There are a handful of medical assisting credentials out there, and some are more recognizable than others. Keep reading for a breakdown of the most common options. This credential is recognized by the NCCA and does count toward fulfilling the requirements for meeting meaningful use guidelines. Once eligibility requirements are met, CMA applicants will need to sit for and pass a certification exam consisting of questions covering clinical, administrative and general medical assisting competencies and knowledge.
Like the CMA, this credential is recognized by the NCCA and does count toward fulfilling the requirements for meeting meaningful use guidelines. The exam is questions covering three focus areas—clinical, administrative and general medical assisting knowledge. Description: Unlike the other two on this list, this designation from the American Registry of Medical Assistants is not a credential recognized by the NCCA and does not fulfil the requirements for meeting meaningful use standards at this time.
This designation simply means your name is on a third-party registry of medical assistants that can be verified by employers. Additionally, they may require a copy of your diploma from an accredited medical assisting institute, a copy of transcripts from your academic program, a letter of recommendation from your employer or proof of employment as a medical assistant.
Remember, many healthcare providers may place a premium on hiring credentialed medical assistants, so the sooner you become a credentialed medical assistant, the better.
That said, some employers may be ok with a short grace period for new medical assisting hires who have plans to become credentialed in the near future. You certainly have the option to not earn one of these credentials, but it may not be a wise decision. Rasmussen College Medical Assisting instructor Traci Forguson explains that you may be able to find medical assistant work at small clinics that do not use electronic medical records systems or participate in the meaningful use incentives program, but that may be a challenge.
The good news for Rasmussen College Medical Assisting students is that these fees are covered within the cost of your program, so your first attempt comes at no additional charge. With all this in mind, you may be wondering which of these credential options is best to pursue.
Choosing between the two may come down to eligibility specifics regarding your program—something an advisor can help you navigate. With such similar names, figuring out the differences between these options can certainly get confusing. The Medical Assistant may choose to be registered R. A or certified CMA. These designations merely depend on the organization to which she or he belongs.
There is no qualitative difference between the two credentials simply because one uses the " Registered " and the other uses the " Certified " title. Subsequently, question is, what is registered medical assistant?
Benefits of Becoming a Certified Medical Assistant Many doctors' offices across the country rely on trained medical assistants to perform daily tasks like administrative work, taking blood samples, tending to the needs of patients, and handling insurance forms and bookkeeping duties.
Is the medical assistant certification exam hard? The certification exam tests for proficiency in all the skills and knowledge needed to work as a medical assistant. The test is somewhat difficult, but it should be no problem for candidates that study enough to be fully prepared. Medical assistants who have completed the minimum training prescribed by regulation may draw blood. For example, both the title holders are expected to do vital medical duties such as, recording the health history of the patient, recording the vital signs of the patients and administrative duties such as, executing and maintaining the insurance forms and bills, bookkeeping etc.
On the other hand, a graduation from an attributed training program or school benefits the students by yielding the following advantages:. Evidence of finishing a training program that meets the acknowledged standards on a national scale. Acknowledgment of their learning by other certified Co-workers. All medical assistant training programs will offer a diploma, certificates or an associate degree to the candidates at the end of the successful completion of the course.
The type of credential and course duration will be at variance in length. After getting the diploma from the training school, one must pass either the CMA or RMA certification examination to get hold any of these titles.
Moreover, it is important that the candidate has good morals and ethics in order to apply for the certification examination. Basically, both registered and certified medical assistants are ranked by the same token.
This CMA certification should be renewed once in every 5 years in order to keep the credentials and qualifications at par with the newfangled skills, knowledge and innovations in the medical assistant job. However, it is important to consider that more CMAs are reporting their incomes compared to RMAs thus skewing the data slightly. They are both nationally recognized and should serve as your credential requirement with any employer.
However, because the CMA by the AAMA has been around the longest and is the most widely recognized it may serve you better in finding employment. If you plan to move states within the next years, then you may be better off going for your CMA, or both your CMA and RMA, in order to be eligible and competitive in job markets across numerous states.
The best answer will vary from person to person. A good starting point is to begin searching for medical assisting jobs in the location where you want to work.
The table below compares the requirements to obtain your CMA or RMA beginning with a medical assistant program as well as the steps you will need to follow and fees you will pay. Additionally, our certification by state tool will help you check what state laws govern the medical assisting profession in your state.
Whichever you decide to go for, it is important that you become a credentialed medical assistant in order to be the most competitive in the job market.
So, what are you waiting for?
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