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List of Best Medical Assistant Certificate Programs

Medical assistants are medical professionals that assist doctors in clinics and offices. They might take your vital signs, check your height and weight, and lead you to the assessment room. Before sending you to your doctor, medical assistants will ask about your symptoms and medical concerns.

Medical assistants cannot give medical advice to patients, despite the fact that they work closely with doctors. Their duties are limited to obtaining information and preparing the doctor and the patient for the medical appointment.

What Is the Role of a Medical Assistant?

The responsibilities of a medical assistant differ based on the office or clinic. The majority of their responsibilities are administrative or clinical in nature.

A medical assistant may greet you at the front desk of a hospital or medical facility, or they may be the person who draws blood after your exam.

Administrative responsibilities

An administrative task that a medical assistant might perform includes answering phones and scheduling appointments.

Patients and their families are greeted.

Organizing and maintaining medical records

Filling up insurance forms and coding

Organizing a visit to the hospital or a laboratory test

Billing, bookkeeping, and general office mail are all tasks you’ll be doing.

List of Best Medical Assistant Certificate Programs

The Certified Medical Assistant is a professional that works in the medical field.

The CMA test, administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), is one of the most prominent and well-known Medical Assistant Certifications.

While state law does not require certification, many companies prefer that their Medical Assistants have one because it “provides evidence that the employer is exerting a high degree of care and attention in its medical assisting employment practices,” according to the AAMA. Candidates must have completed a one- or two-year medical assisting program at a school that has received institutional or programmatic accreditation from ABHES (the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools) or CAAHEP (the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs). The CMA Certification Exam must be taken and passed by all candidates.

The CMA certification is one of the most generally recognized professional Medical Assistants, with easy and straightforward qualifications. This certification is a wonderful place to start if you’re searching for an exam that gives you the most “bang for your buck” and you meet the criteria.

However, before making your final decision, double-check your possible employer’s criteria to ensure that the CMA certification is required or recognized.

The Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)

The RMA certification is the second most well-known among medical assistant certifications. While the CMA was first (and is more well-known), the RMA covers a lot of the same ground and is a great way to show off your talents as a Medical Assistant. The AMT is in charge of RMA certification (American Medical Technologists).

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In some cases, the RMA criteria are slightly broader than the CMA criteria, allowing for experience over completion of specific programs. The following requirements must be met by the RMA:

Graduation from a state-approved medical assisting program. This program must be approved by the US Department of Education, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or the AMT board of directors.

OR successful completion of a formal medical training program in the US armed forces.

OR candidates with five years of experience as a medical assistant.

OR candidates who have earned a second Medical Assisting certificate from a reputable institution.

Most organizations recognize the RMA certification, which is quite comparable to the CMA certification. However, it’s crucial to examine the specific needs of your future company before choosing on your certification. In Connecticut, for example, medical offices do not currently recognize the RMA.

The RMA, on the other hand, may be the ideal option for you if you have several years of MA experience, are a veteran of the US military, or have already achieved certification as a Medical Assistant from another organization.

The National Board for Certification of Medical Assistants

The National Center for Competency Testing offers the NCMA certification, which differs from the RMA and CMA in that it focuses on supporting physicians with patients rather than entire office administration.

The NCMA is similar to the RMA in that it does not need completion from an approved institution, so if you have the appropriate job experience or training, you may already be eligible to take the exam. The NCMA is also marginally less expensive than both the CMA and the RMA.

The NCMA certification, while not as widely recognized as the CMA or RMA tests, may be a better fit if you plan to work directly with patients. However, before applying, make sure to check with your prospective employer to see if there are any specific qualification requirements.

The CMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant)

The National Healthcareer Association offers the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant credential (CCMA), which is equivalent to the NCMA in terms of criteria. The CCMA, like the NCMA, is aimed at Medical Assistants who want to be more involved in clinical procedures rather than office administration. The CCMA exam has 150 questions and 30 pre-test questions, and it takes three hours to pass.

The CCMA is a good choice for Medical Assistants who have relevant job experience but have not finished a comprehensive training program, similar to the NCMA. The CCMA has one advantage over the NCMA in that it only requires one year of relevant job experience, so if you’re a current Medical Assistant wishing to expand your options with certification, the CCMA could be a good fit.

Always double-check with your current or prospective employer to ensure that the CCMA is accepted by their company.

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Although the basic Medical Assistant certificates (CMA, RMA, NCMA, and CCMA) are all well-rounded and may be used in a variety of medical offices and locations, some Medical Assistants prefer to specialize. The PMAC and COA certificates are examples of these.

The ASPMA (American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants) offers the Podiatric Medical Assistant (PMAC) Certification, which is designed for Medical Assistants who want to work in podiatry (treatment of feet).

The JCAHPO (Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology) designed the Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) Certification expressly for Medical Assistants who plan to help Ophthalmologists (treatment of eye and vision).

Why should you work as a Registered Medical Assistant

Excellent Job Prospects

Who wants to work hard to obtain the qualifications needed to enter a particular field just to have a job chance to wait a long time to appear?

As a potential medical assistant, statistics show that you will have a decent probability of finding work. Medical assistant jobs are predicted to expand by 29% over the next ten years (BLS As of February 2018). Over 800,000 new jobs will be created as a result of this. For those who are well-educated, the job market is promising.

Given that the average growth rate for all occupations over this time period was only 7%, it’s clear that medical assisting is one of today’s most in-demand professions. Plus, as the baby-boomer generation ages, it will very definitely remain so.

Without a Bachelor’s Degree, You Can Get Started

The great majority of healthcare occupations necessitate significant education and training, as well as an occupational license.

A four-year bachelor’s degree, for example, is required to practice medicine. You’ll also need to complete four years of medical school and two or three years of residency.

To work as a medical assistant, however, you only need a high school diploma and some training. Many people who enter the sector do so after completing a medical assisting program. You have the option of earning a certificate or a diploma. To become a registered medical assistant, you must pass the American Medical Technologists’ Registered Medical Assistant examination.

In a country where the average college debt is $30,000, becoming an RMA offers up a world of opportunities. It’s a way to gain an education and get into the workforce without going into debt.

Have a Job That You Enjoy

A millennial will change jobs four times in their first decade after graduation.

This job-hopping is due to a number of factors. For starters, millennials are an adventurous generation. A work that entails doing the same thing over and over becomes monotonous.

Two, there’s the never-ending search for that high-paying employment. Three, many millennials are employed in jobs that they dislike.

Sure, being a medical assistant won’t quench your appetite for adventure or pay you six figures, but it will almost certainly land you a job you enjoy.

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Many people who enter this field do so since they simply require a college degrees or certificate.

They have a strong desire to assist others. Even though they don’t provide direct patient care, they understand that their contribution to keeping healthcare facilities running properly has a significant impact on people’s lives.

Another advantage of working in a career you enjoy is that you can achieve a better work-life balance.

You are free to work in any state.

Assume you enjoy your current position.

The only issue?

You are dissatisfied with your current situation.

Your life would be great if you could find the same employment in New York, Alaska, or any other state that piques your interest! But you’re locked in your current state since relocating would force you to pursue a new set of training and licensing or certification requirements for your position.

The good news is that working as a medical assistant allows you to practice in many states without having to obtain a new license or certification.

All you have to do is obtain the National Center for Competency Testing’s National Certified Medical Assistant credential. Once you acquire it, you’re good to work in any state.

You can work in different roles.

Do you dread the prospect of spending the remainder of your career at the same place?

If you do, you have reason to be concerned. Over 60% of American workers say their current working circumstances are not what they would like. As a result, these personnel are more vulnerable to mental health difficulties.

This is why you should look for a profession that allows you to work in a variety of settings.

Working as an RMA at a doctor’s office, a large hospital, or an outpatient care center is possible. You won’t be confined to one room for the duration of the day.

Assume you work in a medical facility. In the morning, you might be documenting patient information in a consultation room, and in the afternoon, you might be running clinical labs.

Medical assistants also have a very predictable or stable work schedule. Expect to work regular hours unless you have a separate arrangement with your company. You won’t have to worry about being on call when all you want to do is sleep.

Is becoming a nurse, a health facility management, or a surgical technician your ultimate goal, but you’re unable to pursue it right away?

If that’s the case, working as a medical assistant is an excellent method to prepare for your dream profession.

Medical assisting allows you to obtain experience working in a healthcare setting while also learning important job skills. You will be familiar with the healthcare work environment by the time you are ready to seek your desired healthcare job.