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FAQs on CMA (AAMA) Certification For your convenience, here are answers to frequently asked questions regarding the CMA (AAMA) exam. If you do not see the answer to your question below, please contact us at certification@aama-ntl.org or call us at 800/228-2262 and ask to speak to a Certification staff representative.
Q. What are the requirements for CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam eligibility? A. To qualify for the exam, you must be in one of three enrollment categories described below. Category 1: Completing students and recent graduates of CAAHEP or ABHES accredited medical assisting programs. You are a candidate in this category if you have graduated from or are about to complete a medical assisting program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health (CAAHEP) or by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Category 2: Nonrecent graduates of a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited medical assisting program. You are a candidate in this category if you are a graduate of a medical assisting program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health (CAAHEP) or by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) whose graduation date is more than 12 months prior to the date your application is postmarked. Category 3: CMA (AAMA) recertificant You are a candidate in this category if you have previously passed the CMA (AAMA) Certification Examination and were awarded the CMA (AAMA) credential.
A. Completing students: For completing students, the chart can serve as a guide for determining when to apply so that you can take the exam in your preferred time period.
Recent and non-recent graduates: If you have already graduated, you may apply for the exam at your convenience or at the recommendation of your employer.
A. AAMA members and CAAHEP/ABHES graduating students and recent graduates pay a $125 candidate fee. All others pay $250. Applications that do not include proper payment may be returned and may delay your testing. You will not receive a scheduling permit if complete and valid payment has not been received. Personal checks are not accepted. Candidate fees must be paid by any of the following methods:
Candidate fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
A. The documentation required varies for each category: Category 1: No documentation is required from the applicant. After you have taken the exam, the AAMA Certifying Board will require program officials to verify that your program requirements, including a practicum, were completed. Completing students may take the CMA (AAMA) Certification Examination no more than 30 days prior to completing their formal education, including a practicum. The AAMA Certifying Board reserves the right to request an official transcript from you at any time if deemed necessary. Category 2: Nonrecent graduates must furnish their official transcript. The AAMA Certifying Board reserves the right to request a copy of your diploma, certificate or degree at any time if deemed necessary. Category 3: CMA (AAMA) recertificants must provide their CMA (AAMA) certificate number to verify previous CMA (AAMA) certification.
A. Mail your application, candidate fee and documentation (if necessary) in one envelope to: AAMA Certification A. No. We cannot accept faxed applications.
A. You will be informed of your application status within 45 days after your application postmark. Candidates who have met all application requirements will receive a Scheduling Permit that contains instructions for making a testing appointment. If your application is incomplete, you will receive a letter explaining the deficiencies. Reasons for which your application may be incomplete include the following:
If more than 45 days have elapsed from the time you submitted your application and you have not heard from us, you may inquire about your enrollment status by calling 800/228-2262 or via e-mail (certification@aama-ntl.org). You will need to provide the following information:
A. A Scheduling Permit with instructions for making an examination appointment at a test center will be issued to you once your payment has been received and your application has been approved. When you receive your permit, review and follow the instructions listed. To schedule an appointment, go to www.prometric.com and choose the Testing Program "American Association of Medical Assistants." This service is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. An e-mail confirming your appointment will be sent to you. A. The exam is computer based. It consists of 200 multiple choice questions covering topic areas that are listed in the Content Outline for the CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Examination. You will be allowed three (3) hours and fifteen (15) minutes—including a fifteen (15) minute tutorial that will demonstrate how to answer and review questions, change answers, and monitor your progress throughout the exam.
A. Your program director will be issued a form to verify that you met all program completion requirements. Official scores will not be released to candidates who take the exam more than 30 days prior to completing their program requirements and practicum.
A. Beginning in April 2009, all exam candidates will receive an unofficial pass/fail result immediately upon completion of the exam. An official report of the scores you achieved will be mailed to you within six to ten weeks after your exam date. Only candidates who have fulfilled all program and application requirements are eligible to receive an official score report. If you have not received an official exam score report within 12 weeks of the date you sat for the exam, contact the AAMA Certification Department.
A. Candidates who pass the exam and receive official notification of their scores will be awarded the CMA (AAMA) credential or recertification of their credential. All initial certificants and recertificants receive a CMA (AAMA) certificate and wallet card approximately nine weeks after the score reports are mailed. Initial certificants also receive a complimentary CMA (AAMA) pin. Certification status is a matter of public record and may be released. Due to the reputation of the credential as being the gold standard for the profession, greater numbers of employers are preferring (or even insisting) that their medical assistants be CMAs (AAMA). Each day numerous employers contact the AAMA to verify the CMA (AAMA) certification status of current or potential medical assistant employees. CMAs (AAMA) comprise the majority of credentialed medical assistants in the work force today.
A. If your unofficial result indicates that you did not pass, you may submit an application and candidate fee at your earliest convenience.
A. Two important reasons that you would not be eligible for the exam are as follows: 1. If you are not attending or have not graduated from a medical assisting program that is CAAHEP or ABHES accredited or that was CAAHEP or ABHES accredited within three years of your graduation from the program, you are not eligible for the exam. There are no exceptions to this policy and there are no refunds. You may contact AAMA certification staff to inquire about your eligibility; however, final determinations are made only upon review of submitted exam applications. 2. Generally, individuals who have been found guilty of a felony, or pleaded guilty to a felony, are not eligible to take the CMA (AAMA) Exam. However, the Certifying Board may grant a waiver based upon mitigating circumstances, which may include, but need not be limited to, the following:
If you wish to request that the Certifying Board permit you to take the test, submit written evidence of mitigating circumstances prior to applying for the exam or with your exam application, which—in your opinion—demonstrates that your felony conviction or plea should not prevent you from taking the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam. A Request for Waiver Form may be obtained by contacting the AAMA Certification staff. |
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