Medical Assistant Certification: CMA, RMA, CMAA, NCMA, CCMA

On the map below click your state to learn about medical assistant certification requirements, download applications, find Medical Assisting Board contact info, salaries and employment rates, state laws for working medical assistants, and more local info for becoming certified. Or scroll down to learn more about the various medical assistant certification programs available. ✔️ Page updated on: 10/31/2024

Medical Assistant Certification Requirements

Each state has it’s own requirements and regulations for medical assistants. Although many states do not require medical assistant certifications, most employers do. So, to be competitive in the marketplace it is a good idea to get either your CMA or RMA title( certified medical assistant or registered medical assistant).

Working as a CMA or RMA in your state typically requires that you complete an accredited medical assistant program first and then passing a certification exam from one of 2 administering organizations. Typically states do not offer licenses for medical assistants, but they will certify or register medical assistants and employers prefer that you have this registration or certification. Each state has a board of medicine that oversees registered certified medical assistants and will offer specific requirements for working in that state.

We have compiled all of these requirements by state as well as any necessary application forms and medicine board contact information to make it simple for you to get started and complete the registration or certification process for medical assistants, regardless of the state you are working in.

RMA vs CMA Certification

Depending on your state, you may become either a Certified Medical Assistant or a Registered Medical Assistant. You can select your state on the map above to see if medical assistants require certification to work in your state.

The table below shows the requirements for both the RMA and CMA certifications.

The RMA registration and the CMA certification are both recognized by the AMA (American Medical Association). Even if your state doesn’t require an RMA or CMA for medical assistants, many employers will. Having either certification will make you more competitive in the job market and likely help you earn a higher salary.

Medical assistant certification is an important step for anyone looking to pursue a career in the medical field. With the right certification, you can open up a world of opportunities and become a valuable asset to any healthcare team.

There are five main types of medical assistant certifications available:

• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
• Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
• Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
• National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Medical Assistant

Each type of certification has its own unique requirements and benefits, so it’s important to understand which one is best suited for your career goals.

On this page, we’ll discuss each type of medical assistant certification in detail along with their certification examinations, so you can make an informed decision about which one is right for you. Learn all about exam fee payments, exam preparation materials, and answers to other basic examination questions.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions about medical assistant certifications and how to become a certified medical assistant.

1. How to Become a Certified Medical Assistant

Requirement: Completing a CAAHEP Accredited Program, Passing the National CMA Exam
Pro: Education is short, only a 2 year associates degree or a 6 month diploma program (certificate)
Pro: Finding a job is much easier with certification
Pro: You will earn a higher salary and have specialization opportunities
Con: You must make an investment in your education, and the exam fee is $150

If you want a competitive advantage in the job market, more specialized job opportunities, higher pay, and higher job security then you should get certified by the American Association for Medical Assistants (AAMA) or American Medical Technologists (AMT). These programs are designed to help those who’d like to become medical assistants get their RMA or CMA certification and land better jobs that pay higher.

2. How Long Does it Take to Become a Medical Assistant?

• An Associate Degree Program takes 2 years
• Certificate programs take anywhere from 6 weeks to 1 year.

Becoming a medical assistant can vary in time, depending on your chosen program. Many programs wrap up in about a year, but others may require more time for extra courses like anatomy, medical terms, or drug studies. In some states, on-site training or an externship is necessary before certification, which can stretch the process longer. Nonetheless, a medical assisting career offers many positive benefits, making the time investment worthwhile.

Medical assisting is a rewarding career that is worth the length of time it takes to begin working in the medical field. It is worth noting that there are some certificate programs that can be completed in a matter of months. They won’t include hands-on training but can still help you take your certification exam. An accredited medical assistant school may take up to two years to complete all courses and clinical experiences through an externship, while some technical schools offer shorter medical assistant training programs. Certification requirements vary by state and professional certification organization.

3. What Education is Required to Be a Medical Assistant?

• Completing a diploma or associate degree program including an externship
• Passing a national certification exam

You need to complete a postsecondary education program in order to become a certified medical assistant. These programs are offered locally and online at community colleges, trade schools, and universities. They teach everything required to become a medical assistant including subjects like anatomy, medical terms, drug studies, clinical methods, and administrative duties. Some states also mandate externships or workplace training before certification. So, depending on your choice of program and your state’s rules, it can take up to two years to become a certified medical assistant.

4. How Hard is the Medical Assistant Exam or the CMA Exam?

• 200 multiple choice questions on the topics covered in your medical assisting program
• Challenging but graduates of medical assisting programs should be able to pass

The medical assistant test, also known as the CMA Exam, is a demanding exam. It requires a solid grasp of the curriculum taught in a medical assistant program. The test contains 200 multiple-choice questions on topics like anatomy, medical terminology, drug studies, clinical tasks, and office duties. These results may inform how employers judge potential hires’ skillset for certification as a medical assistant. Typical questions could be identifying common illnesses, carrying out simple lab tests, and accurately recording patient information. While the CMA Exam can be tough, students who have passed a medical assistant program should have no problem passing the exam.

5. How Can I Become a Medical Assistant Fast?

• Find an accelerated program that can be completed in as little as 6 weeks
• Accelerated certificate programs take anywhere from 6 weeks to 9 months

To become a medical assistant quickly, you should find a medical assistant program offering accelerated courses. These programs are delivered partially online with some face-to-face learning and can sometimes be finished in as little as six weeks to six months. Some states require an externship or on-site training before achieving certification, so factor this into your timeline as well. When picking a program, check for accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

6. What Can a Medical Assistant Do?

• Medical Assistants perform both clinical tasks and administrative tasks
• Medical Assistants work in a variety of different types of health care facilities

Medical assistants are involved in the healthcare clinics they serve in a variety of capacities both administratively and clinically. They work in a wide variety of healthcare settings and they do a lot – taking patient histories, noting vital signs, prepping patients for exams, administering drugs, collecting, and processing lab samples, even carrying out simple lab tests. They manage appointments, help educate patients, process insurance forms and managing patient data for billing. With the right training and qualification, they can even support doctors with minor surgeries.

Maintaining patient medical records, be it on paper or electronic health records systems, also falls under their responsibility. By juggling all these roles, medical assistants are fundamental to delivering high-quality patient care.

7. Is Medical Assistant Harder than Nursing?

• Medical Assisting and Nursing have similar requirements but Nursing has more
• Nurses require more schooling and a more difficult licensing exam

Becoming a medical assistant or nurse have similar requirements but nurses have slightly more requirements. Nursing programs require higher education and can take a minimum of two years to complete whereas medical assistant programs can be completed more quickly. Both roles require knowledge of anatomy, medical terms, drug studies, clinical tasks, and administrative duties. However, nurses need detailed understanding because of their direct patient care role with less focus on office tasks. They must also pass the NCLEX-RN exam for licensing, which is not needed for medical assistants. It is more often slightly more difficult to become a nurse than a medical assistant.

8. How to Become a Medical Assistant Without Certification

Requirement: High school diploma or GED
Pro: Bypassing education and starting work right away
Pro: Receive on the job training and get paid to learn
Con: Finding a job is much more difficult without certification
Con: You will be paid less in most cases

If you’d like to become a medical assistant, then there are two routes you can take to get started with your career: on the job training or a medical assistant certification.

It is good for some to know that you don’t necessarily need to have a certification to work as a medical assistant. For some people, without time or financial resources for a college education, getting to work as a medical assistant without certification is the only option.

Before working as a medical assistant, you will need to obtain a diploma from high school. If you haven’t finished high school, you’ll need to at least obtain your GED. Then you will need to find employment where you can receive on the job training. However, it may be a bit more of a challenge for you to find the ideal job if you aren’t certified to work as a medical assistant.

Most medical assistants who don’t have their certification are paid a lower salary than those who are certified. If you’re trying to land a job without your certification, you’ll need to have a good personality as well as good listening skills so that you perform well in your job interview since you won’t have any prior experience on your resume.