Certified Medical Assistant Certification

A vast number of employers prefer that their medical assistants be Certified Medical Assistants. The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) is considered the highest standard for medical assistants. As of December 31, 2012, there were more than 65,000 CMAs (AAMA). Earning the CMA designation proves that you are competent in your field and that you have a postsecondary education; there are also broader career advancement opportunities and better job security associated with the CMA credential.

If your application is accepted, you will be able to make an appointment to take the exam. In preparation for the exam, there are practice exams, review courses (depending on your area), and an exam outline available online. The computerized exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions, and you'll have 160 minutes - 2 hours and 40 minutes - to answer all of them. The exam costs $250, or $125 if you're a member of the AAMA, or a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) completing student or recent graduate.

Upon completing the exam, an unofficial pass/fail result will be provided to you, and your final, official results will be mailed 10 weeks after your exam date and upon verification. If you do become a CMA (AAMA), recertification is required. You must retake the exam or acquire 60 recertification points, 30 of which must be AAMA approved, every 60 months to ensure that you're familiar with current medical knowledge. Individuals must also show proof of current CPR certification when you recertify.

If becoming a CMA doesn't work for you, there are many other certifications available for medical assistants such as the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) from the National Center for Competency Testing, and the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) from the American Medical Technologists, but they require no formal education. The CMA can only be earned by medical assistants who have graduated from a postsecondary medical assistant program accredited by either the CAAHEP or the ABHES.

Becoming a Certified Medical Assistant isn't mandatory, but it does open the door to better job prospects, and CMAs are more likely to have higher salaries than non-CMAs.

And if you're still unsure about whether or not to become a CMA or even get certified at all, consider asking your advisor or professors - especially those who have worked in the industry - for advice.

Universities.com connects people to information they need to make the best decision about which colleges/universities are best for their educational needs. Staff writer Lyn Clements writes about degree and career options for potential students. http://www.universities.com/articles/medical-assisting-do-you-really-need-to-get-certified/ http://www.universities.com/edu/Lessthan1year_Certificates_in_Allied_Health_and_Medical_Assisting_Services.html

Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/certified-medical-assistant-certification-328848

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