How to Get Utah Medical Assistant Certification

How to Get Utah medical assistant Certification: Find out how to get certified as a medical assistant in Utah. Get information on certification requirements, training, and exams.

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Introduction

Becoming a certified medical assistant in Utah requires completing an accredited training program and passing the national certification exam. Utah also offers Medical assistants the option to become registered through the Utah Medical Assistants Registry. Registered medical assistants have completed an accredited training program, passed a criminal background check, and met all other requirements set forth by the Registry.

Medical assistants who choose to become certified demonstrate their commitment to the profession and their professional skills by passing a national exam. The Certified medical assistant (CMA) credential is awarded by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA exam, candidates must first complete an accredited medical assisting training program. Candidates are then eligible to take the exam within 60 days of graduating from their accredited program.

To maintain active status, CMAs must recertify every 60 months by meeting continuing education requirements or retake the CMA exam.

What is a medical assistant?

A medical assistant is a person who has been trained to perform both clinical and administrative tasks in a medical office. They work under the supervision of a licensed health care provider, such as a doctor or nurse.

Medical assistants usually have an Associate’s degree from an accredited program, although some have completed certification programs that last about a year. In order to work in Utah, medical assistants must be certified by the Utah Medical Assistant Certification Board.

The duties of a medical assistant vary depending on the size and type of medical practice they work in. In general, they perform both clinical tasks, such as taking patient histories and measuring vital signs, and administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments and handling billing.

Medical assistants must be able to work well under pressure and juggle multiple tasks at once. They must also have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, as they will be dealing with patients, families, and other healthcare providers on a daily basis.

The duties of a medical assistant

Medical assistants perform both clinical and administrative duties and often work in both the front and back of the office. Their duties may include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, preparing patients for examination, assisting the physician during the exam, scheduling appointments, handling correspondence, billing and coding insurance forms, handling laboratory specimens, and greeting patients.

The education and training of a medical assistant

Becoming a medical assistant in the state of Utah requires completing an accredited postsecondary medical assisting program and passing a certification exam. Although certification is not required by law, most employers prefer to hire certified medical assistants. Additionally, some states have their own certification requirements for medical assistants who perform certain tasks, such as taking X-rays.

The certification of a medical assistant

There are several organizations that offer certification for medical assistants. The most common are the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the National Healthcare Association (NHA), and the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). In order to become certified, you must first graduate from an accredited medical assistant program and then pass a certification exam.

The benefits of becoming a medical assistant

Medical assistants are in high demand, and the profession is expected to grow by 29% through 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you’re considering a career in healthcare, becoming a certified medical assistant (CMA) is a great place to start. Here are four benefits of getting your CMA certification.

1. Get started in a healthcare career quickly
The average medical assistant program can be completed in as little as one year, which means you can start working (and earning) sooner than if you pursued a different healthcare degree.

2. Enjoy job security
With the aging Baby Boomer population and the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity, the demand for healthcare services is only going to go up in the coming years. That means more opportunities for medical assistants—and more job security for those who have their certification.

3. earn a good salary
The median annual salary for medical assistants was $33,610 in 2017, according to the BLS—and that number is only going to increase as the demand for CMAs grows. In fact, the top 10% of earners in the profession made more than $47,350 per year.

4. Work in a variety of settings
Because they perform both clinical and administrative tasks, medical assistants can work in a variety of settings, from hospitals and doctors’ offices to clinics and long-term care facilities. That means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to find a job that suits your interests and skillset.

The salary of a medical assistant

In Utah, medical assistants make a median wage of $16.10 an hour, or $33,560 a year. The top 10 percent earn more than $21.59 an hour, or $44,950 a year. The bottom 10 percent earn less than $11.45 an hour, or $23,810 a year.

The job outlook of a medical assistant

The job outlook of a medical assistant is excellent. In Utah, the median wage for a medical assistant is $15.40 per hour. The average annual salary for a medical assistant in Utah is $32,090.

The future of medical assistants

Medical assistants are in high demand and the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that this field will grow much faster than average in the next ten years. If you’re thinking about a career in healthcare, becoming a certified medical assistant (CMA) is a great way to get started.

In Utah, there are two main ways to become a certified medical assistant: completing an accredited training program or passing the national certification exam. If you choose to complete an accredited training program, you will need to graduates from an accredited school and pass a skills assessment.

Once you have completed an accredited training program or passed the national certification exam, you will need to apply for your Utah state certification. The process is fairly simple and can be done online. You will need to submit your application, pay the application fee, and take an online jurisprudence exam.

Once you have been certified, you will need to renew your certification every two years. The renewal process is similar to the initial certification process and includes taking an online jurisprudence exam.

Becoming a certified medical assistant is a great way to start your career in healthcare. With the right training and certification, you will be prepared for this high-demand field.

Conclusion

In order to become a certified medical assistant in Utah, you must complete an accredited medical assistant program and pass the certification exam. Once you have completed these steps, you will be eligible to work as a medical assistant in Utah.