Certified Medical Assistant (CMA): What It Is and How to Get Certified

A Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) is a medical assistant who has passed a national certification exam and holds a credential that must be maintained through continuing education. The CMA designation is most commonly associated with the AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants), while the RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) credential is offered by American Medical Technologists (AMT), the organization behind the source material here. Both are national credentials, but they differ in the certifying body, eligibility pathways, and recertification rules. If you are choosing between them, the practical differences matter more than the labels.

CMA vs. RMA: What Actually Differs

The two credentials cover similar job duties but are issued by different organizations with different requirements.

Both are legitimate national credentials. The "better" one depends on which certifying body your program prepares you for and which employers in your area list in job postings. AMT's own materials position its credentials as "respected, rigorous standards" with an "accessible, affordable & simple process," and note NCCA accreditation — a point worth checking for any certifying body you consider.

Eligibility: Who Can Sit for Certification

Eligibility depends on the certifying body, but the general pathways are:

• Accredited program graduate — complete a medical assistant program accredited by a recognized agency (e.g., CAAHEP or ABHES), then apply to sit for the exam.
• Work experience or military training — some bodies, including AMT, allow candidates with relevant hands-on experience or military medical training to qualify without a formal program. AMT's site explicitly asks "Are you eligible for certification?" and lets you select a credential to check.
• Student or graduate status — AMT's certification flow lets you certify "Myself," "My Students or Graduates," or "My Employees or Apprentices," which reflects that programs and employers often facilitate the process.

Before paying for any exam, confirm the specific eligibility pathway with the certifying body directly, since requirements change and vary by credential.

How to Get Certified: Step by Step

1. Confirm your eligibility with the certifying body (AAMA for CMA, AMT for RMA). Use their eligibility checker or contact them.
2. Complete your education or document your experience — an accredited program, or qualifying work/military training depending on the body.
3. Apply for the exam and pay the associated fee. (Fees are not listed in the source material; check the certifying body's site.)
4. Schedule and take the exam — typically computer-based, covering clinical and administrative competencies.
5. Receive your credential — once you pass, you may be automatically entitled to member benefits, as AMT states: "Once certified you are automatically entitled to member benefits."
6. Maintain certification — track your CEU requirements and recertification cycle.

Expected result: a nationally recognized credential you can list after your name (e.g., RMA (AMT) or CMA (AAMA)), which employers use to verify competency.

Maintaining Certification and Continuing Education

Certification is not one-and-done. Both CMA and RMA require ongoing continuing education to stay current. AMT provides CE opportunities through online courses and local/national meetings, and its Learning Center offers bookable courses, enhanced search, mobile-friendly design, and 24/7 access. The general pattern:

• Earn a set number of CEUs per recertification cycle.
• Pay a recertification fee (amounts vary; check the body).
• Keep your contact and credential status updated.

Falling behind on CEUs can lapse your credential, so treat recertification deadlines as fixed obligations.

What a CMA Actually Does

Medical assistants work in clinical and administrative roles, often both in the same day. Typical duties include:

• Clinical: taking vital signs, preparing patients for exams, assisting with procedures, drawing blood, administering injections (where permitted), and basic lab tasks.
• Administrative: scheduling appointments, managing records, handling billing and coding, and communicating with patients and insurers.

Work settings include physician offices, clinics, hospitals, and specialty practices. As AMT member Aubrey Wiggins, RMA (AMT), puts it: "Being an RMA is such a rewarding job. Seeing someone's life improve and be part of that change is incredible."

Choosing Between CMA and RMA

There is no universal "number one" credential — the right choice depends on your situation:

• If you're enrolled in or graduated from an accredited program, ask which exam your program prepares you for; that is usually the fastest path.
• If you have relevant work experience or military training, check whether AMT's experience-based pathway fits you better than a program-only route.
• If your target employers list a specific credential, match it. Search job postings in your area and note whether they ask for CMA, RMA, or either.
• If cost and process simplicity matter, compare application fees, exam fees, and recertification costs directly with each body — the source material does not list prices, so verify current figures yourself.

Both credentials signal competency. The deciding factors are eligibility fit, employer preference, and long-term maintenance cost.