Four ways you can receive your medical assistant certification
Medical assistants do not need licenses to work. However, most medical assistants - especially those just out of school - often find their employment options limited if they don't have some kind of professional certification. Currently, four organizations offer some form of medical assistant certification. All are voluntary designations, and any of them can add value to a medical assistant's resume.
"Young medical assistants usually pursue certification as soon as they can because they know it can be difficult to get hired - and maximize one's paycheck - without it," says Yvonne Burbrink, curriculum manager for Corinthian College's Medical Assistant career education program. Corinthian is America's leading educator of medical assistants, with more medical assistant graduates than any other school system in the nation through its network of Everest colleges, institutes and universities. "Doctors, clinic administrators and others who hire medical assistants often prefer candidates with certification because this proves they have the skills and competence to do the job."
Burbrink noted that four types of medical assistant certifications are currently available, each issued by a different organization.
* Certified Medical Assistant (CMA). The term "certified medical assistant" was created in 1962 by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To become a CMA, you must first complete a medical assistant training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), and then take the CMA test given by the AAMA. The test is offered year-round. To keep the CMA designation, a medical assistant must renew it every 60 months through continuing education or by retaking the exam. "The CMA is the oldest and probably best known of all medical assistant designations," Burbrink notes.
* Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). The RMA designation is issued by the American Medical Technologists (AMT) agency, which created it in 1972. Although similar to the AAMA, the AMT has its own chapters, rules and testing standards. "A major difference between the CMA and RMA designations is that, while getting a CMA requires that you successfully complete a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited education program, you can get an RMA by completing such a program or by having five years experience in the field," Burbrink says. "So the RMA will likely be particularly attractive to someone who learned on the job rather than receiving a formal college-level education."
* Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMT) or Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA). Both of these designations are issued by the National Healthcare Association (NHA), which was founded in 1989. Although a relatively new organization, the NHA already has more than 200,000 members and more than 1,200 certification testing sites throughout the United States. "The NHA is the only certifying organization to distinguish between clinical medical assistants, who work in labs, draw blood, etc., and medical administrative assistants, who work in medical facilities, but are mostly involved in record keeping, invoicing and the like," Burbrink explains. "The NHA is also somewhat less strict on who it will certify. Although they prefer you complete a formal training program, they don't demand the program be CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited. Alternatively, they'll accept one year of professional work experience as opposed to five."
* National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA). The NCMA designation was created in 1989 by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). To be eligible, you must either complete a training program they've approved within the past 10 years, have 4,160 hours of full-time experience within the past two years or 4,160 hours of part-time experience within the past 10 years. Members must accumulate 14 hours of continuing education annually to maintain their NCMA designation. "The National Center for Competency Testing promotes itself as an independent testing organization not affiliated with any other group, cause or agenda," Burbrink says. "Unlike most of the other medical assistant testing organizations, it doesn't get involved in political lobbying, promoting legislation or other campaigns on its membership's behalf."
All certification tests must be taken at the applicant's own expense and testing times and schedules vary from city to city.
"It's important to note that schools don't actually administer these certification tests; they prepare students to take them through one of the certifying organizations," says Burbrink. "Also, schools with medical assistant training programs may be certified by any combination of testing organizations - or none at all - so it's up to the individual student to figure out what combination best suits his or her needs."
Burbrink encourages all medical assistant students and practicing medical assistants to seek certification from one of these groups, depending on their needs and qualifications. "Today, one or more professional certifications are almost a requirement to work in a solid medical practice or medical facility," she says. "You want a quick, powerful way to show employers and patients that you're a serious person doing a serious job. Getting and maintaining your professional certification is an excellent way to achieve this."
