To get a medical assistant job, it is not required by law to be licensed or certified, but many of medical assistants opt to become certified. Certification is completely voluntary, however some (possibly most) employers require certification and some states require certification to perform specific job duties such as performing x-rays or drawing blood.

In order to become certified, you must graduate from a medical assistant program accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP).

There are two types of certification: Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). 

CMA’s are awarded by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).  The steps to obtaining CMA (AAMA) certification are 1.  graduate from an accredited medical assisting program and 2. pass the CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Examination. 

An accredited medical assisting program will include the following training:

·         Human anatomy, physiology and pathology

·         Medical terminology

·         Keyboarding and computer applications

·         Recordkeeping and accounting

·         Coding and insurance processing

·         Laboratory techniques

·         Clinical and diagnostic procedures

·         Pharmacology

·         Medication administration

·         First aid

·         Office practices

·         Patient relations

·         Medical law and ethics

You also must complete an externship, which is part of the program.

Once you complete a training program you can schedule and complete the certification exam. 

Visit the AMAA website for information about finding an accredited program near you, scheduling your exam, and study materials for the exam.

RMA’s are awarded by American Medical Technologists (AMT).  In order to obtain an RMA (AMT) you must qualify, apply to take the exam, then pass the exam.  In order to qualify for certification you must:

1.  be of good moral character

2.  meet one of the following requirements
     a. recent graduate from an accredited medical assistant program;

     b. a formal medical services training program of the United States   Armed Forces; 
     c. have been employed as a medical assistant for 5 years; or
     d. applicant has passed a generalist medical assistant certification examination offered by another medical assisting certification body.

Go to AMT’s websites for detailed information about the RMA (AMT) certification process.  www.amt1.com

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