Cert Med Assistant.com
Page: Medical Assistant Certification Options

Home
   Web Forum
Medical Assistant
   On Acquiring the Skills
   On Responsibilities
   On Professionalism
   On Proper Conduct
   On Adequate Supervision
   On Pitfalls and Challenges
Schools
   On Medical Assistant Training
   On Medical Assistant Class
   On Distance Education
   On Continuing Education
   Free CEU Links
   On Finanacial Aid
   Diploma Mills
   On Government Warning
   On Bogus Certificates
   On What to Look For
   On the Warning Signs
   On Doing Your Research
Externship
   On Expectations
   On Successful Externship
   Medical Office Technology
Certifications
   AMT Medical Assistant Certifications
   On MA Certification Exams
   MA License vs. Certificate
   On Licensure for MAs
   Accredited vs Non-Accredited
   On Accreditation Mills
Scope of Practice
   On Regulating Bodies
   Acting Within the Scope
   Scope of Practice by State
   On Respondeat Superior
   On Professional Liability
   On Tort and Negligence
   On Malpractice Insurance
   On Your Insurance Policy
   On Criminal Background
Job Listings
   On Better Jobs for MAs
   On MA Interview Skills
   On Landing the MA Job
   Other Medical Office Jobs

YOUR CERTIFICATION!

What does certification mean to you? Don't put off your certification any longer! Your success is YOUR responsibility.

As the healthcare industry grows at astronomical speed, so does the demand for medical assistants that are certified. Certification gives you recognized designations in your discipline - your credentials! And your credentials are verification of your qualifications. It is portable to all places that you work; now and in the future, and gets you better prepared when an increasing number of doctors want certified medical assistants simply because it is their personal preference, or their state medical board, or malpractice insurance carrier mandates it.

 GET THIS FREE CAREER INFORMATION KIT!
 images/clickformore.gifimages/perlredblink.gif AMT Medical Assistant Certifications
  • Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential 
  • Certified Medical Administrative Specialist (CMAS) 
  • Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT) 
  • Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) 
  • and Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) 

Who Should Consider Certification?

Certification is a way of saying, I am proud to be a medical assistant and I am committed to the profession, the community, and my job. The medical assistant must decide which certification exam is best for them, then register for the exam, and pass it successfully.

Those who should get certified are...

By passing a recognized certification exam the medical assistant has shown knowledge in all areas of their field, and earned the right to use industry recognized credentials, such as RMA (Registered Medical Assistant), or CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant) with their name. It is only THEN that they are allowed to call themselves a certified, and/or registered medical assistant.

CMA vs. RMA

The difference between the certified and registered credential is that they have been granted through different certifying bodies. Some grant a "registered..." credential, others give the "certified..." credential to distinguish one from the other (e.g. Certified Medical Assistant, vs. Registered Medical Assistant). However, both are certified as such. An increasing number of doctors want medical assistants that are certified simply because their state medical board, or malpractice insurance carrier mandates it.

Median Medical Assistant Pay Scale

Median Salary by Job - Certification: Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) (United States) 
Compare your salary: Get a free Salary Report 

Is Certification the Same as Registration?

The answer is yes; for medical assistants being certified is the same as being registered. In both cases, a person must FIRST pass a standardized written certification exam to show their knowledge of professional skills, rules, and professional standards. For example, the exam for Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) is given by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the Certified Clinical and Certified Administrative Medical Assistant (CCMA and CMAA) is given by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), and the exam for Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) is given by the American Medical Technologists (AMT). To sit for any of the exams you must have earned your diploma first, or have at least 3-5 years direct work experience in your field. Whether medical assistants are certified through AAMA, NHA, or AMT, they are all equally valid and recognized certifications from coast to coast...

Who Can Take The Certification Exam?

Graduates of postsecondary medical assisting programs accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES are immediately eligible to take the exams provided by different governing bodies. Some certification sponsors, including NHA and AMT also grant certifications to experienced allied health professionals based on the amount of years of directly related work experience.

When an online study programs offers some sort of course certificate, or documentation of program completion, this type of printed record should not be confused with professional certification and credential that come with passing a standardized national certification exam. While good to have, those are two completely different things, and can easily be confused by a novice.


Home
Web Forum
Links
Contact
Privacy