Which Medical Assistant Certification Do I Need?
Search for medical assistant positions on any job board, and听virtually all听will require some form of听certification.听These requirements can raise more questions than they answer, such as:听
- What is the purpose of all these different types of certifications?听
- What is the difference between a CMA, a CCMA, an RMA, and other certification types?听听
- Which certification is the best fit for me and my goals?听
Just as听the term 鈥渕edical assistant鈥� can cover听several different types of jobs,听medical assistants also need different certifications depending on the type of position.
To help you plan your career path, the following information will break down where these certifications come from, how the different forms of medical assistant certification stack听up against each other, and which听one will best fit听your goals.听
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Major Medical Assistant Certifying Bodies
The most widely recognized certifications come from one of these three national certifying bodies are:听
In 2020, the National Healthcareer Association ranked first in the number of Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exams administered at 36,217. American Medical Technologists听 (AMT)听followed up with听8,193听Registered Medical Assistant听exams administered, closely followed by the听American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) with听7,482听Certified Medical Assistant exams administered.听
Medical Assistant Certification Options
Entry-level medical assistant positions are generally divided into two categories: a听clinical medical assistant听or an听administrative medical assistant.听While the certification requirements of these two types of position overlap, they are not听completely听identical.听听
Clinical Medical Assistants听听
Currently, there听is no legal requirement听that a clinical medical assistant must be certified in the state of Texas. However,听hiring certified individuals is the industry standard,听and most听medical offices require听proof of certification听to听apply.听
For a听clinical medical assistant, the most widely accepted forms of certification include:
- from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)听听
- 听from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)听
- 听certification offered by American Medical Technologists听
However, less common forms of certification may also be accepted, such as:听
- 听from听National Association for Health Professionals (NAHP)听
- from听the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)听
- from AMCA.听
Administrative Medical Assistants听
Most positions will simply require one of the above certifications to apply. However, there are also more specialized certifications available:听
- The听听from the National听Healthcareer听Association (NHA).听
- The听听from the American Medical Certification Association.听
Unlike clinical medical assistants, offices hiring administrative medical assistants do not always require certification. However, most entry-level administrative medical assistant positions require previous experience听working in听a听medical office听as well as听knowledge of听medical terminology, and听EMR software.听听
Therefore, if you are truly starting at entry level with no previous medical experience, certification is the听best option for building a career听in this field.听
Which Medical Assistant Certification Should You Choose?
Because听the听CMA, CCMA, and RMA exams听are all held to the same industry standards, the content you would听be tested on will听be similar.听Any of these three options would set you up for success at the start of a career in medical assisting.听听
The main determining factor on which exam you take depends on the accreditation of your training program.听When you听are preparing听to apply for a medical assisting training program听from an educational institution,听your听admissions representative听can听advise you on听which exam(s) your chosen program makes you eligible to take.听听
For听more information about which institutions qualify, visit the accrediting organizations鈥� websites for more details:听
CMA (AAMA)听accreditation:听CAAHEP听and听听听
CCMA (NHA)听accreditation:听听
RMA (AMT) accreditation: 鈥淧rogram or institution must be accredited by a regional or national accreditation agency approved by the US Department of Education, The Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or otherwise approved by the AMT Board of Directors. .
Specialized Medical Assistant Certifications
Under uncommon circumstances, medical assistants working in certain specializations may have unique certification needs. Here are a few examples:
Certification, offered by and is targeted at the assistance of podiatrists (the treatment of feet).
Certification, offered through , is designed specifically for the assistance of ophthalmologists (the treatment of eyes and vision).
If you are motivated to work in a certain specialization, research specialized medical assistant certifications in your desired discipline. However, keep in mind that a nationally recognized certification will fit most medical assistant career plans.
