CMA (AAMA)
The CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Exam is drawn from an in-depth analysis of the general, clinical, and administrative tasks medical assistants perform on a daily basis, according to the Occupational Analysis of the CMA (AAMA). The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) serves as test consultant for the exam. Examination questions are formulated by the AAMA Certifying Board's Task Force for Test Construction, a group composed of practicing medical assistants, physicians, and medical assisting educators from across the United States. Alongside the NBME, the Task Force updates the CMA (AAMA) Exam to reflect the changes in the day-to-day responsibilities of medical assistants, as well as developments in medical knowledge and technology. The examination tests knowledge in three major areas: general medical knowledge (e.g., terminology and anatomy), administrative knowledge (e.g., management and insurance processing), and clinical knowledge (e.g., medical preparation and pharmacology). To be eligible for the exam, an applicant must be a graduate of a medical assisting program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The exam is offered year-round at test centers nationwide. The Certifying Board (CB) of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) has launched a three-year pilot plan that paves the way for students in medical assistance programs to be able to take the CMA Qualification Test. This three-year pilot plan requires students in post-secondary medical assistance programs to take the CMA (AAMA) Qualification Test if the curriculum satisfies other criteria, including, though not restricted to, an organization approved by an accrediting agency recognised either by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Every 60 months, the CMA (AAMA) is required to keep the credential current by recertifying. The credential must be current for a medical assistant to use it in connection with employment. Certification status is a matter of public record and may be released, and also may be verified on the AAMA website. MedicalAssistantEdu.org
A CMA (AAMA) holder can recertify one of two ways: by earning 60 recertification points through continuing education, or by retaking and passing the CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Exam.
Recertification of the CMA (AAMA) credential
The credential is valid throughout the United States, and requires recertification every 60 months.