Maintain Your Medical Assistant Qualifications
Youll need to maintain your national certification:
- Youll need to renew the CMA credential every 5 years by either retaking the CMA Exam or earning 60 re-certification points, of which at least half should be from AAMA-approved continuing education courses.
- To maintain the RMA credential, youll need to complete 30 Certification Continuing Program points every three years and renew your credential annually.
- To renew the NRCMA credential, youll need to maintain a valid CPR card and finish at least two Class A Continuing Education Units each year. Youll also need to maintain an annual membership with the NAHP.
Keep in mind that advancing your education remains a great way to fulfill the maintenance requirements for the CMA, RMA, and NRCMA credentials. Now may be the time to consider pursuing a bachelors degree in a healthcare-related field to both satisfy the continuing education requirements for national certification and advance your career.
2019 job growth projections from the Texas Workforce Commission are aggregated through the U.S. Department of Labor-Sponsored resource, Projections Central. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and employment data accessed July 2020.
Medical Assistant Career Outlook And Certification
Earnings
Job Growth
18%*
U.S. Career Institutes online Medical Assistant program is designed to prepare graduates for the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exam and the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant both offered by the National Healthcareer Association .
The average pass rate for all people taking the CCMA certification in 2021 was 78%…average pass rate for our graduates was 92%.
For full career outlook and certification information please visit our career and certification page.
Aniyah Greenwade
Meet Aniyah Greenwade, Medical Assistant graduate from U.S. Career Institute. Aniyah found U.S. Career Institute to be affordable and flexible which allowed her to work around her busy schedule. After completing the program Aniyah was able to pass the CCMA exam, offered by NHA and start a career in the medical field.
What Is A Medical Assistant
- Medical assistants complete clinical, administrative, and procedural tasks in a healthcare settings and serves as a liaison between doctors, nurses, patients, insurance companies, providers, and specialists.
- Medical assistants work in a variety of environments like hospitals, medical offices, outpatient facilities, and surgical centers.
The CHCP Medical Assistants Program is focused on continuous skill-building healthcare education and training. All credits earned to achieve a certificate have additional value! Credits can be transferred into our Health and Medical Administrative Services Associate Degree Program to give you the opportunity to advance your career into management roles in the future.
Are you ready to advance your future and career? Start your application now and take the first step to begin our Medical Assistant Program!
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Week Medical Assistant Program
To date, we have been unable to find any legitimate 4-week medical assistant programs. The quickest we have found is a six-week program provided by Phlebotomy Career Training as mentioned in the article abovebut make sure to read the description for the Phlebotomy Career Training online medical assistant program before enrolling.
Best Overall: Herzing Diploma In Medical Assisting

Herzing Diploma in Medical Assisting
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
We selected Herzing as the best overall because it offers three different levels of education to get you started on your path as a medical assistant. You can choose to complete a diploma or associate’s degree, or transfer your credits into your bachelor’s degree upon completion.
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Can complete in as little as 10 months
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Able to use credits to transfer into bachelors program
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Upon completion, you are eligible to sit for the certified clinical medical assistant exam
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Many opportunities for financial aid
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Must complete 180-hour externship to graduate
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Need to meet and interview with an admissions advisor
The Herzing diploma in medical assisting is a comprehensive 10-month online program that fully prepares you to sit for the CCMA exam upon completion. It is an excellent option for those who want to get started in the medical field with the opportunity to use credits to further their education in the future. Herzing offers three different programs for medical assisting. You can choose to complete a diploma, associate’s degree, or go on to complete your bachelor’s degree in a related program.
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Best Medical Assistant Schools In Texas For 2022
The medical assistant is the emerging and one of the most pursued fields in Texas, US. They are playing a crucial role in the healthcare industry today. The employment rate in this field is increasing rapidly from the last few years. The current estimate state that the employment for medical assistant will grow with the rate of 32%. One can get a job in this area, along with getting a decent salary without formal training. Building a successful career as a Medical Assistant is possible if you enroll in the accredited medical assistant programs in Texas.
Degree in medical assisting pushes you to do something good in healthcare for patients. Some of the top medical assistant schools in Texas are curated below.
This list contains information on popular and reliable MA classes. It has been prepared on the basis of ranking, cost, student-teacher ratio, subjects offered, etc. Pick the one that suits you best, and do not forget to research before enrolling yourself.
Medcerts Gave Me My Independence Back
MedCerts gave me my independence back. After traveling the world and dedicating myself to supporting my husband’s career, MedCerts gave me the opportunity to better myself and change not just my life but my families. I am a wife, a stay at home mom and I’m certified in CPC coding…here me roar. A huge shout out to my advisor for getting me enrolled and on the path to a new career. He is excellent at getting everything set up quickly and keeping you motivated.
Samantha Carley
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Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Faqs
WHAT DOES A CERTIFIED CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTANT JOB INVOLVE?
According to NHA, certified clinical medical assistants serve in a variety of functions that combine office operations and patient procedures. CCMA’s may coordinate patient scheduling, facilitate office visits and manage patient records, including Electronic Health Records . They may also assist with exams and procedures such as EKG, phlebotomy, and laboratory procedures.
ARE CCMAs THE SAME AS CNAs?
While CCMAs may serve in a variety of roles in the healthcare setting, including office processes, clinical procedures and patient management, Certified Nurses Assistants work full-time with patients and may help with basic care activities such as dressing, bathing, and moving patients while they are under medical care.
DO CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTANTS NEED CERTIFICATION?
The healthcare environment operates on the basis of professionalism, precision and dedication to patient welfare. Medical assistant certification may be required for many jobs. Earning a certification such as the CCMA establishes a medical assistant as a caring, responsible professional who has undergone a study and assessment program to validate their credentials.
IN WHAT FACILITIES DO CCMAs WORK?
CCMAs commonly work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare facilities, according to the BLS.
Best For Nationally Certified Medical Assistant: Purdue Medical Assisting Certificate
Purdue Medical Assisting Certificate
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Not an associates or bachelors degree program
Purdue Global is a subsidiary of the Purdue University system, which was ranked in the top 10 best public universities in the U.S. by The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education. It offers a variety of online diplomas and degrees, is well known in the healthcare community, and prepares you to take the NCMA exam once you are finished.
Purdue Global’s coursework is 100% online, and although some of it is self-paced, it is less flexible than other programs on our list. Each semester is 10 weeks in length, and you must complete 58 credits to finish the course, which takes about a year and a half.
We like that courses are instructor-led and include online seminars, communication through message boards, and a 160-hour hands-on externship to practice your skills before joining the workforce. You also get access to individualized tutoring if you need extra help to ensure you understand the material before sitting for the national exam.
The program is costly, at more than $21,000, but Purdue Global offers many ways to save, including the option to transfer prior education credits. It also has a financial aid program, and you may be eligible for various scholarships or grants. Purdue Global also offers deep discounts for active military and veterans and tuition reductions for employees of Purdue partner organizations.
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During Medical Assistant Training
During your education as a medical assistant youll be trained in a number of different areas, including clinical and administrative procedures. Your clinical studies will include drawing blood, collecting medical specimens for testing, taking vitals and other direct patient care tasks. Your administrative training will focus on charting, scheduling, filing and Microsoft Office suite. These are courses that any comprehensive education should provide for a Medical Assistant student.
National Center For Competency Testing
- Credential: National Certified Medical Assistant
- Initial requirements: Candidates for the certification exam must either be current students or graduated from an NCCT-authorized program within the past five years, have completed the military equivalent of a medical assistant training program, or have two years of relevant work experience. The exam costs $90 if taken within six months of graduation and $135 thereafter.
- Renewal: This credential must be renewed annually following the completion of 14 clock hours of continuing education and payment of a fee , although requirements and fees may vary for candidates with multiple NCCT certifications.
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Q Is Certification Available
Several national organizations offer certification to Texas medical assistants, and testing may be required. The following titles can be earned through these organizations:
- Certified Medical Assistant – American Association of Medical Assistants
- Registered Medical Assistant – American Medical Technologists
- National Certified Medical Assistant – National Center for Competency Testing
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant – National Healthcareer Association
Maintain The Aama Credential

The AAMA certification is valid for 60 months and can be maintained by examination or completing 60 continuing education units across the following content areas: general , administrative , clinical , and any combination of the three content areas .
These are the steps necessary for the AAMA credential, and other certifying agencies have slightly different timelines and requirements.
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You Will Need To Pass An Examination As Part Of Your Medical Assistant Training
Just finishing the program will not be sufficient to let you become a medical assistant. You will first have to prove that you have properly understood what you learned in the program.
That is what the certification examination is for. As part of the examination, youll have to pay a fee. However, if you pick the right course, the examination fee will be included in the course cost.
You might hope that you could simply teach yourself about the medical industry and then take the examination to become a medical assistant. However, this is not possible. In order to apply to take the examination, you must submit a transcript proving that you have the necessary educational requirements.
The examination includes 200 multiple-choice questions. If you pass it, then it will be valid for five years. After five years, youll have to take it again to show that you still remember all of the information that is most important for working in the medical industry.
If you fail the exam the first time, you will be allowed to take it two more times. After a third failure, you will not be allowed to take it again.
Online Medical Assistant Programs Can Help You Get Your Certification
Medical assistant programs can be difficult. It is generally worth taking some time to find any way that you can to make them easier for you. That is where online programs can come in handy.
Online medical assistant programs allow you to learn about the medical industry from your own home. You can even continue taking them while traveling if you wish.
These programs provide all the same training that you will need to pass the certification exam. You can even take them multiple times if you want to make sure that you really understand enough to successfully take the examination.
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What Types Of Topics Are Covered In A Medical Assistant Program
Medical assistants are often required to perform both administrative and clinical tasks. Accordingly, Medical Assistant programs tend to focus on the key job duties outlined by the American Association of Medical Assistants . Additionally, students will be prepared to sit for certification exams to enable them to gain an edge in their careers.
Here is a snapshot of some of the clinical and administrative topics you can expect to cover in a medical assistant program:
- Clinical Topics: Students will learn how to perform tasks to support their medical teams. Examples include taking medical histories, preparing patients for their examinations, collecting lab specimens, drawing blood, changing dressings, removing sutures, and providing general instructions to patients.
- Administrative Topics: Students will learn how to work with front office staff to help tend to patients and paperwork. Examples of topics covered include appointment scheduling, greeting patients, using basic computer programs, updating patient records, and arranging admissions and lab services.
- Certification Preparation: Top medical assistant programs will focus on ensuring that students are prepared to sit for their certification in as little as 36 weeks. With Certified Medical Assistants earning an average of 6% more than non-certified medical assistants in Texas, this is a key program element to consider.
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Choosing The Right Medical Assistant Program Online
Before jumping into the first medical assistant certification online that you find, take time to do some research. Evaluate your personal situation with regards to time and money, as well as your aspirations. Taking the time to answer a few questions will ensure that you are on the right path to your educational goals.
What You’ll Learn During Your Online Medical Assistant Training
U.S. Career Institutes Medical Assistant course trains students with theoretical instruction and practical skills that prepare students to obtain entry-level, medical assistant positions in a physicians office or healthcare facility. Upon completion of the course, students will be trained to effectively perform administrative medical office duties and will be familiar with many clinical procedures.
- Medical Terminology
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Should You Get Your Medical Assistant Certification Online
If you are looking to get started in the medical field, working as a medical assistant is a great way to get started quickly and help you figure out if this is a good career choice. Although many local community colleges offer a certificate in medical assisting, online programs are an excellent choice for those who want a more flexible schedule and prefer to study at their own pace they’re great for those with other obligations like a job or family at home.
Many programs are relatively inexpensive and can open the door to many job opportunities upon completion. There also are many ways to advance your career, such as obtaining additional specialized certifications or getting a bachelor’s degree in a related field like nursing.
Can You Work As A Medical Assistant Without Being Certified

Yes, you can work as a medical assistant without being certified. Nevertheless, having a certification is highly recommended to help set you apart from the ever-increasing competition. You may also find that some employers will only hire candidates that have obtained certification from an accredited medical assistant program as well as proof of certification. You can earn a medical assistant associate degree.
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Do Clinical Medical Assistants Need Certification
The healthcare environment operates on the basis of professionalism, precision and dedication to patient welfare. Medical assistant certification may be required for many jobs. Earning a certification such as the CCMA establishes a medical assistant as a caring, responsible professional who has undergone a study and assessment program to validate their credentials.
Medical Assistant Certification In Texas
To be competitive as a medical assistant in Texas youll want to gain certification through medical assistant programs as many employers require a certificate. The American Medical Association AMA recognizes two certifications for medical assistants, the CMA or Certified Medical Assistant and the Registered Medical Assistant . Obtaining either certification will greatly enhance your job possibilities and compensation.
The American Association of Medical Assistants is the association that provides the certification giving CMA status. To achieve a RMA certificate, you must follow the certification process offered by AMT American Medical Technologists. The following chart displays the requisites to obtain a CMA or RMA certificate.
Certification Requirement |
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S To Become A Certified Medical Assistant
The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that aspiring medical assistants must typically attend a postsecondary education program lasting from one to two years, which includes instruction in subjects such as anatomy and medical terminology. While these steps may vary by certification desired and state of residence, here is one common route to becoming a CMA in the US: