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To become a medical assistant in New Mexico, find medical assistant programs in New Mexico below and use the info, contacts, procedures, and forms to apply to become a certified medical assistant in New Mexico. The field is growing rapidly nationally with a 12% job outlook and a median annual salary of $44,200; however, the 6,320 professionals currently working in NM earn an average of $40,760. Securing your medical assistant certification in New Mexico is highly recommended for enhancing career prospects.
You can click on the table of contents above to jump straight to each section on medical assistant programs in New Mexico, certification steps and links, and info on medical assistant salaries in New Mexico and it’s major cities.
✔️ Page Updated: January 3rd, 2026
Related: Online Medical Assistant Programs
Medical Assistant Programs in New Mexico
Graduating from one of these 5 medical assistant programs in NM offered at these Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or ABHES accredited schools listed below is the only requirement to take the National American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) Exam or the RMA AMT Exam. This is the final exam in the process to earning a CMA or RMA Certification.
| Medical Assisting Program | Rating | Accreditor |
|---|---|---|
| Central New Mexico Community College Rio Rancho, NM | 4.2 | CAAHEP |
| Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Roswell, NM | 3.5 | CAAHEP |
| Santa Fe Community College Santa Fe, NM | 3.7 | CAAHEP |
| Brookline College Albuquerque, NM | 2.6 | ABHES |
| Pima Medical Institute Albuquerque, NM | 4.1 | ABHES |
Medical Assistant Certification in New Mexico
The New Mexico Medical Board does not define the role of medical assistants or offer MA licensing. As in most other states, it is the nurse practitioners and licensed physicians whom withhold the official power to delegate health care responsibilities.
Even though you’re able to lawfully be employed as a Medical Assistant in New Mexico with no certification, to be competitive in the job market nearly all Medical Assistants are certified because their employers frequently require certification. The AMA – American Medical Association acknowledges two certificates for medical assistants, the CMA – Certified Medical Assistant and the RMA or Registered Medical Assistant. Possessing either certification will drastically improve your job possibilities and payment.
The AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants) is the agency that provides the certification granting the status of CMA. To obtain a RMA certification, you must follow the certificate procedure offered by American Medical Technologists (AMT). The following table shows the requirements to complete a CMA or RMA certification.
Certification Requirement | CMA | RMA |
|---|---|---|
| Meet 1 of the eligibility requirements. (CMA requires graduating a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited program, RMA also offers eligibility from military education, work experience and instructing.) | View Eligibility Details | View Eligibility Details |
| Submit required supporting documentation for exam application process. | Documents | Documents |
| Apply for exam and pay application fee. | Application, $125 | Application, $120 |
| Schedule your exam date. | Schedule | Schedule |
| Complete your exam. (Upon completion, the CMA exam will show whether you pass/failed immediately and RMA exams taken online will provide your actual score immediately.) | Yes | Yes |
| Wait 8-10 weeks (CMA candidates will receive official test scores at this time and RMA candidates will receive their certification.) | Yes | Yes |
| Passing CMA applicants then wait another 10 weeks after receiving scores to receive their certification and card. | Yes | No |
| You have the ability to retest if you fail for both the CMA and RMA | Retest info | Retest info |
| Continuing Education, membership fees, and recertification are required for both the CMA and RMA | Recertify info | Recertify info |
NMSMA Board Contact Info
The New Mexico Soceity of Medical Assistants is a state organization that provides professional networking opportunities, resources and information. Learn more here on the NMSMA facebook group.
Medical Assistants
Nancy C. Moorhead, CMA (AAMA), CPC, COC, BAAS
Medical Assistant Salaries in New Mexico
Whenever you think about how much Medical Assistants make there are two factors to keep in mind. First, according to the BLS the national median Medical Assistant salary is $29,960. Second, you will want to understand what Medical Assistants make in your area. The average Medical Assistant salary in New Mexico is $32,992. Below you will see Medical Assistant salary data for the state of New Mexico organized by major city.
New Mexico Medical Assistant Salaries by Major City
New Mexico City | Annual Median CMA Salary |
|---|---|
| Alamogordo, NM | $25,124 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $30,393 |
| Clovis, NM | $25,919 |
| Farmington, NM | $29,429 |
| Hobbs, NM | $25,919 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $26,328 |
| Rio Rancho, NM | $30,393 |
| Roswell, NM | $25,124 |
| Santa Fe, NM | $29,429 |
| Sunland Park, NM | $27,763 |
