Medical Assistants (MAs) are crucial healthcare professionals who offer both direct patient care and valuable clinical support. Responsibilities include preparing the patient for physical exams, performing ECG’s and drawing blood, as well as working on record keeping, billing, and handling insurance. MAs are frequently seen as the lifeblood of a facility and provide great support so that doctors and nurses may spend more time on their patients.
If you are a medical office assistant you may consider obtaining certification in your profession to bolster your credentials and prove your skills. These certifications will serve as recognition for your abilities as a medical administrative assistant, as well as give you a competitive edge when applying for jobs. It can be useful to familiarize yourself with available medical office assistant certifications in order to develop and advance in a health care career.
Employers will favor a certified candidate because this proves you are trained and knowledgeable about this particular occupation.This guide will walk you through the best medical office assistant certifications that you can earn today, what they are for and how they apply to your career aspirations.
What are Medical Office Assistant Certifications?
Medical office assistant certifications are recognized by the professional industry as an official indication of a professional’s competence in skills, knowledge, and experience. Medical office assistant certifications can be obtained from certified schools, and with them you will be able to achieve greater career heights. There are a number of medical office assistant certifications available, and each one will focus on a certain aspect of the medical office assistant field. These may include things like medical billing and coding, patient scheduling, and medical office administration.
Best Medical Office Assistant Certifications
There are several different respected and accredited certifications that are available to all medical office assistants. Gaining the credentials can allow you to qualify for a number of new job opportunities, prove your competence, and set you apart from other medical office assistants.
Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
The CMAA certification provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) is tailored to the medical office administrative skill set. Passing this certification proves you are knowledgeable of medical record management, appointment scheduling and the processing of insurance forms.
One of the more well-known certifications available is for Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, or CMAA. The CMAA is intended for individuals who will be front-office employees. In addition to medical records, receptionists are trained in greeting patients and setting up their appointments.
The CMAA examination tests your knowledge of office procedures, medical law and communication skills. Thus, if you are planning on working in hospitals, doctor’s offices, or large practices, this is the certification for you.
Issuing Body
National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
Prerequisites
High school diploma or GED; at least 1 year of medical administrative experience (or completion of a medical administrative program)
Approximate Cost
$100-$200 for the examination; training programs are $500-$3,000
Time to Complete
3-6 months to prepare for examination (training program dependent)
Renewal Cadence
Every three years; requires continuing education or re-examination
With the CMAA certification you are entitled to pursue various career paths. Although CMAA is for medical office managers it also helps pave a way for a medical administrative assistant position. Furthermore, some programs could lead to an opportunity of a medical office manager with the right certifications and/or the addition of CEHRS and CBCS certifications.
CMA (Certified Medical Assistant)
Offered by American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). It demonstrates skills and knowledge in both the clinical and administrative skills of the medical assistant.
To qualify you have to graduate from CAAHEP or ABHES accredited MA program. It is a well-recognized certification with high preference by employers.
CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant)
This certification is offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). The CCMA certification covers the clinical aspects of medical assisting including assisting physicians, taking vitals, and providing EKGs.
To qualify you have to have completed a MA training program, or have a certain amount of medical assisting experience.
RMA (Registered Medical Assistant)
Offered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT). This certificate covers the skills and knowledge of a medical assistant. To qualify for RMA, you can either be a graduate of an accredited MA program or have some years of work experience as MA.
Issuing body
American Medical Technologists (AMT)
Prerequisites
High school diploma or G.E.D.; medical assistant program graduate or equivalent medical assisting work experience required.
Estimated cost
$100-$200 for the exam.
How long does it take to obtain?
6 months to 2 years, depends on the MA program.
Renewal:
every 3 years with required CEUs.
What is ideal for?
Those with both administrative and clinical skills are ideal candidates for RMA, the certification covers duties from front to back office and is perfect for roles needing an individual with both skill sets. RMA certifications include tasks beyond the typical office environment, and incorporate patient-focused duties like taking vitals as well as all the traditional front-office tasks.
National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)
The National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) offers the NCMA certification which evaluates your ability to utilize your knowledge in the medical field for the various areas of medical assisting, including clinical procedures, medical office administration and patient care.
Candidates will qualify for the examination if they have successfully completed an NCCT approved MA program or have work experience.
Podiatric Medical Assistant Certified (PMAC)
The American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants (ASPMA) offers the PMAC certification, designed for medical assistants working in a podiatric setting. This exam will test your understanding of the structure of the foot, various podiatric procedures and the aspects of podiatric patient care.
Graduates from a podiatric medical assistant program or those with relevant work experience in a podiatric practice are able to take this exam.
Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA)
The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) offers a certification program for MAs working in the eye care field. The COA certification program covers ophthalmic anatomy, basic eye care procedures and patient interaction in the ophthalmology environment.
To become a COA candidate must have successfully completed an accredited ophthalmic assisting program, or at least one year of ophthalmic clinical experience
Certified EKG Technician (CET)
The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offers this certification to health care professionals who wish to showcase their commitment to patient care. The certification affirms that a candidate can carry out certain jobs such as carrying out basic medical duties, EKG, and phlebotomy, as well as emphasizes the significance of softer skills, communication and empathy.
Average Salary: $63,020
Pros: Good salary and career progression opportunities
Cons: Can be highly stressful, potential to work night and weekends
Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
This credential is from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). It certifies the candidate’s understanding of phlebotomy, the art of obtaining a blood specimen from a patient for diagnosis testing, transfusion, and donations. It emphasizes on the candidate’s proficiency and safety, proper patient identification, specimen handling and processing.
To be eligible, candidates must have completed a phlebotomy training program or have work experience in the area.
CMOM-Certified Medical Office Manager
From Practice Management Institute (PMI) this credential provides knowledge to perform office medical management effectively. This certification covers areas to help develop fundamental skills in medical office management such as compliance with the rules, medical billing, personnel administration, and the medical information systems.
CMOM-Certified Medical Office Manager is good for people who want to move into management positions. This is not necessarily required for entry-level work but will look very good for someone seeking to promote into a management position with work experience.
Employers will expect people to have an understanding of not only medical rules and regulations, but daily activities in the medical office as well. The CMOM certification will put you in a position for growth.
CPC/A-Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant
From the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) the certificate is designed for a person in the healthcare profession who wishes to prove proficiency. The holder’s ability to conduct basic medical duties,EKGs, and phlebotomy while incorporating the role of the soft skills like communication and care-giving into work will be established.
This credential shows that the holder has a good understanding of skills and competencies required for a person who has recently completed an accredited Patient Care Technician training program or has some on-hand work experience.
MOA certification
Issuing authority: American Medical Technologists (AMT)
Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED, accredited program or equivalent work experience
Estimated price: $150 – $250 for the test (training will cost more, ranging from six months to two years in duration), but this price may vary.
Time to complete: 6 months-2 years (this is program dependent).
Renewed every 3 years with continued education, or by retaking the test.
Best for: Someone looking for a widely accepted, broad-scope certification that is usable across various medical professions. It is very well respected across the nation and easily transferable.
The MOA credential offered by AMT covers a wide range of patient relations, scheduling, medical records management, billing, and general office procedures. They are highly respected and known for their flexible exam scheduling and comprehensive preparation material.
PTTC Certification
The PTTC certification is one of the most niche. It is ideal for those of you who are truly passionate about their profession and field. A great stepping stone toward entering the world of physical therapy is a PT aide position.
Certifying organization: American Medical Certification Association (AMCA)
Average Salary: $57,240
Pros:
Job flexibility
Career advancement opportunities
Cons:
Not State transferable
Demanding
Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS)
The CEHRS is one of the most versatile healthcare certifications one can acquire! There is no shortage of positions available once you obtain it; while some do require more than one certification, this is an excellent certification to begin with! The occupations one can work in as CEHRS include Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist and Medical Records Specialist.
Certified Healthcare Documentation Specialist
Certifying organization: National Healthcareer Association
Average salary: $47,180
Pros:
Ability to potentially telecommute
Job demand and stability
Cons:
Must adapt to changing medical regulations
Lack of patient interaction
Medical Records Specialist
Certifying organization: National Healthcareer Association
Average salary: $47,180
Pros:
Fast training duration
Healthy work/life balance
Cons:
No patient interaction
High level of stress potential
Outside of the above career fields, one may also apply for positions such as Medical Administrative Assistant or Medical Office Manager as a CEHRS.
Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
The Certified Professional Coder, otherwise know as CPC is another great certification in medical billing and coding. This certification is given out by the American Academy of Professional Coders or AAPC and is considered to be one of the most respectable certifications within the health field.
A CPC shows that one has the ability to apply proper medical codes to medical diagnoses, services and procedures. The certification takes a little more study and effort to attain than some others, but has the ability to increase earning potentials.
The CPC certification is a brilliant starting point to beginning a career within the medical field! The career field requires and offers job demand for certified individuals and is a beneficial choice to make. A well-paying career that can be attained from earning a CPC is that of a medical billing and coding professional!
Medical Billing and Coding Professional
Certifying organization: American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
Average salary: $47,180
Pros:
A great launching pad into the medical field
Can often lead to remote work
Cons:
Work can be very repetitive
Must continuously update oneself with new medical requirements
Employers will strongly prefer staff with a CPC for careers involving health claims and the financial side of the medical field. If one is willing to put in the work, the CPC will increase opportunities for employment in 2026.
Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
If your desired career field is that of a dental assistant, then a CDA is just what one needs! Our teeth mean so much to us, and there can never be enough certified Dental Assistants available for that very reason!
It is possible to get work as a dental assistant without a certification and without passing the CDA exam and becoming a Certified Dental Assistant, but a certification can indeed assist an applicant in gaining the attention of prospective employers in a crowded job market.
Dental Assistant
Certifying organization: Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)
Average salary: $44,820
Pros:
Can offer a busy, fast-paced work environment
Career demand is consistently high
Cons:
Must maintain up to date knowledge of products and tools used within dental careers
May include some physical demands
Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
The pharmaceutical field is a secure industry and one that never goes away. CPhT is a perfect certification for those seeking work in an important field with good future prospects and a good career option.
Pharmacy Technician
Certifying organization: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
Average salary: $37,790
Pros
Field with growth
Career mobility opportunities
Cons
Physically taxing
Ability to work nights and weekends
Choosing a certification
Consider your goals, expertise, and environment; here is a helpful framework to help guide your decision:
1.Specialty versus a broad base:
Will you be the main person in a medical office covering all tasks, or will you specialize in medical office management, clinical-administrative hybrid roles, etc.?
Broad base: CMOA or CMAA certifications if you are an entry level professional.
Managerial: CMOM certification if you are aiming for a leadership position in a medical office.
Specialty: RMA certification if you possess skills and will be in both administrative and clinical tasks.
2.Professional background:
No previous health care experience: Choose a CMOA or CMAA as this would guide you in all medical office topics.
One year or more experience: Choose a CMAA or MOA to boost your existing career level.
Three or more years experience: Choose CMOM to excel your medical office managerial skills.
3.Accreditation and professional recognition:
All the mentioned certifications are accredited by and approved by respective organizations. It is advised to check relevant job descriptions to understand if certain certifications are preferred in specific locations or by individual employers.
4.Program accessibility:
Those who will take full-time classes for 6-24 months are recommended to choose formal training programs with both theoretical and practical knowledge. Working professionals are suggested to choose self-paced online learning options or employer paid tuition.
5.Long term career benefits:
You will have to renew the certifications on specific periods of time; consider the renewal procedures and availability of continuing education courses; look for organizations which can guide you in developing your medical career path and offer resources.
6.Investment cost:
Analyze all potential costs, from application and examination fees, to training program costs, to recertification and continuing education fees throughout your certification duration. Usually, most certifications compensate themselves within the first year by resulting in a higher salary.
So, when can you expect to be certified?
The process of getting certified usually takes only a couple months once you have completed your course of study. In many cases your course of study will be designed to train you for your exam so you will be ready shortly after you finish your program. It typically only takes a few hours to take the exam itself, but it will require you to put time into studying your textbooks, practice questions and modules available online. You should be ready for certification within months after completion of your medical assistant training. How long you have to study depends on your situation. If you are doing the exam review while doing a medical assistant or office administration training program then you should expect this to take from 6 months to 2 years. If you are working at a medical office and studying by yourself at home then it typically only takes 3-6 months of studying. Certification organizations typically offer flexible online study that you can study at your own pace.
How much does certification cost?
Total cost can vary. The cost of the exams range from $100-$500. The cost of the training program (not required, but recommended for people without experience) ranges from $500 to $10,000 depending on how long the course of study is and if the class is in person or online. Don’t forget to factor in costs for study materials ($100-$300), renewal costs ($50-$150 every 2-5 years), and continuing education costs ($200-$500 over the lifetime of your certification). This means that over 5 years your total cost can be anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000, but you can expect to earn more money during that time so your certification should more than pay for itself.
Conclusion
Medical administrative assistants remain essential roles in health care and the achievement of a certification such as CMAA, CEHRS, CBCS, CPC, and CMOM can help you to confirm your abilities, increase your salary potential, and expand your job opportunities. By 2026, employers will be looking for someone with training and certification who is ready for all of the responsibilities a medical office entails so the time to start working towards it is now if you’re ready!