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 choose a training class. South Boston, Massachusetts is house to many state recognized medical assisting training programs that will prepare students for a Medical Administrative Assistant career. A Medical Administrative Assistant training program consists of forty to eighty in-class hours with no separate clinical rotations. In South Boston, the typical class size ranges from ten to thirty students.
One of the most crucial factors to consider when researching a program is its accreditation and adherence to quality benchmarks. Accreditation is a quality assurance granted to schools or programs that meet established national standards of curriculum, hands-on training, and educational rigor. In medical assisting, attending an accredited training program ensures that you receive appropriate education that is aligned with healthcare industry standards.
After finishing a medical assisting training program, you will receive a certificate of completion, which is often misinterpreted. This document does not make you nationally certified. It simply proves that you’ve finished training and allows you to take the national certification exam — especially important for those with limited experience.
To become certified, students must pass an exam from a recognized agency such as National Performance Specialists (NPS). NPS helps establish national standards, develops the certification exams, and maintains a registry of certified professionals.
Certification must be renewed every two years, and completing continuing education is a key 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 in compliance with the latest professional practices, procedures, and regulations. Most certifying agencies provide clear guidelines on the total and type of continuing education hours required, making it easy 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 your 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 extremely common misunderstanding. A Certificate of Completion is used as proof of successful completion of a medical administrative assistant training program and is required to take the national certification exam for individuals with no experience in the field.
To get certified, a medical administrative assistant must have their knowledge put to the test by a third-party credentialing agency, like NPS. Once certified, a medical administrative assistant must maintain their certification each 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 focus on the latest best practices, safety protocols, and technological advancements in medical assisting. Many professional credentialing bodies and certification agencies provide regularly updated continuing education resources to help medical administrative assistants expand and advance their skills.
There are several certification agencies that medical administrative assistants can choose to become certified with, but selecting the most recognized one can positively influence your career.
Earning medical assisting certification not only proves your competency and commitment to high standards, but also creates opportunities for ongoing professional development. By regularly completing continuing education and professional growth opportunities, medical administrative assistants can sharpen their knowledge, grow their professional network, and prepare themselves for advancement within the healthcare field.
Many healthcare employers require certified candidates, making certification an essential step toward becoming a strong applicant in the field.
The cost to become NPS Certified is $200.00 and includes a comprehensive study guide, repeated practice exams, three final certification exam attempts, a professional resume revision, and job placement assistance. The entire process can be completed entirely online through the NPS learning management system, and is mobile friendly, allowing you to prepare with flexibility and from the ease of home. Be sure to check whether your certifying agency provides complimentary materials or if there are additional costs for advanced resources.
Click to learn more about becoming a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA).
Once you have registered to sit for the competency exam, utilize a wide range of prep tools to enhance your readiness. Many certification agencies offer resources such as detailed 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 daily review, targeted practice in weaker areas, and regular use of complete practice exams to simulate the real test environment. This approach will help build your confidence and ensure you’re well prepared for exam day.
In addition, practice exams are invaluable for replicating the real test environment and identifying areas where you need further review. Some agencies, like NPS, offer repeated practice exams, while others charge extra for 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 available in your account. Your digital copy, along 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 South Boston, Massachusetts. The field of medical assisting is a great starting point into the medical field, 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 increased access to healthcare, an aging population, and more frequent diagnostic tests. This rising demand helps ensure a positive employment outlook, making medical assisting a stable and appealing 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 geography and experience. With increasing prospects and a relatively short training period, medical assisting is a great way to begin a fulfilling 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 need to renew their CMAA Certification after two years. A medical administrative assistant should begin the process at least 30 days prior to the day their credentials expires. This will permit the medical administrative assistant enough time to complete their continuing education hours and submit their renewal assessment. You will not have to go register to a school or attend a class to renew your certification.
The renewal process can be completed from start to finish online in the NPS learning management system. The cost to renew your credentials for the new two year is $200.00. Renewing ensures your employer that you are dedicated to updating your knowledge in the medical assisting field.
If your certification becomes inactive, many certifying agencies offer reinstatement options. The process typically involves finishing any outstanding continuing education requirements, filing a renewal application, and covering a reinstatement fee. It’s important to check with your certifying body for specific steps and cutoff dates to restore your active status.
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A Certified Medical Administrative Assistant Instructor (CMAAI) is a highly skilled medical administrative assistant with greater than 5 years of experience in the field. Medical Administrative Assistant Instructors can teach for or own their own school. They’re responsible for ensuring that students in their class are retaining the information provided by their curriculum. Every class in South Boston, Massachusetts should tell their 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 undergo the entire process online. If you would like to request to talk with someone regarding 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.
