History

1955

The Kansas Medical Assistants Society initiated a meeting in Kansas City, Kan., to consider the formation of a national organization.

The name of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) was accepted by vote.

1956

The Charter Meeting was held in Milwaukee.

The Constitution and Bylaws was adopted and permanent officers were elected.

The American Medical Association (AMA) passed a resolution commending the objectives of AAMA.

Carmen Kline, CMA-A (KS), was co-chair with Maxine Williams, CMA-A (KS), for the AAMA Founding Meeting.

1957

Maxine Williams, CMA-A (KS), was elected the first AAMA president.

At the first Annual Meeting, the House of Delegates was accepted as the legislative body of the national association.

At this meeting, the first educational sessions were designed to increase the professionalism of medical assistants.

The first official publication, The Ambassador, was published.

1958

Trilevel membership was approved with one membership card for local, state, and national membership.

A national emblem was selected.

1959

AAMA was incorporated in the State of Illinois as a not-for-profit professional organization.

The national headquarters was opened in Chicago.

The Scholarship Fund was started with a $200 contribution from Maxine Williams. It was later renamed the Maxine Williams Scholarship Fund.

A Certification Committee was appointed to develop the AAMA Certification Program.

1960

Trilevel membership in AAMA was voted as mandatory.

1961

The Certifying Board was established.

1962

A sample examination for Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs) was given at the convention with no credit given.

1963

The first certification examinations were given in California, Kansas, and Florida.

1966

A special committee was appointed to develop curriculum standards for the training of medical assistants, as a prelude to collaborating with the AMA in the accreditation of educational programs on a postsecondary level.

1968

The AAMA Endowment was established as a 501(c)(3)public foundation for educational purposes.

The name of the official publication was changed to The Professional Medical Assistant.

1969

Essentials of an Approved Educational Program for Medical Assistants was approved by the AMA Council on Medical Education and the AMA House of Delegates.

Five two-year educational programs were accredited by the AMA Council on Medical Education in collaboration with the AAMA Program Approval Committee.

Student and faculty memberships were approved as new categories of membership.

The Education Council was created to coordinate the educational activities of the association.

1971

Certification eligibility requirements were broadened to include medical assisting instructors and students.

The AMA House of Delegates approved a set of revised Essentials for a basic one-year curriculum, thus allowing for the evaluation of programs not only in community and junior colleges, but also in vocational-technical, proprietary, and military-based institutions.

1972

A committee was formed to begin work on a guided home study course.

AMA/AAMA filed a petition with the U.S. Office of Education seeking recognition as the official accrediting agency for medical assisting programs.

1973

The Curriculum Review Committee became the Curriculum Review Board.

1974

The U.S. Office of Education recognized AMA/AAMA as an official accrediting agency for medical assisting programs in public and private institutions.

1975

The revised certification program, consisting of a basic test plus three specialty examinations (Administrative, Clinical, and Pediatric), was implemented.

The name of the In-Service Education Committee was changed to the Continuing Education Committee.

The AAMA House of Delegates approved the adoption of the Continuing Education Unit (CEU) and stipulated that CEUs meet the minimum criteria as promulgated by the National Task Force on the Continuing Education Unit.

1976

The 20th Anniversary of the AAMA was a time for noting progress over two decades of educational service. Membership reached 18,500 with 525 chapters in 47 states and the District of Columbia.

The number of AMA/AAMA accredited postsecondary programs reached 117 in 108 institutions.

The highest number of medical assisting certificates—1,959—were awarded, making a total of 5,197 since the program's inception.

A new category of membership—international—was instituted.

The Task Descriptor Project was initiated whereby an analysis of 475 medical assisting tasks in 18 categories was undertaken.

Continued recognition for a four-year period was extended by the U.S. Office of Education to the Curriculum Review Board in its collaborative accrediting role with AMA.

The Continuing Education Committee officially launched the CEU Approval Program, whereby state societies and chapters that met specific guidelines could offer CEU credit to participants.

1977

Active membership was opened to any practicing medical assistant who achieved AAMA certification.

The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) was engaged as the test consultant for the AAMA certification examinations.

Responsibility for the accreditation of one- and two-year medical assisting programs was transferred from the AMA Council on Medical Education to the AMA-sponsored but independently operated Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA). The AAMA Endowment's Curriculum Review Board remained the recommending body.

Revised Essentials of an Accredited Educational Program for the Medical Assistant was accepted by the AMA Council on Medical Education.

1978

The Continuing Education Board was formed.

For the first time, the AAMA basic Certification Examination was given twice yearly (in January and June) at test centers nationwide.

1979

The Developing a Curriculum (DACUM) process analysis of the medical assisting profession was conducted.

1980

The Certification Revalidation Program was officially launched, allowing Certified Medical Assistants to revalidate their credentialing by either the continuing education or examination methods.

1982

A Legislation Committee Subcommittee on State Legislation was established to monitor grassroots legislation affecting allied health and to encourage member involvement in the legislative process at the local level.

1985

A position statement was adopted that recommended the AAMA advocate the credentialing of medical assistants through certification, with mandatory revalidation, and that a record of Certified Medical Assistants be maintained by the AAMA to serve as the verification of certification status.

1988

The AAMA logo was redesigned.

1989

The Continuing Education Board (CEB) began the Sponsor Approval Program.

The new AAMA logo was introduced.

CMA pins were provided without cost for the new CMAs.

1990

The DACUM was published.

1991

The AMA's CAHEA approved the 1991 Essentials and Guidelines for an Accredited Education Program for the Medical Assistant.

The name of the official publication was changed to PMA.

1992

The CEB announced in-house registration of AAMA CEU credits.

The AMA proposed that a new, independent accrediting agency be established to replace CAHEA.

1993

To be made effective January 1, 1995, a change in recertification was determined to be implemented:

Of the 60 recertification points needed to revalidate the AAMA CMA credential, 20 must be from AAMA-approved CEU programs. Specialty credentials require five of the 20 points be AAMA-approved CEU programs. Point distribution: General—15; Administrative—15; and Clinical—15; with the remaining 15 applied to any of the three content categories.

The Task Force on Restructuring CAHEA recommended the establishment of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) as the accrediting agency. Preliminary announcement to dissolve CAHEA was made by the AMA.

1994

The 38th House of Delegates passed a Bylaws amendment requiring members of the Board of Trustees to be AAMA Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs) holding current status.

The official dissolution of CAHEA was announced by the AMA. The CRB and AAMA Endowment voted to affiliate with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

The AAMA Endowment established the Surveyor Training Fund.

1995

Effective January 1, 1995, a change in recertification was implemented:

Of the 60 recertification points needed to revalidate the AAMA CMA credential, 20 must be from AAMA-approved CEU programs. Specialty credentials require five of the 20 points be AAMA-approved CEU programs. Point distribution: General—15; Administrative—15; and Clinical—15; with the remaining 15 applied to any of the three content categories.

The eligibility pathway for candidates of the AAMA Certification Examination was changed as follows: "Any candidate for the AAMA Certification Exam must be a graduate of a CAAHEP accredited medical assisting program." This requirement would become effective February 1, 1998. This decision was made to require educational standards for medical assistants.

1996

On June 25 AMA House of Delegates granted AAMA Official Observer Status to the HOD.

The Board of Trustees approved plans to establish a website at http://www.aama-ntl.org.

The National Board of Medical Examiners completed the 1996 Occupational Analysis on Medical Assisting.

1997

The Role Delineation Study was completed and replaced the previous DACUM Study.

Approximately 13,000 candidates sat for the Certification Exam, a record number since its inception in 1963.

1998

The Advanced Practice Document was implemented for advanced CE Sessions.

The Certifying Board of the AAMA held a Content-Based Standard Setting Exercise requested by the NBME.

1999

The 1998 Medical Assistants Employment Issues Survey was published in PMA.

The AAMA Endowment approved the 1999 Standards for a Medical Assisting Program.

The Certifying Board established mandatory recertification as follows: "Beginning January 1, 2003, all CMAs currently employed or seeking employment as medical assistants must have current status in order to use the CMA credential."

The Board of Trustees approved the Disciplinary Standards and Procedures for Certified Medical Assistants.

2000

There were more than 470 CAAHEP accredited medical assisting programs in 450 institutions across the United States.

2001

Partial autonomy for the Curriculum Review Board was approved.

2002

Graduates of medical assisting programs accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) became eligible for the exam.

The name of the official publication, PMA, was changed to CMA Today.

A CMA pin journeyed into space on board a NASA shuttle.

2003

A third administration of the AAMA CMA Certification/Recertification Examination was established for October.

Health care provider level CPR was determined as mandatory for CMA recertification, effective January 2005.

2004

Partial autonomy for the Certifying Board was approved.

The Advanced Practice of Medical Assisting was edited by the Continuing Education Board.

2005

The new Vision Statement was approved by the Board of Trustees: The vision of the American Association of Medical Assistants is to increase recognition of Certified Medical Assistants as the premier choice in the allied health professions.

2006

The AAMA held its 50th Annual Convention in Milwaukee, home to the association's charter meeting in 1956.

The keynote speaker was AAMA Founding Member and Past President (1963) Alice Budny. Fifteen AAMA past presidents were introduced to the 50th House of Delegates. AAMA Founding Members Roberta Antrim, CMA-AC, MHR, and Sylvia Klotz, CMA-C, also were presented to the House of Delegates.

A slide presentation of the past 50 years of AAMA activities was prepared and presented by AAMA Past President (1992) Mary Lou Allison, CMA-C.

The certification program of the Certifying Board of the AAMA was accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and complies with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. The NCCA is the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), formerly called the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). The NCCA Standards were created to ensure that certification programs adhere to modern standards of practice for the certification industry.

2007

The AAMA successfully defended "Certified Medical Assistant®" trademark registration in a lawsuit brought by American Medical Technologists (AMT).

The annual meeting name was officially changed from convention to conference.

Funds were allocated for the AAMA president and vice president to represent the AAMA at the annual meeting of the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management.

The Surveyor Training Fund was renamed the Ivy Reade Relkin Surveyor Training Fund.

2008

Effective January 1, 2008, the credential changed from Certified Medical Assistant or CMA to Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) or CMA (AAMA).

The Curriculum Review Board of the AAMA Endowment was officially renamed the Medical Assisting Education Review Board.

The 2003 AAMA Role Delineation Study: Occupational Analysis of the Medical Assisting Profession was updated to the 2007–2008 Occupational Analysis of the CMA (AAMA) and published in April 2008.

The Oklahoma Medical Assistants Society reorganized and submitted bylaws. At the 2008 Annual Conference, the state society received a new charter.

The Annual Conference was shortened by one day.

The president, vice president, and speaker of the house represented the AAMA as exhibitors at the 2008 annual meeting of PAHCOM.

The Advanced Practice of Medical Assisting (2004) was revised by the Continuing Education Board.

2009

Computer-based testing for the CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Examination began January 5, 2009.

The president and vice president were authorized to represent AAMA as exhibitors at the 2009 annual meeting of the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM).

CE sessions were authorized to be added on Saturdays of the Annual Conference.

The Maxine Williams Scholarship application was revised.

Executive Director Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA, represented the AAMA at the December 2008 Conference on Practice Improvement: Blueprint for the Medical Home, sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine in Savannah, Ga.

AAMA joined the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaboration (PCPCC).

Executive Director Balasa attended the PCPCC stakeholders' working group meeting, "Public and Private Initiatives: Advancing the Patient-Centered Medical Home" in Washington, D.C.

Legal Counsel Balasa's Public Affairs articles from past issues of CMA Today and a link to the new scope of practice were posted on the website of the American College of Physicians.

Executive Director Balasa's article titled "The CMA (AAMA): An Invaluable Asset for the Practice Office" was posted on the American Academy of Pediatrics "Practice Management Online (PMO)" section of its website.

Scope of practice information was posted on the AAMA website.

Executive Director Balasa served on a task force to revise the ASRT Limited X-Ray Machine Operator (LXMO) Curriculum as a result of his involvement with the Alliance for Quality Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy.

Executive Director Balasa and Betty Springer drafted a letter to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) about the important role of the CMA (AAMA) in providing affordable and accessible health care for all Americans, including seniors.

The Continuing Education Board (CEB) celebrated the release of the new e-Learning Center (e-LC), which offers constant online access to continuing education.

2010

Executive Director Balasa analyzed "The Increasing Role of Medical Assistants in Small Primary Care Physician Practice: Key Issues and Policy Implications" from the Center for the Health Professions at the University of California, San Francisco.

Executive Director Balasa represented the AAMA on an April 27 conference call of the Alliance for Quality Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, supporting the CARE (Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy) bill as it moved through the legislative process.

Legal Counsel Balasa co-presented "The New Haven Firefighter Decision: What Impact Will It Have?" at the April 2010 Annual Association Law Symposium in Chicago.

The March/April issue of CMA Today was printed on a 30 percent postconsumer waste sheet as part of the AAMA's initiative to help protect the environment.

Legal Counsel Balasa responded to right-to-practice questions and issues via phone, phone conference, and e-mail.

The BOT established a technology reserve fund to upgrade database software, redesign the website, and enable e-business functionality.

The BOT granted AAMA affiliation to the Hawaii State Society.

AAMA logo apparel and gear to brand the AAMA became available through mail order.

The BOT approved the development of a social media plan. The AAMA launched a Facebook page in September 2010.

Executive Director Balasa assisted the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs in updating and modernizing the Code of Medical Ethics in American Medical Associations.

The National Benefits and Financial Services Administration became the new group insurance vendor for AAMA members.

President Boni Buntz, CMA-A (AAMA), Immediate Past President Kathryn Panagiotacos, CMA (AAMA), and Vice President Betty Springer, CMA (AMMA), attended the September 2010 annual Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM) conference as exhibitors.

In August 2010 Executive Director Balasa's Legal Eye: On Medical Assisting blog launched.

2011

The AAMA staff was empowered to participate, recommend, and lead project processes as coleaders with the BOT group chairs and managers. The AAMA staff proved to be excellent partners on projects, bringing their historical knowledge and abilities to the teams.

The AAMA Facebook page reached 5,000 members in March 2011.

Advancing Technology:

• Continuing Education Board held LiveMeeting—replacing one face-to-face meeting each year and allowing additional meetings as needed.
• The e-Leaning Center (e-LC) recouped initial cost and became self-sustaining in providing AAMA CEUs to members.
• Rapid and relevant communication exceeds all expectations:
  • AAMA on Facebook: Open exchange of information and hot topics between members.
  • Legal Eye: On Medical Assisting:  Executive Director Balasa’s official blog
  • AAMA e-Update: Monthly e-newsletter sent to members and subscribers.

AAMA new Mission Statement was approved:

The mission of the American Association of Medical Assistants is to provide the medical assistant professional with education, certification, credential acknowledgment, networking opportunities, scope-of-practice protection, and advocacy for quality, patient-centered, health care.

Definition of Medical Assistant was approved:

Medical assistants are multiskilled members of the health care team who perform administrative and clinical procedures under the supervision of licensed health care providers.

CMA (AAMA) Core Values were developed and approved:

Actively participate in the delivery of quality health care.
Promote patient safety and well-being.

Contribute to a positive health care experience for patients.
Demonstrate integrity and respect, and protect patient confidentiality.

Advocate the essential value of certification and continuing education.
Embrace change, growth, and learning.

The 2011 Salary Survey was completed and published.

The “Who I Am Makes a Difference” program was presented. This “pay it forward” program proved to engage both seasoned medical assistants and students in acknowledging someone who has made a difference in the member’s life.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published the Immunization Training Guide & Practice Procedure Manual. One of the authors of this publication is AAMA Past President Cheryl Vineyard, CMA (AAMA), CPC. The AAP and the AAMA began discussion about how this joint endeavor can be publicized and promoted.

The AAMA was represented at the PAHCOM annual conference in September 2011. Immediate Past President Boni Buntz, CMA-A (AAMA) and Vice President Ann Naegele, CMA (AAMA) served as exhibitors.

Executive Director Balasa represented the AAMA at several professional organization meetings, including the following:

• Health Professions Network (HPN)
• Institutes of Medicine (IOM) Workshop on the Allied Health Workforce
• American Academy of Family Physicians Practice Improvement Conference
• Alliance for Quality Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy
• American Society of Association Executives Legal Section Council
• Institute for Credentialing Excellence
• National Commission for Certifying Agencies
• American Medical Association (AMA) Annual Meeting

Executive Director Balasa assisted state societies with ongoing protection and expansion of their scope of practice within their individual states.

2012

President: Ann Naegele, CMA (AAMA)

The 56th Annual Conference held September 7-10, 2012, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The AAMA Certifying Board implemented a new policy for the CMA (AAMA) Certification Examination. Initial candidates for the exam who meet all graduation program requirements on or after January 1, 2010, have 60 months from the date of program completion to sit for and pass the exam. If the candidate does not pass within this time frame, the candidate is not eligible for the CMA (AAMA) credential. (This policy does not affect candidates graduating before January 1, 2010.)

The AAMA Board of Trustees approved corporate membership in PAHCOM and MGMA, as well as AAMA exhibits at PAHCOM and MGMA annual meetings, to develop professional relationships and further expand awareness of CMAs (AAMA).

The Board of Trustees established an Occupational Analysis Task Force (OATF) and a Core Curriculum Task Force (CCTF). The charge of the OATF is to determine by survey research what duties CMAs (AAMA) are actually doing in the workforce at the present time. The end result will be the issuance of the 2012–2013 Occupational Analysis of the CMA (AAMA). The charge of the CCTF is to develop a core curriculum with the partnership of Certifying Board (CB), Continuing Education Board (CEB), Medical Assisting Educational Review Board (MAERB), OATF, and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ruled in favor of credentialed medical assistants entering medication, laboratory, and radiology orders into the Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) system for purposes of having such entry count toward meeting the meaningful use measures under the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records Incentive Program. Executive Director Donald Balasa, JD, MBA, advocated for the CMA (AAMA). Due in part to this advocacy, the CMS made this final ruling.

The Board approved the “Membership Matters” PowerPoint presentation for use in marketing.

The delegate and alternate check-in process for the AAMA House of Delegates was streamlined. Instead of issuing “Delegate,” “Alternate,” and “Certificate of Election” cards for the delegates and alternates to present, they were asked to present a current AAMA membership card.

2013

President: Chris Hollander, CMA (AAMA)

The 57^th AAMA Annual Conference was held in Atlanta, Georgia, September 27-30, 2013.

For the first time, electronic balloting was conducted in the House of Delegates, to elect officers, trustees, and members of the Nominating Committee.

For the first time, the conference evaluation was conducted online.

The 2012­–2013 CMA (AAMA) Occupational Analysis was completed. The Occupational Analysis Task Force was dissolved.

Articles written by AAMA Executive Director Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA, on the CMS order entry rule were published in The Portland Physician Scribe, Of Interest—a publication of the Lane County Medical Society, and the electronic newsletter of the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology.

Suggested language was provided to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry about medical assistants. This language, drafted by Executive Director Balasa, would reflect more accurately the current realities of the profession of medical assisting.

The AAMA Certifying Board determined that, beginning June 1, 2013, current, provider level CPR certification no longer is required for recertification of the CMA (AAMA) credential.

The CMA (AAMA) certification program was granted reaccreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for demonstrating compliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. The CMA (AAMA) certification program met all of the NCCA Standards.

Leaders from the AAMA represented the association at the annual meetings of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM) in October of 2013.

2014

President: Nina Watson, CMA (AAMA), CPC. 

The 58^th AAMA Annual Conference was held in St. Louis, Missouri, October 17-20, 2014.

The Continuing Education Board, under the direction of the Board of Trustees, developed the Assessment-Based Recognition in Order Entry program. Applicants have the opportunity to apply online. 

The newly developed AAMA website was launched. Among the enhancements included are the following:

• Users gain instant access to personal and professional information through secure single sign-in.
• Everyone can update their profiles, including contact information. Users can purchase self-study materials directly from the AAMA Store.
• Members can easily renew their membership and nonmembers can instantly join.
• State and chapter leaders can export to Excel or print state or chapter membership lists.
• Users can view a list of all the continuing education programs offered by states and local chapters.
• Candidates can apply for the CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Examination.
• CMAs (AAMA) can verify their certification expiration date onlineProgram directors can confirm student information, including enrollment, program completion dates, and exam results.
• New student resources: Student Center and Career Center, which provide blueprints for success for students and future medical assistants.
• CMAs (AAMA) can recertify their credentials if all CEUs are AAMA approved.

The Board of Trustees approved a new AAMA Vision Statement:

            A CMA (AAMA) for every patient. 

The Certifying Board reported that the number of CMAs (AAMA) (whose credentials are current) exceeded 75,000.

The Ad Hoc Committee to Restructure the Annual Conference oversaw the completion of a Return on Investment study for the conference.

• Attendees forecasted productivity or efficiency improvements in their daily work equal to $2,149 annually
• The overall return on investment was shown to be $933 per attendee

Leaders from the AAMA represented the association at the annual meetings of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM) in October of 2014.

The following trademarks and logos were registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office:

• CMA (AAMA)
• American Association of Medical Assistants
• AAMA

2015

President: Charlene Couch, CMA (AAMA)

The 59th AAMA Annual Conference was held in Portland, Oregon, September 18 to 21, 2015.

• The 2015 AAMA House of Delegates made no amendments to AAMA Bylaws and approved no Resolutions.

The Board of Trustees amended the Bylaws of the AAMA to state that the composition of the Endowment will include the Chair of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).

The 2015 Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Medical Assisting of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) were approved.

The Certifying Board announced a change in policy:

• Effective immediately, graduates of CAAHEP or ABHES accredited medical assisting programs are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) Certification Examination for initial certification regardless of their date of graduation. All candidates have three examination attempts on or after January 1, 2010.

The Certifying Board reported that the number of CMAs (AAMA) (whose credentials are current) was 81,500.

Leaders from the AAMA represented the association at the annual meetings of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM) in October 2015.

2016

President: Paula Purdy, CMA (AAMA)

The AAMA Annual Conference was held in Reston, Virginia, September 16-19, 2016.

The 2016 AAMA House of Delegates adopted amendments to AAMA Bylaws to clarify the term of office for the Trustees.

C. The term of office for the Trustees shall be two years or until successors are elected. Three Trustees shall be elected in odd years and four Trustees shall be elected in even years, to total at least five, but no more than seven Trustees.

Effective with the elections at the 2017 House of Delegates, the Trustees may be re-elected, but shall not serve more than a total of five years in the same office.

Trustee terms of office served on or after the 2016-2017 AAMA year shall be counted in calculating the five years.

The 2016 AAMA House of Delegates approved no Resolutions.

Leaders from the AAMA represented the association at the annual meetings of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM) in October of 2016.

On March 31, 2016, the Certifying Board was awarded accreditation as a Body Operating Certification of Persons (AC474) by the International Accreditation Service (IAS). By virtue of this accreditation, the Certifying Board of the AAMA demonstrated compliance with ISO/IEC Standard 17024:2012 (ISO 17024 or 17024), the global benchmark for personnel certification bodies.

AAMA launched Twitter and LinkedIn sites.

The Certifying Board signed with Public Communications, Inc., to develop a marketing plan go promote the CMA (AAMA) credential.

The AAMA joined the Credential Transparency Initiative to develop common language and terms for testing and academic credentials, to create a web-based registry using this common language, and to test applications for employers.

The AAMA joined with the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine to approve "Smiles for Life" online program on fluoride varnish.

2017

President: Julie Flaatten, CMA (AAMA), RN, EMT

The AAMA Annual Conference was held in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 6–9, 2017.

The 2017 House adopted amendments to AAMA Bylaws on the qualifications for student membership.

F. A student member

1. Shall be enrolled in a medical assisting program.

2. May choose a two-year student membership term or a one-year student membership term.

a. After a two-year student membership term, the member is then eligible only for either associate membership or active membership (if the member meets the active membership requirements).

b. After a one-year student membership term, the member is eligible for a second year of student membership as long as the member renews during the member’s one-year student membership term. After the second-year of student membership, the member is then eligible only for either associate membership or active membership (if the member meets the active membership requirements).

c. No member is eligible for more than a total of two consecutive years of student membership.

The 2017 AAMA House of Delegates approved no Resolutions.

Leaders from the AAMA represented the association at the annual meetings of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM) in October of 2017.

On July 18, 2017, Excelsior College (a distance learning institution) in Albany, New York, approved 26 semester hours of academic credit for the CMA (AAMA) credential toward the following undergraduate and select graduate health sciences degrees offered by the school:

• AS in health sciences
• BS in health sciences (all emphases)
• BS in public health
• BS in health care management
• BS in health care management/MBA dual degree track
• BS in health sciences/MS in health sciences dual degree track

The AAMA entered into a partnership with the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (American Cancer Society) to promote awareness of colorectal screening.

The AAMA implemented a new credential tagline approved by the Certifying Board:

"CMA (AAMA) Sets the Bar for Excellence in Medical Assisting."

2018

President: Lisa Lee, CMA (AAMA)

The AAMA Annual Conference was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, September 14–17, 2018.

The following two amendments to AAMA Bylaws were approved by the 2018 House of Delegates:

Article V—Component Chapters

Component (Local) Chapters are those county or district chapters of medical assistants within the geographic limits of a Constituent Society. The Component Chapters shall be under the jurisdiction of that Constituent Society. Annual chapter dues for all classes of members shall be fixed by the state society.

Article XXIII—Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended at any annual House of Delegates meeting by a two-thirds vote provided the proposed amendments shall have been submitted in writing to the elected Delegates no later than 45 days prior to the meeting at which they are to be acted upon.

The 2018 AAMA House of Delegates approved no Resolutions.

Leaders from the AAMA represented the association at the annual meetings of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM) in October of 2018.

The BOT approved the creation of a separate AAMA Facebook closed group to facilitate engagement among national, state, and chapter leaders.

The BOT approved a proposal from the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT) and University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) to continue a partnership through 2022 to develop, deliver, disseminate, and evaluate trainings and materials for medical assisting pre-service students and practitioners on how to conduct alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI).

At the annual meeting of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) held in Louisville, Kentucky, April 15–16, 2018, CEO Donald Balasa, JD, MBA, was elected to the CAAHEP Board of Directors.

CEO Balasa accepted an invitation to serve as Vice Chair of the Main Committee to update Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) 1100—Standard for Assessment-Based Certificate Programs. ICE 1100 is an American National Standard approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

April 17–18, 2018: an on-site audit was conducted by the International Accreditation Service (IAS)—the body that accredits the Certifying Board of the AAMA and the CMA (AAMA) Certification Program under International Standard ISO/IEC 17024: Conformity assessment—General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons. Following the audit, IAS granted continuing accreditation under ISO 17024.

The Certifying Board approved the following recertification policy change:

Recertification by Continuing Education Time Limit. Effective January 1, 2020, an individual whose credential has been expired for more than three months forfeits the right to reactivate the credential by continuing education and must sit for the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam.

Candidates are allowed three attempts to sit for and pass the exam. If the candidate does not pass on the third attempt, the candidate is no longer eligible for the exam or to recertify the CMA (AAMA) credential. Payment of a $50 reactivation fee plus the current exam fee is required.

The Certifying Board initiated a new Occupational Analysis, under the psychometric guidance of Prometric.