Medical Assistant certification is a nationally recognized standard that confirms a professional has met the competency requirements to perform a range of clinical and administrative tasks in a healthcare setting. Maintaining this credential demonstrates a commitment to current best practices, which employers often require for continued employment. Certification renewal is a periodic process, typically required every two to five years, that must be completed to ensure the professional’s credibility and marketability remain current in a continuously evolving healthcare field.
Identify Your Certifying Organization
The first step in the renewal process is determining which organization issued your original credential, as this body dictates the specific requirements. Unlike some licensed professions, Medical Assistants are certified by private, national organizations, not state boards, meaning the renewal rules are set by the certifying agency. You must confirm whether you hold the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), or Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential.
Locating this information is straightforward and usually involves checking your physical documentation. Your original paper certificate, wallet card, or employment records should clearly display the credential’s acronym and the name of the issuing body. Accessing the organization’s website and searching for your name or certification number is another way to quickly verify the correct entity and the current status of your certification.
Understanding the Core Renewal Requirements
Regardless of the specific certifying organization, maintaining your Medical Assistant credential requires three universal components. First, the professional must successfully complete the required number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) within the designated cycle to demonstrate ongoing competence. Second, a formal renewal application must be submitted to the certifying body, often through an online portal, before the expiration date.
The third component involves the payment of an associated renewal fee, which covers the administrative costs of processing the application and maintaining the credential. Most certification cycles are two years long, though some may extend to three or five years. Failure to complete these three steps by the expiration date can result in the credential becoming inactive, which often prohibits the professional from working as a certified Medical Assistant.
Strategies for Earning and Tracking Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
The accumulation of required Continuing Education Units (CEUs), typically measured in contact hours, is often the most time-consuming part of the renewal process. Professionals can earn these units through a variety of methods approved by their certifying body, including formal online courses and self-paced modules offered directly by the organization. Attending professional seminars, workshops, and national conferences are also effective ways to earn multiple CEUs.
Other approved sources include completing college-level courses relevant to medical assisting, participating in employer-provided in-service training, or taking quizzes associated with professional journal articles. Maintaining meticulous documentation is necessary for all CE activities, especially for credits earned outside the certifying body’s direct offerings. Professionals should keep all certificates of completion, course syllabi, and attendance records, as these documents will be required in the event of an audit. Many certifying organizations provide an online portal where CEUs can be logged throughout the renewal cycle, allowing the Medical Assistant to monitor their progress.
Specific Renewal Processes by Credential
The requirements for renewal vary based on the organization that issued the original credential. The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential, administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), requires renewal every five years. CMA professionals must accumulate 60 continuing education units (CEUs) during this cycle, with at least 30 of those units being AAMA-approved.
These 60 points must include a minimum of 10 units each in administrative, clinical, and general categories. The renewal fee typically ranges from $80 for members to $160 for non-members.
The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential, offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), requires a two-year renewal cycle. CCMA professionals must complete 10 total CE credits to maintain their certification, where one NHA credit equals two hours of continuing education. The renewal cost for the CCMA generally falls in the range of $179 to $185 for non-members.
The Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential, administered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT), operates on a three-year cycle but requires an annual renewal fee. RMA professionals must earn 30 Certification Continuation Program (CCP) points over the three-year period. The annual renewal fee for the RMA is approximately $75.
What to Do If Your Credential Has Lapsed
A lapsed credential occurs when a Medical Assistant fails to complete the renewal requirements by the designated expiration date. An inactive certification means the individual cannot perform duties requiring the credential, which can lead to termination or a change in job role. The path back to active status depends entirely on the length of time the certification has been expired.
Many organizations offer a grace period or a reinstatement pathway for a short lapse, typically within one year past the expiration date. For example, the NHA allows CCMA holders to reinstate a certification expired for less than a year by completing 15 CE credits instead of the standard 10, plus an additional reinstatement fee of approximately $99.
Longer lapses often require more stringent measures. The AAMA requires a CMA whose credential has been expired for more than three months to forfeit the CEU option and instead successfully retake the certification examination. Professionals with a lapse of several years, such as 10 years for the AMT RMA, must nearly always re-examine to prove current competency. Reinstatement through the CEU pathway usually requires paying back all missed annual fees and a substantial reactivation fee, in addition to submitting proof of all required CEUs.