The Certified medical assistant (AAMA) or CMA (AAMA) credential represents a medical assistant who has been credentialed through the Certifying Board (CB) of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The credential is awarded to candidates who pass the certified medical assistant exam.
To be eligible for the certified medical assistant exam, the candidate must meet the standards for one among the following eligibility categories.
The candidate must have graduated from or be close to completing a medical assisting program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health education schemes (CAAHEP) or by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Non Recent graduate of a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited medical assisting program. Candidates who graduate from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program that was accredited at any time during the student’s enrollment, or who graduated within the 36 months before the application becoming CAAHEP or ABHES accredited, are eligible to apply for the certified medical assistant exam under Category 1 or 2.
The candidate must have previously passed the certified medical assistant exam and is applying to recertify the CMA (AAMA) credential.
Completing students and recent graduates. No documentation is necessary; however, your program director will be required to verify your program completion as stipulated by the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam application policies. The Certifying Board reserves the right to request an official transcript at any time. Non Recent graduates. Submit an official transcript that verifies your graduation from an accredited medical assisting program. Transcripts won’t be returned to the candidates or the other person or entity under any circumstances. Recertification applicants. No documentation is necessary if you have provided your CMA (AAMA) certificate number and most up-to-date certification or recertification date on the application. Otherwise, contact the AAMA Certification Department for assistance. Graduates of a qualified post secondary medical assisting program under the Certification Exam Eligibility Pilot Program. See the Certification Exam Eligibility Pilot Program webpage of the AAMA website for details on the detailed documentation.
Initial candidates for the certified medical assistant exam are allowed a limit of three opportunities to take and pass the exam. Suppose the supposed candidate doesn’t pass the exam after three attempts. In that case, the candidate is not any longer eligible for the CMA (AAMA) credential unless verification (an official transcript) is provided that the candidate enrolled within the same or another accredited medical assisting program again and completed all requirements for the program.
The AAMA has launched a three-year pilot program that opens a brand new education pathway for medical assistants to become eligible to take a seat for the certified medical assistant exam.
The credential must be recertified every 60 months by continuing education or exam to provide evidence of continuing competency and knowledge, and thus better protect patients. The CMA (AAMA) must have the current status to use the credential. Those not recertifying on or before the expiration date of their credential are going to be considered as having an expired credential. An individual whose credential has expired for more than 90 days forfeits the proper to reactivate the credential by continuing education and must sit for the certified medical assistant exam Payment of a $50 reactivation fee plus the recertification by exam fee is going to be required.
