Certification/Recertification
A: To qualify for the exam, you must be in one of three enrollment categories:
Category 1: Completing students and recent graduates of CAAHEP or ABHES accredited medical assisting programs
- Completing students may take the exam no more than 30 days prior to completing their formal education, including a practicum.
- Recent graduates are those who apply for the exam within 12 months of graduation.
Category 2: Nonrecent graduates of a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited medical assisting program
Nonrecent graduates are those who apply for the exam more than 12 months after graduation.
Category 3: CMA (AAMA) recertificant
You must have previously passed the exam and been awarded the CMA (AAMA) credential.
A: If you are a completing student or graduate, your program director will receive a form that must be completed to
verify that you fulfilled all formal coursework requirements, including
a practicum, and that you did not take the CMA (AAMA) Exam more than
30 days prior to the date that you fulfilled all program requirements.
If you are a nonrecent graduate you must submit an official transcript with your application.
A: The documentation required varies for each category:
Category 1:
No documentation is required from you. Your program
completion—including a practicum—must be verified by your program
director in order for you to receive your official scores.
The AAMA Certifying Board reserves the right to request an official transcript from you at any time.
Category 2: You must furnish your official transcript.
The AAMA Certifying Board reserves the right to request a copy of your diploma, certificate, or degree at any time.
Category 3: You must provide your CMA (AAMA) certificate number.
A: If you are a member of the AAMA or a CAAHEP or ABHES completing student or recent graduate, your fee is $125. All others pay $250. All fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
Personal checks will not be accepted. Candidate fees must be paid by any of the following methods:
- Money order
- Credit card
- Debit card
- Cashier's check
- Certified check
- Institution check
Applications submitted without proper fee payment will delay scheduling of your exam appointment or may be returned to you.
Membership in the AAMA gives you great benefits that will help you on your career path. Discover these
benefits and
join today.
A: The start date should be the earliest possible date that you wish to sit for the exam. Applications are due at least
90 days in advance of the first of the month in which your testing
period start date begins. Refer to the following chart for assistance in
determining when you should mail your application.
Preferred testing
period start date
in the month of |
Application is due on |
Mail application by |
| January |
October 1 of prior year |
September 20 of prior year |
| February |
November 1 of prior year |
October 20 of prior year |
| March |
December 1 of prior year |
November 20 of prior year |
| April |
January 1 of same year |
December 20 of prior year |
| May |
February 1 of same year |
January 20 of same year |
| June |
March 1 of same year |
February 20 of same year |
| July |
April 1 of same year |
March 20 of same year |
| August |
May 1 of same year |
April 20 of same year |
| September |
June 1 of same year |
May 20 of same year |
| October |
July 1 of same year |
June 20 of same year |
| November |
August 1 of same year |
July 20 of same year |
| December |
September 1 of same year |
August 20 of same year |
Medical Assisting and CMA (AAMA)
A. Duties vary from office to office depending on location, size and specialty.
Administrative duties may include...
- Using computer applications
- Answering telephones
- Greeting patients
- Updating and filing patient medical records
- Coding and filling out insurance forms
- Scheduling appointments
- Arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory
services
- Handling correspondence, billing and bookkeeping
Clinical duties vary by state, but may include...
- Taking medical histories
- Explaining treatment procedures to patients
- Preparing patients for examination
- Assisting the physician during the exam
- Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
- Performing basic laboratory tests
- Instructing patients about medication and special diets
- Preparing and administering medications as directed by a
physician
- Authorizing prescription refills as directed
- Drawing blood
- Taking electrocardiograms
- Removing sutures and changing dressings