FAQs on CMA (AAMA)^® Recertification

Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about CMA (AAMA)^® recertification.

For more details, review Recertification Policies and Apply to Recertify by CE options as well as the recertification applications:

• CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam Application
• CMA (AAMA) Recertification By Continuing Education Application

FAQ categories

Recertification FAQs

How often do I need to recertify my CMA (AAMA) credential?

To better ensure continuing competency and knowledge and thus better protect patients, CMAs (AAMA) are required to recertify every 60 months.

Current status is required in order to use the CMA (AAMA) credential.

Effective January 1, 2010, all newly certified and recertifying CMAs (AAMA) will be current for 60 months from the end of the calendar month of initial certification or most recent recertification.

For example: If you certify or recertified in February 2010, you must be recertified by the last day of February 2015.

To recertify by exam without any lapse in current status, you must pass the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam at least two months prior to your certification or recertification expiration date.

To ensure that no lapse in current status occurs, the exam application must be received at least 30 days prior to the certification or recertification expiration date.

Note: Effective June 1, 2013, the requirement for current provider level CPR has been eliminated.

How can I recertify?

There are two ways to recertify:

By exam: Pass the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam.

By continuing education: As long as your credential has not been expired for more than ​​three months, you may recertify by continuing education. You must acquire 60 recertification points, 30 of which must be AAMA approved continuing education units (CEUs). The category breakdown of points must be as follows:

• 10 administrative
• 10 clinical
• 10 general
• 30 from any combination of the above three categories

You may choose any of these methods to submit your application to recertify by continuing education:

Online  |  Recertify online with secure online payment processing for both AAMA and non-AAMA CEUs. (Note: Expedited option available.)

Mail  |  Recertify by mail-in application for non-AAMA CEUs.

Call toll-free  |  Recertify by phone (800/228-2262) if all your CEUs appear on your AAMA CEU transcript. (Note: Have your credit card handy.)

 

Are there any extra requirements?

No, there are no extra requirements.

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

Provider level CPR certification was first required for recertification of the CMA (AAMA) credential in January 2005. At that time few employers were requiring their employees to be CPR certified. The Certifying Board considered this to be a safety issue and was forward thinking in requiring that CMAs (AAMA) maintain current, provider level CPR certification.

Many, if not most, employers now require current CPR certification. Thus, the Certifying Board believes these safety concerns are being adequately addressed and current, provider level CPR certification is no longer a necessary component for CMA (AAMA) recertification.

Can others verify my certification status?

Yes. Certification status is a matter of public record and may be released. Your CMA (AAMA) certification status can be verified on the Verify CMA (AAMA) Status page.

The AAMA staff receives 100 or more requests per day to verify that current or potential medical assistant employees are CMAs (AAMA).

What if I don't recertify on time?

If you do not recertify on or before the expiration date of your credential, you will be considered as having an expired credential. If your credential has expired for more than ​​three months, you forfeit the right to reactivate the credential by continuing education and must sit for the CMA (AAMA) Certification 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 recertification by exam fee will be required.

Is the Recertification Exam the same as the Certification Exam?

Yes. The candidates for recertification take the same exam as candidates for initial certification.

What is the cost to recertify by exam?

If you are a member of the AAMA, your fee is $125. All others pay $250. If your credential has expired, you will pay an additional $50 reactivation fee.

All fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

What is the cost to recertify by continuing education?

If you are a member of the AAMA, your fee is $80. The nonmember fee is $1​60. If your credential has expired, you will pay an additional $50 reactivation fee.

All fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Can I recertify early if I accumulate all 60 recertification points?

Yes. If you choose to recertify by continuing education and have accumulated all 60 recertification points, you can recertify before the expiration date. Your new 60-month certification term begins on your date of recertification.

Can I roll over extra recertification points?

No. Points toward recertification are valid only if earned after the most recent recertification. Additionally, credits must be earned in the 60 months prior to which the application is submitted.

Initial certificants may apply a maximum of 20 AAMA-approved CEUs earned in the 3 months prior to initial certification toward recertification. This policy applies to only those taking and passing the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam for the first time. Course credits earned and required for graduation from a medical assisting program ​cannot be used towards initial recertification. This policy does not apply to recertificants.​ 

Can I apply CEUs that I earned before getting certified toward recertification?

Initial certificants may apply a maximum of 20 AAMA-approved CEUs earned in the 3 months prior to initial certification toward recertification. This policy applies to only those taking and passing the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam for the first time. Course credits earned and required for graduation from a medical assisting program ​cannot be used towards initial recertification. This policy does not apply to recertificants.

How do I determine if a non-AAMA program will be accepted?

The AAMA will accept a program for recertification if its subject matter is relevant to your profession, and formal credit was issued (e.g., CEU, CME, contact hour). Minimum program length: A minimum of one contact hour is required to earn one point toward recertifying the CMA (AAMA) credential. A contact hour is defined as a typical 50-minute classroom instructional session, or its equivalent. However, it is up to you to determine if a program topic is relevant before you choose to attend it.

Use these documents as guidelines for approvable topics:

• The Content Outline for the CMA (AAMA)^® Certification Exam is a comprehensive list of everything that a CMA (AAMA) has to know for the exam, organized by topic category.
• The AAMA Occupational Analysis of Medical Assistants is based on an AAMA survey in which ​medical assistants listed the tasks that they performed on a daily basis and expected to perform in the future.
• The Advanced Practice of Medical Assisting sets forth advanced medical assisting skills and areas of knowledge.

The AAMA will not update your transcript when you attend non-AAMA approved programs and events. Save any related documentation (e.g., such as the syllabus, workshop flyer describing the topic, and documentation of formal credit) to include when you submit the Recertification by Continuing Education Application by mail or when you upload your non-AAMA CEUs documentation and apply online.

Will my transcript be automatically updated for non-AAMA programs?

No. For this reason, you must save any paperwork associated with these programs, such as the syllabus, workshop flyer describing the topic, and documentation of formal credit. When you apply for recertification, you must furnish this paperwork as proof that you completed these programs.

How can I submit featured AAMA-approved CEUs like my CPR card?

Online submission is the preferred method of submitting documentation for featured AAMA-approved CEUs (i.e., CPR cards and the free, online FASDs and Smiles for Life programs) listed on the AAMA Approved CE Programs webpage.

To submit documentation, log on to your AAMA website account, and while within the "My Account" section, select the Web Uploads tab from the left-side menu. On that webpage, select the appropriate course from the drop-down menu, upload a file, and submit.

The status of submitted documentation is displayed on that same webpage. Allow 2–3 business days for processing.

How do I order a lapel pin or replacement certificate?

CMA (AAMA) lapel pins are no longer available for order. Individuals who certify or recertify on or after June 1, 2021, will receive a digital badge and can print a wallet card and certificate themselves directly from the BadgeCert website. Visit the "Digital Badges" webpage for details. If an individual hasn’t recertified since June 1, 2021, and won’t for some time, they have the option to purchase a digital badge using the CMA (AAMA) Digital Badge Order Form.