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Certified Medical Assistant Exam

Summary: Passing the certified medical assistant exam means greater regard among peers and employers and better job security and greater career advancement opportunities.

If you want to take advantage of the fast growing health care industry, you might want to consider becoming a medical assistant. Employment of medical assistant is projected to greatly expand because of technological advances in medicine and the growth and aging population. The continuous increasing demand of medical assistants in the swiftly growing health care industry will further rouse job growth.

Taking into consideration the preference of many health care employers for trained staff, job prospects should be best for medical assistants with formal training or experience, specifically for those with certification. Therefore, to build a promising career in the health care industry, you have to be a certified medical assistant (CMA) first. And to become a certified medical assistant, there are only two things that you have to accomplish: first, graduate from an accredited medical assisting program, second, is pass the American Association of Medical Assistant Examination.

To receive the CMA credential you must first enroll in and graduate from a medical assisting program. This program must be accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Allied health Education programs or CAAHEP or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools or ABHES. You also must accomplish an externship which is part of the program.

Once you graduate from the program and finished the training, you must take and pass the certified medical assistant exam. This AAMA certification examination is offered three times a year, which is in January, June and October. Eligible candidates can take the exam either on the last Friday of January, last Saturday of June, or the fourth Friday of October. The application deadline for CMA exam for the month of:

o January is October 1 of the preceding year
o June is March 1 of the same year, and
o October is July 1 of the same year.

If you meet the criteria for any of the following categories, then you are eligible to take the certified medical assistant exam:

* Category 1. Graduating students of recent graduate of a CAAHEP accredited medical assisting program
* Category 2. Non-recent graduate of a CAAHEP accredited medical assisting program
* Category 3. Graduating student or graduate of ABHES accredited assisting program.

Besides filling out an application form to take the certified medical assistant exam, you must also provide certain documentation and pay the enrollment fee. The required documentation depends on your enrollment category. Enrollment fee for the AAMA and CAAHEP graduates is $ 95; all others will pay $ 170.

After the AAMA accepts your exam application, you will be notified of the location of the testing center 6 weeks before the examination date. The best you can do before the day of the exam is study. You can even take CMA exam review offered in your area. The certified medical assistant exam is your chance to get a better job security and greater career advancement opportunities.

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Certified Medical Nurse Assistant Training in California

Many people these days wanted to work as a nurse assistant in California. Well, several studies have shown that three out of five are willing to do the tasks assigned to medical nurse assistants and this is perhaps due to the fact that medical assisting is one of the most favorable careers available on earth. The profession does not only allow you to work in a medical office, but it gives you the chance to care for others. Yes, you will meet patients from different walks of life, with different illnesses and it is this virtue actually that will teach you how to care not only for yourself but also for others.

So if you are one of those thousands out there dreaming of becoming a certified medical assistant in California, then I bet you would like to know where exactly in California you can study and prepare yourself for this biggest challenge. Note that although a formal training in medical assisting is not required, many employers of today’s highly technological world prefer to hire those who are trained in this specialized field. This is the reason actually that a number of certified medical nurse assistant training in California are now available for you to take. The certified medical nurse assistant training in California is offered in a number of colleges, universities, and even vocational schools anywhere in the state.

Below is a list of the reputable schools offering certified medical nurse assistant training in California, so please read on.

University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix currently offers a certified medical nurse assistant training in California in three major areas of study: graduate, undergraduate and non-degree. The training is usually offered with evening and weekend class times, allowing the students to continue their full-time jobs in the daytime. Also, the available certified medical nurse assistant training in California offered by this school is often scheduled only once a week, further allowing you to do your work full time while earning their bachelor’s degree in medical assisting.

Herzing College

A certified medical nurse assistant training in California is also available at Herzing College. The training programs offered at this school belong either to the undergraduate and non-degree areas, but all of the available programs are given at the most convenient time available, usually during weekends and evenings. Aside from the certified medical nurse assistant training in California, the school also additional services such as job-seeking skills, job search assistance, interview development, and resume assistance. These are offered knowing that learning about these things is a plus factor in obtaining better chances of getting hired once you’ve completed your degree.

Maric College

Maric College is finally out there to give you another option for your medical assisting dream. A certified medical nurse assistant training in California is offered by this school in both undergraduate and non-degree areas. Perhaps what’s great about this school is that they offer the certified medical nurse assistant training in California in a number of campuses. But because of this, the requirements and schedules available for the trainings can only be identified if you visit each of the campuses. If you are interested in this school, do your search now.

Washington State Certified Medical Assistant

Did you know that medical offices are screaming for qualified medical assistants? Although formal training in medical assisting is not always required for medical assistant positions, most employers prefer to hire those who are certified. Medical assistants who are most suitable for today’s complex health care environment are those who are certified. You have to accept the fact that certified professionals are likely to be hired quickly than those who aren’t.

And for you to obtain certification and become a certified medical assistant, enroll in one of the countless health care training schools wherein you can acquire certification through formal medical assistant training program. You just have to make sure that the school you chose is accredited by Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools or Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education programs. Take for instance in Washington State, one of the many schools that offer medical assistant programs and certification exams is the Lake Washington Technical College. At the culmination of one year’s successful work experience as a medical assistant, the Lake Washington Technical College graduate is eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant Exam. Once you pass, you become a Certified Medical Assistant. AAMA and Washington State Society of Medical Assistants, or WSSMA, recognize CMA as the premiere credential for medical assistants nationwide. WSSMA serves the medical assisting community in Washington State.

Washington State certified medical assistants perform delegated clinical and administrative duties within the supervising physician’s scope of practice consistent with the CMA’s education, training, and experience. Such duties shall not comprise the practice of medicine. The job outlook for Washington State certified medical assistants is now better than ever. CMAs are used extensively throughout Washington State in both ambulatory care settings, such as clinics and physician’s offices, anxillary services, such as radiology, out-patient surgery centers, off-site billing services, medical labs, and more.

The multi-tasking ability of Washington State certified medical assistants and the multi-skilled cross training provided by WSSMA make them particularly effective and efficient for any medical settings. Medical assisting has been designated a high-demand profession and state job outlook studies report that Certified Medical Assistants will be in high demand from years to come. In fact, the expanding technological advances, the increasing number of medical offices, and the growth and aging population contribute to the increasing demand for medical assistants.

However you see it, may it be Washington State certified medical assistants or any other state certified medical assistants, the importance of formal training and certification exam is very essential in preparing and equipping you with all the things you need to perform your duties in the real world of medical assisting. Not to mention your advantage for career growth if you have the credentials.

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Certified Medical Assistants

Certified medical assistants are the fastest growing occupation in the United States. Career opportunities for certified medical assistants are expected to triple in the next few years. It is because of the expansion of services in the health industry due to the scientific advances in the field of medicine. Also, with the development and growth in medical practices, clinics, medical centers, hospitals, medicinal and health care facilities; the need for additional certified medical assistants is essential.

Medical assistants’ duties and responsibilities are to carry out regular administrative and clinical tasks. Medical assistants provide the required daily support to maintain the efficiency and smoothness of the chiropractors, podiatrist, doctors and other health care practitioners’ duties.
The duties of certified medical assistants vary in accordance to the State Law. Some certified medical assistants gather and perform basic laboratory test while some certified medical assistants specialize in a particular health care areas. On the other hand, certified medical assistants do not examine, treat or diagnose patients as a physician would. Some certified medical assistants perform various medical administrative occupations. While some certified medical assistants only assist on the appointments, hospital admissions or billing and bookkeeping. Some only do office works on hospitals and clinics.

To be a certified medical assistant, one must be a graduate of any accredited medical assisting program. The certification program for medical assistants is a voluntary process by which is supported by various medical organizations. To be eligible for certification, one must enroll on a medical school that is accredited by the “Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs” or “Accrediting Bureau of Health Education School”. The instructors of these vocational or technical institutes that offer certification programs are certified medical assistants.
Certified medical assistants must undergo a test that is issued by the “National Board of Medical Examiners” or the “American Association of Medical Assistants” or the “American Medical Technologists” or the “National Healthcareer Association”. The certification exams for certified medical assistants are offered twice a year on over two hundred examination sites across the United States.

Earning the status of being a certified medical assistant is achieved after a triumphant completion of the examination and a recertification usually done every five years in order to maintain the certified status.

Further professional advancements in the certified medical assistant career include the advancing to office and administrative support profession. Some may opt to teach on institutes. And with additional education one may proceed to other health career professions such as nursing and medical technology. There are lots of benefits on a certified medical assistant. Certified medical assistants are highly recognized and are easily hired. So if you are thinking of having a career change, try to consider becoming a certified medical assistant.

How to Become a Certified Medical Assistant?

Commonly known as CMA, the certified medical assistant has long been deemed by doctors as their best partners in increasing the medical office productivity. They are recognized throughout the United States as professionals and the most versatile members of the medical team that they perform a number of tasks from administrative matters to clinical and laboratory procedures. And, since they are professionals, it is expected from a certified medical assistant to show a strong sense of commitment through continuing education and a proof of continuing competence as well.

Now if you are somehow interested in this kind of profession and you want to know how to become a certified medical assistant, then you’ve picked up the right page. I have mentioned below two of the major steps you may take to becoming a certified medical assistant. Note that these steps are also encouraged by the American Association of Medical Assistants knowing that these can lead you to the right track. Please read on.

Step #1: Obtain a Degree from an Accredited Medical Assisting Program

To become a certified medical assistant, you must first graduate from a medical assisting program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). So if you haven’t taken an accredited medical assisting program yet, then start looking for it now. They are available throughout the United States nowadays, and once you found the right option, enroll and finish the program if you can.

However, before you take the challenge, make sure that you are ready enough and interested to know more about the human anatomy, pathology, physiology, basic and advanced medical terminology, recordkeeping and accounting, computer applications, insurance and coding processing, clinical and diagnostic procedures, laboratory techniques, pharmacology, medical law and ethics, patient relations, and a lot more areas of medical studies.

Remember that part of the program that you must complete to obtain the certification is an externship. This can be done in doctor’s offices, clinic, pharmacies, and other medical facilities.

Step #2: Take and Pass the Certified Medical Assistant Certification Examination

So you’ve graduated from an accredited medical assisting program. The next thing you can do now to become a certified medical assistant is to take and pass the CMA certification exam which is usually handled by the American Association of Medical Assistants. The exam is often offered three times a year. There are certain categories or qualifications that you must follow and meet, however, for you to become eligible to take the certification examination. You can find a lot more information about the requirements at AAMA-NTL.org.

Once the American Association of Medical Assistants accepts your application, then you will be notified of the location of the testing center. Well, if you know the location, then much better, but if you don’t, start looking for it as early as possible. Prepare yourself and study for it.

You can only consider yourself as a certified medical assistant once you passed the certification examination.


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