Medical Assisting: The Profession Lesson 3: Certification and Career Opportunities for the MA

1. Medical Assisting: The Profession Lesson 3: Certification and Career Opportunities for the MA 1

2. Lesson Objectives Upon completion of this lesson, students should be able to … • Discuss the professional organizations that certify medical assistants. • Identify career opportunities available to medical assistants and give examples of areas in which you may choose to work.

3. MA Certifying Organizations • AAMA • American Association of Medical Assistants • AMT • American Medical Technologists • NCCT • National Center for Competency Testing • NHA • National Healthcareer Association

4. Critical Thinking Question • Should medical assistants become certified, and if so why?

5. American Association of Medical Assistants • Key association in the field of medical assisting • Headquarters located in Chicago, Illinois • Offers CMA (AAMA) credentials • Sponsors events to assist MAs in remaining current in their field

6. Critical Thinking Question • What qualifies an individual to sit for the CMA exam?

7. AAMA Certification Exam • Offered to graduates of programs accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES • Computerized exams are available throughout the year • Certification indicates that the candidate has met the standards of the AAMA for being an MA To learn more about the AAMA Certification exam, click here or visit http://www.aama-ntl.org

8. American Medical Technologists • Nonprofit certifying body • Provides a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification exam for MAs • RMA is awarded to candidates who pass the AMT certification exam • RMA certification exam focuses on three areas: • General medical assisting knowledge • Administrative medical assisting • Clinical medical assisting

9. Critical Thinking Question • What would qualify an individual to take the AMT certification exam?

10. AMT Certification Requirements for Applicants First – be of good moral character! Graduate of: MA program accredited by ABHES or CAAHEP OR; postsecondary school or college accredited by the Regional Accrediting Commission OR; a national accrediting organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education

11. AMT Certification Requirements for Applicants Graduate must have completed a minimum of 720 clock-hours or equivalent of training in MA skills or formal medical training in the U.S. Armed Forces Applicant must also have recent MA experience

12. General Medical Assisting Knowledge • Anatomy and physiology • Medical terminology • Medical law • Medical ethics • Human rights • Patient education

13. Administrative Medical Assisting • Insurance • Financial bookkeeping • Medical secretarial – receptionist

14. Clinical Medical Assisting • Asepsis • Sterilization • Instruments • Vital signs • Physical examinations • Clinical pharmacology • Minor surgery • Therapeutic modalities • Laboratory procedures • Electrocardiography • First Aid

15. Registered Medical Assistants With additional experience, RMAs can apply for the Certified Medical Administrative Specialist credential (CMAS) For more information on the AMT RMA certification exam and the CMAS AMT credential click here or visit the following website: http://www.amt1.com

16. National Center for Competency Testing • Issue the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) credential • Candidate must be a high school graduate and have completed an MA program or provide documentation of two years of MA experience under the training and direction of a physician • Continuation of certification requires 14 hours per year of continuing education

17. National Certified Medical Office Assistant NCMOA Offered by the National Center for Competency Testing Applicants for exam must have at least one year experience as an MA or be a graduate of an approved MA program For more information on the NCCT click here or visit the following website: http://www.ncctinc.com

18. National Healthcareer Association • Founded in 1989 • Grants the following two credentials: • Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) • Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) To learn more about this organization click here or visit http://www.nhanow.com

19. National Healthcareer Association • Qualified applicant must: • Be over 18 years of age • Be a high school graduate • Have 2 years of work in the field in which they certify • Pass a professional examination To learn more about this organization click here or visit http://www.nhanow.com

20. Critical Thinking Questions • What do you think the job outlook in the future for MAs might be? • What factors might impact the growth of the field of medical assisting?

21. Statistics on Jobs in Medical Assisting • According to the U.S. Department of Labor • MAs held about 417,000 jobs in 2006 • 62% were employed by physician offices • 12% held positions in public and private hospitals • About 11% worked in the offices of other health care practitioners • 15% were employed in other health care industries • Projections are that the field of medical assisting from 2002-2012 will be a fast-growing occupation For more information on these statistics click here or visit http://www.bls.gov/oco

22. Clinic aid Data processing clerk Billing or collection assistant Insurance claims coder Medical records clerk Multifunctional technician With additional training other jobs include: Medical laboratory assistant ECG technician Phlebotomist Job Title Opportunities for MAs

23. Questions?