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Milestones in certification history
A group from among the first examinees in Miami, Fla., in 1963.
Guess which of these examinees became the 1967 AAMA President?
Click here for the answer.
In 1963, the first AAMA CMA Certification Exams were conducted in California, Kansas, and Florida.
A total of 112 medical assistants registered for the exams. The American Medical Association (AMA) helped in developing the first tests.
Here's how certification has evolved over the years:
1961 The Certifying Board was established.
1962 A sample exam was offered.
1963 The first exams were conducted.
1977 The National Board of Medical Examiners
was engaged as the test consultant.
1978 The exam was given in January and June
at test centers nationwide.
1980 CMAs could recertify by continuing education or exam.
1998 Requirement that exam candidates be graduates
of a medical assisting program accredited by
the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
Education Programs (CAAHEP) went into effect.
1999 Graduates of medical assisting programs accredited by
the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
became eligible candidates for the exam.
2002 A CMA pin journeyed into space on board a NASA shuttle.
2003 Recertification became mandatory to use the CMA credential.
The October exam was added.
2005 Health care provider level CPR became mandatory
to maintain the currency of the CMA.
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Answer: Elvera Fischer, RN, CMA-C, far right.
Past AAMA presidents
1957 †Maxine Williams, CMA-A
(KS) |
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1982 Mabel Ann Veech, CMA-A
(FL) |
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| 1958 Mary Kinn, CMA-A, CPS (CA) |
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1983 †Betty Mays, CMA-A (AZ) |
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| 1959 †Lucille Swearingen (OK) |
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1984 Janet Connell, CMA-A (KY) |
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| 1960 †Marian Little (IA) |
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1985 Ivy Relkin, CMA-AC (NY) |
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| 1961 Bettye Baldwin (IN) |
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1986 Margaret Corcoran,
CMA-AC (NJ) |
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| 1962 †Lillie Woods (CA) |
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1987 Josephine Estrada, RN,
CMA-AC (TX) |
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| 1963 Alice Budny (WI) |
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1988 Ann Jordana, CMA-AC, RT
(FL) |
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1964 Judy Coleman, CMA-AC
(TX) |
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1989 Barbara Parker, CMA-AC
(WA) |
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| 1965 †Rose Merritt (GA) |
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1990 Juanita Blocker, CMA-C,
LPN (AL) |
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| 1966 †Marge Slaymaker (KS) |
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1991 Jean Keenon, MA, Ed,
CMA-A (AL) |
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1967 Elvera Fischer, RN, CMA-C
(IL) |
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1992 Mary Lou Allison, CMA-C
(FL) |
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1968 Margaret Webber, CMA-C
(OH) |
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1993 Janice Caplan, CMA-A (NY) |
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1969 †Mildred Crawford,
CMA-AC (TX) |
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1994 Geneva Straughan, MBA,
CMA-AC (TX) |
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| 1970 †Ruth Dize (VA) |
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1995 Cheryl Vineyard, CMA,
POLT (NM) |
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| 1971 †Marie Young (IN) |
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1996 Ima Backstrom, CMA (AR) |
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| 1972 †Helen Stephens (UT) |
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1997 Carol Clapp, CMA, EMT
(TN) |
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1973 Elisabeth Massey, CMA-AC
(CA) |
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1998 Norma Parker, CMA (NE) |
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1974 Marian Cooper, CMA-C
(PA) |
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1999 Glenda Cartee, CMA (SC) |
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1975 Betty Lou Willey, CMA-AC
(MI) |
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2000 Joyce Nakano, CMA-A (CA) |
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1976 Laura Haynes, CMA-AC
(OH) |
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2001 Mary Dey, CMA-AC (MI) |
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| 1977 Joan Michaels, CMA-A (NC) |
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2002 Julianna Drumheller, CMA
(VA) |
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| 1978 †Jeanne Bloom, CMA-A (IA) |
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2003 Luella Wetherbee, CMA,
CPC (ID) |
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1979 †Wini Schwartz, CMA-AC
(CA) |
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2004 Theresa Rieger, CMA, CPC
(OK) |
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1980 †Jean Mobley, CMA-AC
(TX) |
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2005 Lee Damon, CMA (NY) |
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| 1981 Dot Sellars, CMA-A (VA) |
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†Deceased |
In 1955, the Kansas Medical Assistants Society initiated a meeting in Kansas City to consider the formation of the national organization.
A total of 78 representatives from 15 states attended the meeting.
The organizing states voted on and officially accepted the name, the American Association of Medical Assistants.
To get the ball rolling, the 78 representatives each donated $5 to an interim fund for organizational purposes.
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October 26–28, 1956
Pfister Hotel,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Attendance: 250 people,
representing 16 states
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September 8–12, 2006
Hilton Hotel,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
600+ people expected
including representatives
of 43 states
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The charter meeting
Just one year later, 250 people attended the charter meeting in Milwaukee, Wis.
During a three-day period, meeting attendants adopted a formal constitution and bylaws, and elected a core of officers.
The first educational sessions for medical assistants were offered at this meeting.
And so, the 1956 meeting goes down in history as the charter meeting of the AAMA.
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The first 15 States
that participated
in the forming of
the association:
Arkansas
California
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Missouri
Nebraska
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Virginia
Wisconsin
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The woman who started it all
Maxine Williams, CMA-A
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When Maxine Williams, CMA-A, entered the world, she was so small that her mother's wedding band made a golden bracelet for her tiny wrist.
Today the name of this petite lady looms large in the AAMA.
Williams cofounded the AAMA in 1956 and became the AAMA's first president.
She started the AAMA based on the conviction that the health care field would benefit greatly from an organization of medical office employees.
Williams believed so strongly in the profession that she wanted to share it with others.
In 1959, she donated $200 to start a fund to help needy students pursue their medical assisting studies.
The AAMA later named this fund the Maxine Williams Scholarship Fund. In honor of her dedication to the association,
Williams was presented the Life Member Award in 1976. |
From left: Judy Coleman, CMA-AC, W. Hall, MD,
Lucille Swearingen, Carmen Kline, CMA-A,
with Maxine Williams, CMA-A. |
Maxine Williams, CMA-A, conducting a leadership
seminar at Sacred Heart General Hospital in Eugene, Oregon, in September 1966. |
Williams also made a name for herself in the Radiologists Business Managers Association (RBMA).
She became a member of the RBMA's first Board of Directors, edited the association's first publication,
and maintained its headquarters in her home. For all of her efforts,
Williams was appointed Executive Secretary of the RBMA and later was conferred the title of Executive Secretary Emeritus.
Williams passed away in January 1984. For such a petite woman, she reached great heights. |
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