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Meet employer requirements
75% of employers require or encourage certification for medical administrative assistants.
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Access better career opportunities
30% of employers believe that medical administrative assistants have more responsibility in 2020, compared to 2019.
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Maximize earning potential
A medical administrative assistant's salary ranges from $25,390–$51,890, according to the BLS in 2019.
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Enhance knowledge
and skills
Professionalism and dependability are the most important soft skills employers are looking for, when hiring a medical administrative assistant.
Certified medical administrative assistants make a difference every day
Medical administrative assistants (also called medical office assistants or medical secretaries) are critical in keeping healthcare offices running smoothly, and also play an important role in the patient experience. Tasks vary by setting, but may include:- Reviewing and answering practice correspondence
- Operating computer systems to accomplish office tasks
- Answering calls and scheduling appointments
- Greeting patients and updating electronic medical records
- Updating and maintaining patient and other practice-specific information
- Coordinating operation reports such as time and attendance
- Operating office software and equipment
NHA partners with educators and employers across the United States to educate, train and certify medical administrative assistants. Find a job near you to start your journey toward this rewarding and in-demand career.
Visit our Job Board
75% of employers require or encourage certification for medical administrative assistants. (Source: 2020 Industry Outlook)
CMAA exam eligibility
Possess a high school diploma
or GED/high school equivalency
Completed a medical administrative assistant
training or education program within the last 5 years
Possess a high school diploma
or GED/high school equivalency
1 year of supervised work experience in medical
administrative assistant field within the last 3 years
Being NHA certified has allowed me the opportunity to not just have a job, but have a CAREER! Lupee Beauchamp, CMAA, CCMA
5 steps to medical administrative assistant certification
- Apply for your exam
Create a free NHA account online, anytime, and submit your Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam application through your account portal.
- Set a date
Select the date and location–online or in-person–for your exam. (A CMAA exam fee payment is required during this step.)
- Prepare, prepare, prepare
Time to study! We're here to support you. We have study materials available, including an interactive study guide and CMAA practice test.
- Take the exam
You'll take the exam either at your school, a PSI testing center near you or through live remote proctoring at the location of your choice.
- Get your results
For online CMAA exams, NHA will officially post your certification results to your account page within two days of scoring your test.
Is your school or employer sponsoring your exam?
When you create your NHA account, be sure to select your organization type, school or training program, or employer in order to:
- Access any pre-purchased materials or exams available to you
- Take advantage of possible discounts
- Share your exam results with your school or employer
Ready to get your certification?
Prepare for your certification exam
Access proven CMAA exam preparation materials that are designed to help you succeed.
*The purchase of NHA exam preparation materials is not required to sit for any NCCA-accredited certification exam and use does not guarantee a passing score on an exam. All NHA exams are NCCA-accredited.
Changes are coming to CMAA certification exam and study materials
Updates are coming to NHA's Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam and prep. The new exam will launch on March 15, 2023. Updated study materials aligned to the new exam will be available beginning on December 13, 2022.
Why is the CMAA exam changing?
As the healthcare industry evolves, so do the roles and responsibilities of our healthcare workers. As your trusted certification provider, we work hard to ensure all NHA certifications accurately represent the skills and competencies needed to be successful in today's healthcare setting.
How much is the CMAA exam changing?
After a thorough job task analysis study with industry professionals, our CMAA exam will be updated with minimal impact to domains and content areas. There will not be a pilot scoring period. However, we do want to make you aware that updates have been made to the test plan for the upcoming exam update.
NEW exciting changes coming CMAA study materials!
The updated study materials will feature changes in both content and function. Content within the new study materials will be slightly different, as it was developed in alignment with the new CMAA exam test plan.
Additionally, you can also expect several new interactivity features to help learners stay engaged and retain new knowledge throughout their learning process. Several of the new feature include:
- EHR activities
- Case studies
- Fillable 1500 form
- End-of-module quizzes
- And more!
How can I prepare?
Check out the resources below to help prepare for the upcoming CMAA update and continue to check back for more information.
Preparing your students or healthcare team for their CMAA exam?
Talk to a certification specialist & see how easy it is to get started with your partners at NHA!
Renew your certification
Keeping your certification current is a small investment (just $7 per month!) that can help you achieve your career goals as a medical office assistant.
Certifications must be renewed every two years
There is no penalty for renewing early
Before your expiration date:
- Complete 10 continuing education credits
- Pay your recertification fee
If your certification has expired, you have 1 year to reinstate it
Learn More About Recertification Renewal
Continuing Education
- 10 Continuing Education (CE) credits are required every two years to maintain certification
- NHA's continuing education courses are free to current certification holders
- You can complete your 10 CE credits any time prior to your certification expiration and our CE library is available online 24/7
- Our CE library is continuously updated so you can learn the latest protocols and techniques
Learn More About Continuing Education ‣
Need to renew your certification?