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By: My Medical Assisting Degree Staff

Updated: February 10, 2026

Home » Certifications

MEDICAL ASSISTANT CERTIFICATIONS

Medical assistants have the option to pursue several different professional certifications throughout their career. These voluntary credentials validate your skills and expertise, can increase your job prospects and may even lead to a higher salary. Understanding which certifications are available, who they’re for and how to obtain them can help you decide what certification makes the most sense for your medical assisting career.

In this article:

Certificate vs. certification

Before we dive into medical assistant certifications, let’s clarify one point of confusion—the difference between a certificate and a certification.  

Certificates are awarded by educational institutions for completing a specific course of study. Some certificate programs help students prepare for certifications after graduation.  

Certifications are awarded by professional organizations such as trade groups and industry associations. Most certifications are obtained by demonstrating that the candidate has met certain requirements (such as earning a specific degree, working professionally in a given field for a certain amount of time, etc.) and passing a competency exam.

Do medical assistants need to be certified?

With the exception of Washington state, medical assistants do not by law need a certification. However, most employers prefer or require their medical assistant employees to be certified in order to qualify for the job.  

Recent polling data backs this up. According to the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), 96% of employers require or encourage certification for medical assistants.  

So, while it may be possible to find some medical assisting jobs that don’t require certification, your employment options increase dramatically if you have one.

Benefits of certification

Some of the benefits of certification include:

  • Since most employers prefer or require medical assistants to have a certification, certification can significantly expand your employment options.  
  • Certified medical assistants tend to earn more on average compared to noncertified medical assistants.  
  • Having a certification can make it easier to move into different specialties or leadership roles in the medical assisting field.  
  • Many employers will pay for initial certification fees and/or cover the cost of recertification, making it easier than ever to stay certified.

Available medical assistant certifications

Multiple organizations offer medical assistant certifications. Let’s explore some of the most common.  

Be sure to check each organization’s website for the most up-to-date information about their certifications.  

In addition, keep in mind that each organization below requires applicants to pay an exam fee. Most cost between $100-$200 for the initial certification. From there, you must recertify (typically every year or every other year) and pay a smaller recertification fee to keep your certification active.

Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)

The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) offers the CMA credential, and it’s probably the most widely recognized medical assistant credential available.  

To become a CMA, you must: 

  • Graduate from a post-secondary medical assisting program accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). (Note: You may still qualify for the CMA credential if your program was not accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES, but the AAMA must evaluate your education to ensure it meets certain standards. Therefore, without CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation, there is no guarantee that your education will qualify). 
  • Complete a 160-hour practicum or externship in which you gain on-site work experience in an ambulatory health care setting. All CAAHEP and ABHES-accredited programs include this externship in their curriculum.  
  • Pass the certification examination administered by the AAMA. 
  • Recertify every five years either by completing 60 continuing education units (CEUs) or retaking (and passing) the certification exam. 

Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)

The American Medical Technologists (AMT) offers the RMA certification, which is another popular choice within the field. This is another generalist certification meant for medical assistants with both clinical and administrative skills.  

To apply to take the RMA exam, you must satisfy ONE the following:

  • Education route: Complete an accredited medical assisting program of at least 720 hours within the last four years, including 160 hours of an externship.  
  • Competency and work-based learning route: Complete a hybrid education/work experience medical assisting program in the last four years that has EITHER a combination of didactic and clinical experience to equal 720 total hours (with 160 hours of externship as a minimum) OR a structured, approved alternative training course that is at least 500 hours and includes 160 hours of externship experience. In addition, candidates must “have demonstrated practical competence through a structured competency evaluation process that reflects mastery of required skills and knowledge defined by the medical assisting practice role.” 
  • Work experience route: You’ve been employed as a medical assistant for at least three years within the past seven years.  
  • Military route: You’ve completed or are scheduled to complete a formal medical services training program of the United States Armed Forces (within the past four years).  
  • Instructor route: You are a medical assisting instructor.  

After determining eligibility, you must pass the RMA exam and maintain your certification by paying annual renewal fees and completing 30 CEUs every three years.

Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CMAC)

You can earn the CMAC credential through the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA), an organization that offers credentials for numerous allied health careers. The CMAC credential focuses on clinical duties—clinical medical assisting accounts for 60% of the certification exam—but it does also test candidates on administrative duties like office reception, medical record management and more.  

In addition to their basic requirements for all AMCA exam applicants, you must satisfy ONE of the following to be eligible for the CMAC exam:

  • Graduate from a training program related to the exam you are applying for (medical assisting) at an AMCA Approved Test Site. 
  • Graduate from a training program related to the exam you are applying for (medical assisting) at an institution other than an AMCA Approved Test Site. 
  • Have at least one year of full-time medical assistant work experience. Your experience must precede the date of the application and you must be currently working in that field. Verification from your employer is required. 

After passing the AMCA’s certification exam, you must complete 10 CEUs every two years to maintain your certification.  

Note: The AMCA used to offer a general Medical Assistant Certification (MAC) credential, but it was retired as of Jan. 1, 2025.

National Certified Medical Assistant Certification (NCMA)

The National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) offers the NCMA credential. To qualify for their medical assisting exam, you must satisfy ONE of the following:

  • High school pathway: You are a current student of a medical assistant program from an NCCT-authorized high school or a graduate within the past five years. 
  • Current student pathway: You’re currently enrolled in a postsecondary medical assistant program at an NCCT-authorized school (includes U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship programs). 
  • Graduate pathway: You’ve graduated from a postsecondary medical assistant program at an NCCT-authorized school (includes U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship programs) within the last five years. 
  • Experience pathway: You have at least one year of full-time, verifiable work experience as a medical assistant. 
  • Military experience: You’ve completed a medical assisting program or its equivalent during U.S. military service within the past five years. 

Be sure to check the NCCT’s website for more detailed information about each eligibility pathway. You must recertify and complete CEUs every year in order to keep your NCMA certification active

Medical Assistant Certification, RMA (AAH)

American Allied Health (AAH) offers a Medical Assistant Certification which you can earn by passing their online exam. To be eligible for the exam, you must verify that you’ve completed ONE of the following:

  • A medical assistant training course or program
  • One year of work experience as a medical assistant
  • Relevant military training
  • Certification through another certifying agency.

 Depending on which of these you have, you must submit specific documentation that proves your eligibility. In order to maintain your certification, you must complete five CEUs every year.

Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)

The NHA offers two distinct medical assistant certifications: the CCMA and CMAA credentials. As you can probably guess, each certification is intended for medical assistants who have expertise in either the clinical or administrative aspects of medical assisting. You can qualify for either certification’s examination by satisfying one of the following options:

  • Option 1: Completion of a high school diploma or equivalent (or scheduled to earn one in the next year) + Completion of a medical assistant program within the past five years
  • Option 2: Completion of a high school diploma or equivalent + one year of supervised work experience in a medical assisting field within the last three years or two years of experience within the last five years 

For the CMAA credential, the experience noted in the second option must be related to working as a medical administrative assistant. 

To maintain your credentials, you must complete 10 CEUs every two years.

Specialty certifications

There are also several certifications available to medical assistants who work in a particular medical specialty. These credentials can be a great addition to any general medical assistant certifications you may already have:

Which certification is right for me?

Choosing a medical assisting certification doesn’t have to be difficult. You simply need to consider what your long-term career goals are.  

Some medical assisting programs prepare students for a specific certification after graduation (and even offer vouchers so that you don’t have to pay the exam fee for your first attempt), so this may take the decision off your plate.  

Some employers may explicitly ask for a specific certification, but in most cases, they just want to see that you have one. The CMA certification tends to be the most widely recognized, so it’s an excellent choice for most medical assistants. 

Certifications like the CMA and RMA are for general medical assistants with skills in both clinical and administrative tasks, whereas the CCMA and CMAA demonstrate clinical or administrative expertise, respectively. Specialty certifications are intended for medical assistants that want to work in a particular medical specialty. The certification that makes the most sense for you, therefore, simply depends on your personal career trajectory.

Can I get multiple certifications?

Absolutely. Many medical assistants obtain more than one certification to demonstrate a breadth of skills and increase their job prospects. Keep in mind that you’ll have to recertify each of them separately in order to maintain your certifications. Luckily, the CEUs you earn for one certification can usually be used for others as well.

What comes next?

While medical assistant certification isn’t always legally required, it’s one of the most effective ways to enhance your career opportunities, demonstrate professional credibility and increase your earning potential. With several respected certifications available—from general credentials like the CMA and RMA to specialized options in clinical or administrative duties—there’s a pathway to suit nearly every career goal.

If you’re ready to dive into the field of medical assisting, hit our Find Schools button and start searching for programs today.