medical assistants in North Carolina
- The licensure requirements for medical assistants in North Carolina
- The certification requirements for medical assistants in North Carolina
- The registration requirements for medical assistants in North Carolina
North Carolina state regulations for Medical assistants What you need to know before becoming a medical assistant in North Carolina.
Checkout this video:
North Carolina’s medical assistant regulations
In North Carolina, Medical Assistants must comply with the state’s guidelines for health care personnel. These regulations are designed to protect patients and ensure that they receive the best possible care.
Medical assistants in North Carolina must complete an accredited medical assistant program and pass a criminal background check. They must also register with the North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners and renew their registration every two years.
Medical assistants in North Carolina are not allowed to perform certain tasks, such as giving injections or taking X-rays. They may only perform these tasks if they have completed a Board-approved training program.
Medical assistants in North Carolina must follow strict confidentiality laws. They are not allowed to discuss patients’ medical information with anyone who is not authorized to view it.
What medical assistants can do in North Carolina
According to the North Carolina Medical Board, medical assistants in the state are allowed to perform both administrative and clinical tasks. They must, however, have a supervising physician who delegates these tasks and is ultimately responsible for the care of the patients.
Administrative tasks that medical assistants in North Carolina can perform include but are not limited to:
– scheduling and cancelling appointments
– handling incoming and outgoing correspondence
– verifying insurance coverage
– coding and processing insurance claims
– handling collections
Clinical tasks that medical assistants in North Carolina can perform under the supervision of a license physician include but are not limited to:
– obtaining and recording patient histories
– performing preliminary physical examinations
– taking and recording vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respiration rates
– preparing patients for examination procedures such as x-rays, births, minor surgeries, etc.
– administering medications as directed by a physician
– collecting laboratory specimens such as urine specimens, blood samples, etc.
The requirements to become a medical assistant in North Carolina
In order to become a medical assistant in the state of North Carolina, an individual must first complete an accredited medical assisting program. After completing a medical assisting program, the individual must then pass the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Exam administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Once the CMA Exam has been passed, the individual must then submit an application to the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB) for licensure.
The different types of medical assisting credentials in North Carolina
There are three different types of medical assisting credentials in North Carolina: the Medical Assistant-Certified (MA-C), the Medical Assistant-Registered (MA-R), and the Medical Assistant Diploma (DMA). The MA-C credential is granted by the North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners (NCBME) to those who have successfully completed an accredited medical assisting program and the national certification examination administered by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The MA-R credential is granted by the NCBME to those who have met all of the requirements for certification as a medical assistant, but have not yet taken or passed the national certification examination administered by the AAMA. The DMA credential is granted by NC State’s Department of Health and Human Services to those who have successfully completed an accredited medical assisting program, but have not yet taken or passed the national certification examination.
The scope of practice for medical assistants in North Carolina
In North Carolina, the scope of practice for medical assistants is regulated by the Medical Practice Act. This act defines the scope of practice for medical assistants and establishes the Board of Medicine to oversee the regulation of medical assistants. The Board of Medicine is responsible for issuing licenses to medical assistants and ensuring that they comply with the act.
Medical assistants in North Carolina must have a high school diploma or equivalent, complete an accredited medical assistant program, and pass a national exam administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants. They must also pass a state jurisprudence exam and complete a background check. Once licensed, medical assistants must renew their license every two years by completing continuing education units and paying a renewal fee.
Medical assistants in North Carolina are allowed to perform basic clinical tasks such as taking vital signs, administering injections, and assisting with minor office procedures. They are also allowed to perform administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments, handling billing and insurance paperwork, and maintaining patient records. Medical assistants are not allowed to diagnose or treat illness or injury, prescribe medication, or perform any task that requires the independent judgment of a licensed medical professional.
The supervision requirements for medical assistants in North Carolina
In North Carolina, medical assistants must be supervised by a licensed physician, a nurse practitioner, or a physician assistant. The supervising provider must review and sign off on the medical assistant’s work on a regular basis.
The continuing education requirements for medical assistants in North Carolina
Medical assistants in North Carolina are required to complete at least four hours of continuing education every year in order to maintain their licensure. These hours must be related to the medical assistant’s scope of practice, and can be completed through online courses, attending conferences or seminars, or participating in other approved learning activities.
The licensure requirements for medical assistants in North Carolina
Medical assistants in North Carolina must meet the following requirements before they can be licensed by the state:
– Complete an accredited training program for medical assistants
– Pass the certified medical assistant (CMA) exam administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
– Obtain liability insurance
– Register with the North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners
With a license, medical assistants in North Carolina are allowed to perform a variety of tasks, including taking patient histories, measuring vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, assisting with minor office procedures and give injections. In order to maintain their license, medical assistants must complete continuing education courses every two years.
The certification requirements for medical assistants in North Carolina
To practice as a medical assistant in North Carolina, an individual must be a certified medical assistant (CMA) or a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). A CMA is an individual who has been credentialed by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). An RMA is an individual who has been credentialed by the American Medical Technologists (AMT).
In order to become a certified or registered medical assistant, an individual must complete an accredited medical assisting program and pass a credentialing exam. The CAAHEP and ABHES have approved numerous Medical Assisting programs in North Carolina. A list of these programs can be found on the CAAHEP website (www.caahep.org) or the ABHES website (www.abhes.org).
Along with completing an accredited Medical Assisting program, individuals must also pass a credentialing exam. The CMA exam is administered by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To be eligible to take the CMA exam, individuals must have completed an accredited Medical Assisting program that included both administrative and clinical components and have graduated from that program within the last 5 years. For more information about taking the CMA exam, please visit www.aama-ntl.org/cma-exam/. The RMA exam is administered by AMT. Information about taking the RMA exam can be found at www.amt1.com/rmatesting/.
The registration requirements for medical assistants in North Carolina
In order to work as a medical assistant in North Carolina, you must be registered with the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB). There is no legal difference between “certified” and “registered” medical assistants in North Carolina.
You may register as a medical assistant if you have completed an accredited medical assisting program and have passed either the Certification Examination for Medical Assistants (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or a comparable exam recognized by the NCMB.
If you have not completed an accredited medical assisting program, you may qualify for registration if you have at least five years of full-time paid employment as a medical assistant and have passed either the CMA examination or a comparable exam recognized by the NCMB. Documentation of your education, training, and experience must be submitted with your application for registration.