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What certifications do medical assistants need?

Author

Sophia Edwards

Published Mar 04, 2026

What certifications do medical assistants need?

The primary certifications for Medical Assistants include the following credentials:
  • The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
  • The Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
  • The National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)
  • The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
  • Specialty Certifications.

Similarly, do medical assistants have licenses or certifications?

The short answer is no. Medical assistants are not required by law to hold licensure or certification. However, employers generally prefer to hire medical assistants who are certified. In order to earn certification, medical assistants must pass an assessment and prove they meet very specific qualifications.

Also, can I be a medical assistant without certification? AAMA certification is not a state or federal requirement for working as a medical assistant. However, many employers do require that their medical assistants be certified. It is possible to work as a medical assistant without certification.

Beside this, are credentials important for a medical assistant?

This means that medical assistants do no typically need specific credentials to practice in the field. The only exception to this includes medical assistants who perform specific duties, such as phlebotomy or x-rays, as state laws may require specific training and certification in these areas.

What states require medical assistants to be certified?

Medical Assistant Certification

  • Alaska. District of Columbia. Idaho.
  • Kentucky. Massachusetts. Montana.
  • North Dakota. South Dakota. Texas. Virginia. Wyoming.

Which medical assistant certification is best?

For students who want to perform both clinical and administrative skills, the CMA certification could better prepare them for a well-rounded career. For students interested in focusing specifically on clinical procedures, the CCMA certification is the better option.

What comes after medical assistant?

Medical assistants can advance to a career in nursing by completing an associate or bachelor's degree in nursing. In fact, students who complete an associate in medical assisting program online can earn a bachelor's in healthcare management in as little as 16 months.

Does a medical assistant certificate expire?

Certificates for medical assistant are valid for several years, but the period of validity varies by organization. A certificate from the American Association of Medical Assistants is current for 60 months, while one from American Medical Technologists expires in three years.

What's the difference between medical assistant and certified medical assistant?

Medical Assistants (MAs) are not required to earn certification or register once they complete an MA program. The bottom line is that both the Registered Medical Assistant and Certified Medical Assistant are essentially the same things. The difference is in the certifying organization and exam.

How do you get a CMA certification?

Have What It Takes?
  1. Bachelor's degree or professional accounting certification required.
  2. 2 years of work experience required.
  3. Successful completion of parts 1 and 2 of the exam.

How long does it take to become a certified medical assistant?

The path to becoming a medical assistant typically involves medical assistant training and a certification exam. This process can take between 9 months to 3 years. Once completed, certified medical assistants often enjoy greater employment opportunities in one of the fastest growing occupations.

How many questions are on the certified medical assistant exam?

200

What is the passing score for the Certified Medical Assistant exam?

430

Is a medical assistant certificate worth it?

As a qualified medical assistant, you'll be eligible for the same job opportunities and certification as those who complete certificate programs. With an extra year of education, you may be able to negotiate a higher starting salary or work in a specialized area of medicine.

Is Medical Assisting a good job?

3. It pays great and it's stable. Being in a high-demand industry has advantages: It's a very stable career, and the pay trends high. The average wage for a medical assistant is currently $32,946, and ranges between $30,377 and $35,570.

What are the duties of a certified medical assistant?

On the clinical side, medical assistants will often:
  • Prepare patients for examination.
  • Assist the physician or nurse while an exam is going on.
  • Conduct basic tests.
  • Sterilize equipment.
  • Draw blood.
  • Change dressings or remove sutures.
  • Work with medical equipment, such as X-rays.

How hard is medical assistant program?

This exam tests you for the skills and knowledge you'll need to serve as a medical assistant. The test is somewhat difficult, but it should be no problem for candidates that study enough to be fully prepared. The path to a medical assistant career can be as short as a year or as long as two years.

Why should a medical assistant become certified if they can get hired without it?

Certification shows you are serious about providing quality care. Certification shows that you take your job as a medical assistant seriously. Because gaining certification is elective in many states, certification demonstrates a medical assistant's dedication to excellence.

What is a certified clinical medical assistant?

A certified clinical medical assistant is someone who plays a vital role on any medical team. These assistants are there to take care of the needs of the patient and carry out any orders the doctor may have. Their duties include taking vital signs, drawing blood, and administering medication.

Are certificates important?

Certification has found its way into almost every industry for a reason: It helps advance the profession. Certification helps employers evaluate potential new hires, analyze job performance, evaluate employees, select contractors, market services, and motivate employees to enhance their skills and knowledge.

What is the highest salary for a medical assistant?

Medical Assistants made a median salary of $33,610 in 2018. The best-paid 25 percent made $39,190 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $28,400.

How much does a non certified medical assistant make?

Medical Assistant- Non Certified Salaries
Job TitleSalary
Northwestern Medicine Medical Assistant- Non Certified salaries - 22 salaries reported$18/hr
Ascension Medical Assistant- Non Certified salaries - 20 salaries reported$16/hr
Concentra Medical Assistant- Non Certified salaries - 19 salaries reported$16/hr

How much do OB GYN medical assistants make?

How much does a Medical Assistant make at OB GYN in the United States? Average OB GYN Medical Assistant hourly pay in the United States is approximately $12.68, which is 15% below the national average.

Which test is easier RMA or CMA?

Although the CMA exam is not officially harder than the RMA exam, most medical assistants who take both exams report that the CMA is slightly longer, containing more word problems, and seems a bit more challenging. It is worth noting that medical assistant salary surveys do report CMAs earning slightly more than RMAs.

How do I take my medical assistant certification exam online?

How to get certified as a medical assistant with NHA
  1. Determine Your Eligibility. Make sure you meet some basic requirements to take the certification exam.
  2. Set Up Your NHA Account. Once your account is active, you can schedule your exam and purchase preparation materials.
  3. Apply & Schedule Your Exam.
  4. Prepare for Your Exam.

Can a medical assistant get IV certified?

This ALL NEW 7-hour IV Therapy Certificate Program (often referred to as “IV Certification”) was specifically designed to provide Medical Assistants and other Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) with IV therapy instruction proven to achieve quality IV practice, improve patient/client outcomes and prevent liability

What can a medical assistant not do?

Medical assistants are not allowed to perform such invasive procedures as:
  • placing the needle or starting and disconnecting the infusion tube of an IV.
  • administering medications or injections into the IV line.
  • charting the pupillary responses.
  • inserting a urine catheter.
  • independently performing telephone triage.

Is a medical assistant certificate good in any state?

The RMA is a credential that is nationally certified and recognized in all 50 states.

Can I transfer my medical assistant certification to another state?

The CMA credential offered through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) is a national credential. As such, there is no need to re-certify when moving to another state.

Can a medical assistant call in a prescription?

Yes. Under the direct supervision of the physician or podiatrist, a medical assistant may call in routine refills that are exact and have no changes in the dosage levels. Medical assistants may not call in new prescriptions or any prescriptions that have changes.

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