Professional Licenses and Certified Credentials

Health care providers, such as doctors, mental health professionals, and certain other allied health professionals in the USA must be registered and licensed in their state in order to practice their skill. Even beauticians in an hair and nail salon must be licensed. A professional license is good for life; however, the professional MUST periodically register with the state if they wish to continue practice their profession, or use their professional title. What most people don't realize is that presently there are no licensure mandates for medical assistants. Medical assistants in the United States are unlicensed health care workers.

Medical assistant certification is largely voluntary. Upon passing the medical assistant certification exam, the certificant receives an official document to confirm the person named therein has passed a standardized written certification test. This test is called the certification exam. The document shows the individual's name, profession, certificate number, date of birth, registration/certification status, professional school attended, professional examination results, and any conditions, or restrictions. This documentation is especially valuable during job applications and consideration for promotion. 

Credentials Offered to Medical Assistants and Related Disciplines:

Which Professionals Are Licensed?

There are many professions that require licensing. As an example, here is a list of LICENSED PROFESSIONALS in the State of New York. Most states have similar licensing requirements, but always check with your own State Medical Board, or Board of Nursing. The New York State Education department provides a summary of the requirements for licensure, and certification in their state.

Accountant, Certified Public
Accountant, Public
Acupuncture
Architect
Athletic Trainer
Audiologist
Certified Dental Assistant
Certified Dietitian/Nutritionist
Certified Histological Technician
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Shorthand Reporter
Chiropractor
Clinical Laboratory Technician
Clinical Laboratory Technologist
CPA (Certified Public Accountant)
Creative Arts Therapist
Cytotechnologist
Dental Assistant, Certified
Dental Hygienist
Dental Hygienist, -year limited license
Dental Hygienist, Dental Hygiene Anesthesia
Dentist
Dentist, -year limited license
Dentist, Dental Enteral Conscious Sedation
Dentist, Dental General Anesthesia
Dentist, Dental Parenteral Conscious Sedation
Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified
Doctor (Physician)
Doctor, -year limited license
Engineer
Interior Designer
Land Surveyor
Landscape Architect
LCAT (Licensed Creative Arts Therapist)
LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
Licensed Creative Arts Therapist
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Licensed Master Social Worker
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Licensed Practical Nurse
Licensed Psychoanalyst
LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor)
LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker)
Marriage & Family Therapist
Massage Therapist
Medical Physicist, diagnostic radiology
Medical Physicist, medical health
Medical Physicist, medical nuclear
Medical Physicist, therapeutic radiology
Medicine (physician, including MDs and DOs)
Medicine, -year limited license
Mental Health Counselor
Midwife
Nurse, LPN
Nurse, RN
Nurse, Practical
Nurse Practitioner - All Specialties
Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care
Nurse Practitioner - Adult Health
Nurse Practitioner - College Health
Nurse Practitioner - Community Health
Nurse Practitioner - Family Health
Nurse Practitioner - Gerontology
Nurse Practitioner - Holistic Nursing
Nurse Practitioner - Neonatology
Nurse Practitioner - Obstetrics & Gynecology
Nurse Practitioner - Oncology
Nurse Practitioner - Palliative Care
Nurse Practitioner - Pediatrics
Nurse Practitioner - Perinatology
Nurse Practitioner - Psychiatry
Nurse Practitioner - School Health
Nurse Practitioner - Women's Health
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Occupational Therapist
Ophthalmic Dispenser
Optometrist
Pharmacist
Pharmacist, -year limited license
Physical Therapist
Physical Therapist Assistant
Physician Assistant
Physician
Physician, -year limited license
Podiatrist
Professional Engineer
Psychoanalyst
Psychologist
Public Accountant
Registered Physician Assistant
Registered Specialist Assistant
Registered Professional Nurse
Respiratory Therapist
Respiratory Therapy Technician
Social Worker (LCSW)
Social Worker (LMSW)
Specialist Assistant
Speech-Language Pathologist
Veterinarian
Veterinarian, -year limited license
Veterinary Technician