Medical Administrative Assistants oversee front-office operations — scheduling appointments, managing medical records, processing billing and insurance claims, and facilitating patient communications—to ensure efficient, accurate, and compassionate care. Follow this NPS guide to earn your Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) credential.
The first step to your career as a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) is to attend a training program. Edina, Minnesota is home to many state attributed medical assisting training programs that will prepare students for a Medical Administrative Assistant career. A Medical Administrative Assistant training program consists of 40–80 in-class hours delivered entirely in the classroom. In Edina, the typical class size ranges from about 10 to 30 students.
One of the most essential factors to consider when comparing a program is its accreditation and adherence to professional standards. Program accreditation is an official endorsement granted to schools or programs that meet established national standards of education, hands-on training, and educational rigor. In medical assisting, attending an accredited training program ensures that you receive comprehensive education that is aligned with healthcare quality expectations.
After completing a medical assisting training program, you will receive a certificate of completion, which is often misinterpreted. This document does not make you a certified medical administrative assistant. It simply confirms that you’ve finished training and allows you to take the national certification exam — especially important for those with zero experience.
To officially become certified, students must pass an exam from a recognized agency such as National Performance Specialists (NPS). NPS helps set national standards, develops the certification exams, and maintains a registry of certified professionals.
Certification must be updated every two years, and completing continuing education is a mandatory requirement for renewal if the a certification holder does not wish to take an additional exam. This ensures that Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) remain current with the latest industry standards, techniques, and compliance measures. Most certifying agencies provide straightforward guidelines on the total and type of continuing education hours required, making it simple for professionals to maintain their credentials.
If you are planning to attend a medical assisting training program and would like an NPS adviser to double check that the program is legit, contact us today.
Upon gainful completion of a medical administrative assistant training school, you will get a Certificate of Completion. Your Certificate of Completion does not make you a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)’. This is a unquestionably common misunderstanding. A Certificate of Completion is used as proof of your successful completion of a medical administrative assistant training school and is required to sit for the national certification test for individuals who’ve acquired no experience in the field.
To become certified, a medical administrative assistant must have their competency put to the test by a third-party certification agency, like NPS. Once certified, a medical administrative assistant must renew their certification once every two years by completing Continuing Education. Continuing education can be completed in several ways, such as on-the-job workshops, online courses, webinars, or specialized training modules. These programs often cover the latest best practices, safety protocols, and technological advancements in medical assisting. Many professional organizations and certification agencies provide regularly updated continuing education resources to help medical administrative assistants expand and advance their skills.
There are a variety of certification agencies that medical administrative assistants can choose to become certified with, but selecting the best one can make a big difference in your career.
Pursuing medical assisting certification not only demonstrates your competency and commitment to quality care, but also creates opportunities for ongoing professional development. By regularly completing continuing education and professional growth opportunities, medical administrative assistants can sharpen their expertise, grow their professional network, and set themselves up for advancement within the healthcare field.
Many healthcare employers require certified candidates, making certification an valuable step toward becoming a strong applicant in the field.
The cost to become NPS Certified is $200.00 and includes an all-inclusive study guide, repeated practice exams, three final certification exam attempts, a professional resume revision, and job placement assistance. The entire process can be completed 100% online through the NPS learning management system, and is mobile friendly, allowing you to prepare at your own pace and from the ease of home. Be sure to verify whether your certifying agency provides complimentary materials or if there are separate charges for advanced resources.
Click to learn more about becoming a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA).
Once you have registered to take the competency exam, take advantage of a wide range of prep tools to boost your readiness. Many certification agencies offer resources such as thorough study guides, digital flashcards, practice questions, and interactive review platforms. When selecting prep tools, look for materials that closely align with the exam’s content outline and focus on both academic material and practical skills.
Consider following a study schedule that incorporates consistent study sessions, targeted practice in challenging topics, and regular use of complete practice exams to mirror the real test environment. This approach will help build your confidence and ensure you’re fully prepared for exam day.
In addition, sample tests are extremely useful for replicating the real test environment and spotting areas where you need further review. Some agencies, like NPS, offer repeated practice exams, while others up sell practice attempts.
After you have passed the final exam, your credentials are quickly inputted in the national registry and a digital copy of your certification is made available in your account. Your digital copy, paired with your NPS transcripts, should be downloaded and printed for use as proof of certification.
Now that you’re a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), you’re ready to begin your medical career in Edina, Minnesota. The field of medical assisting is a great starting point into the medical workforce, commonly pursued by aspiring nurses, nurse aides, medical administrative assistants, and medical laboratory technicians. Certified medical administrative assistants are in high demand across the healthcare industry due to the growth of healthcare services, a growing elderly population, and a rise in lab testing. This rising demand helps ensure a positive employment outlook, making medical assisting a reliable and worthwhile career choice.
Medical Administrative Assistants typically perform a standard 40-hour week and earn an average annual salary of approximately $43,380, though wages can fluctuate depending on region and experience. With increasing prospects and a brief training period, medical assisting is a efficient way to begin a meaningful healthcare career.
NPS works with multiple staffing agencies to help our members find a career in the medical administrative assisting field.
Certified Medical Administrative Assistant will have to renew their CMAA Certification every two years. A medical administrative assistant should start the process at least 30 days prior to the week their certification expires. This will permit the medical administrative assistant satisfactory time to review their continuing education hours and submit their renewal assessment. You will not need to go register to a medical administrative assisting course or attend a class to renew your certification.
The renewal process can be completed entirely online in the NPS learning management system. The cost to renew your certification for the next two year time period is $200.00. Renewing ensures your employer that you are dedicated to updating your knowledge in the medical assisting field.
If your certification lapses, many certifying agencies offer reinstatement options. The process typically involves completing any outstanding continuing education requirements, filing a renewal application, and processing a reinstatement fee. It’s important to check with your certifying body for specific guidelines and timeframes to restore your active status.
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A Certified Medical Administrative Assistant Instructor (CMAAI) is a highly talented medical administrative assistant with more than 5 years of experience in the field. Medical Administrative Assistant Instructors can teach for or own their own school. They’re needed for ensuring that students in their class are retaining the information provided by their curriculum. Every class in Edina, Minnesota should provide students details about the instructors background and credentials.
If a medical administrative assistant meets the requirements and wishes to become a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant Instructor (CMAAI) they can complete the entire process online. If you would prefer to speak with someone about the process, contact us today.
Click to learn more about becoming a Certified Medical Administrative Instructor (CMAAI).
National Performance Specialists is also partnered with the American Red Cross to provide job placement assistance to NPS Members and to assist the American Red Cross in recruiting quality candidates across the United States.
All NPS certification programs are proudly listed within the Certification Finder by CareerOneStop. CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration and is a proud partner of the AmericanJobCenter network.
