When you become a medical assistant, you will work in a challenging, changing, rewarding profession.

So, why go to the trouble of becoming certified?

Certification means a professional edge. It means greater prestige among peers and employers.

It means better job security and greater career advancement opportunities.

Managed care compels doctors to seek professionals, so many employers of allied health personnel insist that their medical assistants be Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs) who have achieved certification through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Why?

To earn the CMA (AAMA) credential you must enroll in a 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). You will attain academic and clinical training in a variety of areas, including...

Once you graduate from the program you must successfully complete the rigorous CMA (AAMA) Certification Examination.

Achieving the credential demonstrates two important things to your employer: First, you possess exceptionally broad, thorough knowledge of the field in which you're working. Second, you care enough about your profession to attain that knowledge.

You must renew the credential every five years. This means keeping abreast of new developments in the health care delivery field. You'll participate in continuing education workshops, read authoritative texts, and network with other medical assistants. Health care delivery is changing every day. As a CMA (AAMA), you will be changing with it.

Better job opportunities and pay

As one of the fastest growing allied health care careers, medical assisting offers terrific opportunities for advancement. Medical assistants with certification can advance to office manager, clinical supervisor, or qualify for a variety of administrative support occupations. Some medical assistants choose to teach medical assisting. Others choose to obtain a bachelor's degree in human services, health promotion, or health services management, to name a few.

Medical assistants with certification are paid competitive wages and can receive valuable benefits. More importantly, they have the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping others and making a positive difference in people's lives.

Another reason to get certified, is that the CMA (AAMA) credential goes wherever you go. This credential is a national certification recognized by employers across the country.

Want to get started?

To learn more about how you can pursue a career in medical assisting, talk to the medical assisting program director at your nearest CAAHEP or ABHES accredited medical assisting program.

Learn how you can become a CMA (AAMA).