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

A Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) is a medical assistant credential awarded by American Medical Technologists (AMT), a not-for-profit allied health association that has offered certification since 1939. "RMA" is the specific credential name AMT uses for its Medical Assistant certification. If you are choosing a medical assistant credential, comparing RMA against CMA and other options, or already hold an RMA and need to maintain it, the sections below cover what the credential is, how eligibility and the exam work, how it compares with alternatives, and how to stay certified.

What the RMA Credential Is

AMT lists Medical Assistant (RMA) as one of its allied health credentials, alongside credentials such as Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), Phlebotomy Technician (RPT), Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT), Medical Administrative Specialist (CMAS), Patient Care Technician (PCT), and Dental Assistant (RDA). The RMA is therefore one credential within a broader allied health certification portfolio rather than a standalone program.

Two features of AMT's structure matter for anyone evaluating the RMA:

• Certification and membership are linked. AMT states that once you are certified, you are automatically entitled to member benefits. You do not apply separately for membership after earning the credential.
• The organization positions certification as ongoing. AMT describes itself as providing members support to maintain skills and competencies, learn and grow in their professions, and sustain quality in the workplace — so the credential is framed as the start of a continuing relationship, not a one-time exam.

AMT also states that it is accredited by the NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies). If accreditation status matters to your employer or program, verify current accreditation directly with AMT, since accreditation can change over time.

Eligibility: Who Can Apply

AMT's site presents eligibility as a question — "Are you eligible for certification?" — with a credential selector, and it separates applicants into three groups: individuals certifying themselves, educators certifying students or graduates, and employers certifying employees or apprentices.

That structure tells you something practical: there is more than one route into the RMA exam. You may be able to apply as an individual, through a school or training program, or through an employer or apprenticeship. The specific requirements differ by route, and AMT does not publish a single universal checklist on the page summarized here.

Because eligibility rules are the most common point of confusion, confirm your specific pathway with AMT before paying for or scheduling an exam. Typical factors that determine eligibility for medical assistant credentials include completion of an accredited training program, a combination of formal education and work experience, or military training — but treat those as general categories to verify, not as AMT's stated requirements.

The Certification Exam Process

AMT's site describes the certification process as "Accessible," "Affordable & Simple," and built on "Respected Rigorous Standards." It does not, on the page summarized here, list exam fees, test centers, question counts, or pass scores.

What you can act on:

1. Select your credential. Use AMT's credential list to confirm you are applying for Medical Assistant (RMA) and not a similarly named credential.
2. Confirm eligibility for your route (individual, student/graduate, or employee/apprentice).
3. Prepare using AMT's own resources. AMT operates a Learning Center with courses, search filters, and course layouts designed for mobile use, available 24/7. The Learning Center is a reasonable starting point for exam preparation and continuing education alike.
4. Schedule and sit the exam through the process AMT provides after your eligibility is confirmed.

For current fees, exam delivery options, and scheduling windows, go directly to AMT — pricing is not published in the material summarized here, so do not assume any cost or free access.

RMA vs. CMA and Other Medical Assistant Credentials

The most common question is how RMA compares with CMA. The short answer: they are different credentials from different certifying organizations, and both are recognized routes into medical assisting.

A few practical points:

• "Registered" vs. "certified" is largely a naming convention. In allied health, different organizations use "registered" or "certified" in their credential titles. The distinction usually reflects which body awards the credential, not a different level of practice. Employers generally care that you hold a current credential from a recognized certifier.
• Employer preference varies by region and setting. Some clinics and health systems name a preferred credential in job postings; others accept any accredited medical assistant certification. Check postings in your target market rather than assuming one is universally preferred.
• AMT itself frames the choice as "the choice for allied health professional certification" and emphasizes lifelong career support — a positioning claim, not an independent ranking.

If you are deciding between RMA and CMA, the deciding factors are usually which certifier your training program prepares you for, which credential local employers list, and which organization's recertification requirements fit your schedule.

Maintaining Your RMA

AMT organizes post-certification activity around three areas:

• Continuing Education (CE): Earn credit online or by attending local and national meetings.
• Career Development: Career-building tools and opportunities.
• Support and networking: Networking and leadership opportunities through AMT.

AMT's site includes "Stay Certified" and "Access CE" as member functions, reachable after logging into MyAMT. If you are already certified, log in to MyAMT to review your recertification requirements and track CE. Specific CE hour requirements and recertification cycles are not stated in the material summarized here — confirm them in your AMT account or with AMT directly, since they determine whether your credential lapses.

Who the RMA Suits

The RMA is a reasonable fit if you want a medical assistant credential from a long-established allied health association, you value automatic membership benefits and structured CE through the same organization, and your training program or local employers recognize AMT credentials. It is worth comparing against CMA first if your target employers specifically name CMA, or if your school prepares graduates for a different certifying exam.

In the words of one AMT-certified medical assistant featured by the organization, Aubrey Wiggins, RMA (AMT): "Being an RMA is such a rewarding job. Seeing someone's life improve and be part of that change is incredible." That reflects the role itself rather than the credential's market standing — useful context, but not a substitute for checking what employers near you require.