A Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) is a medical assistant who has completed training and met the requirements to earn certification. The CMA credential is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and requires passing certain certification requirements, such as graduating from an accredited medical assistant program and passing a certification examination. To be eligible for the CMA certification, you need to complete a medical assistant training program accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
CMAs perform both clinical and administrative duties in a complex and potentially fast-paced environment, requiring a unique blend of technical and human skills to support physicians, patients, and hospital staff as efficiently as possible. They have been educated and tested in a wide scope of general, clinical, and administrative responsibilities as outlined in the Content Outline for the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam.
Some of the most common skills required of professional CMAs include:
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Technical skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Organizational skills
- Analytical skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Multitasking abilities
The CMA (AAMA) is the only medical assisting certification that requires graduation from a postsecondary medical assisting program accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) .
