It’s the only medical assisting certification that uses exams developed in collaboration with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), the same organization that lends its expertise to developing the national Medical Licensing Examination for physicians. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), pharmacists make a median annual salary of $126,120 (2018), though salaries range between just over $87,000 to over $161,000 per year. Books. This is where you need to do some real thinking and decision-making on your own. Employers are more likely to hire Certified Medical Assistants (CMA), and typically offer higher pay to job candidates that have been certified.In order to be eligible to sit for the CMA exam, you must complete a medical assistant training program through an accredited school. A quality medical assistant program offers you a path towards certification and a career with all kinds of opportunities, lightning-fast job growth and a respectable salary starting your first day in the field—all without getting buried in a mountain of student debt. Learn how to become a home health aide in your state. Both generally run anywhere from 9 – 18 months in length depending on scheduling and structure. Learn more about a medical assistant salary. Medical assistant salary and hourly wages are influenced by many factors. There are a number … Both come with the same level of respect and recognition from employers, and both open up the same opportunities for jobs the field. We’ll be filling in those major steps with all the important details and breaking the whole process down for you step-by-step, from the education and field experience you need to do the work, to the certification you need to get your resume out there and land a job. The next step, once you complete your medical assistant training requirements, is applying to take your certification exam and pay the fees. These kinds of positions are a great fit for candidates with strong people skills, but who would rather perform office tasks than help with clinical procedures, and the CMAA is the best way to hone your skills for that branch of the profession. These programs usually take about 1 year to complete, a few as little as six to nine months. The first and fastest way to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. The American Academy of Physicians Assistants secures online scholarship information. That’s because the credits you earn in a traditional medical assistant Associate of Science are transferrable, and can be applied to a bachelor’s in many other fields later on. The program prepares you to be eligible to take the CMA (AAMA) certification examination to become a Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) or CMA (AAMA). Costs are often higher for out of state students, and those who want to obtain an associate’s degree can expect to pay the most as this is a longer course and goes more in depth. Professional Certification Keeps Professional Practice Standards High and Patients Safe. Criminal background check. The mission of the American Association of Medical Assistants is to provide the medical assistant professional with education, certification, credential acknowledgment, networking opportunities, scope-of-practice protection, and advocacy for quality patient-centered health care. Learn how to become a pharmacy tech in your state. The NHA allows you to hold both of these medical assistant certifications at the same time, as well as other relevant NHA certs. 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