Ahead of the Curve: How to Plan for Your Certification Deadline

7 May, 03:12 PM
Review best practices for recertification planning.

 

Originally published December 3, 2022
Updated June 24, 2025

Are you hoping to recertify your CMA (AAMA)® credential before it expires but need a plan of action? Do you have trouble keeping track of dates due to your various responsibilities? The AAMA has your back!

CMAs (AAMA) must recertify every 60 months to ensure their continuing knowledge and competency. This requirement maintains the credential’s gold standard but requires careful planning to prevent an expired credential.

When planning to recertify, knowing the paths available to you is essential. To recertify a CMA (AAMA) credential, medical assistants can either take the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam or fulfill continuing education requirements.

Recertifying via continuing education allows medical assistants to brush up on and discover relevant topics in the profession, including working with patients of certain ages and with various conditions. Visit the “Find CEUs” webpage to discover resources for accumulating recertification points. One such resource is the AAMA e-Learning Center, which makes continuing education accessible and flexible, with 24/7 availability and remote access. With such flexibility available, you are sure to recertify with ease. Also, visit the “Find CEUs” webpage to learn how you can earn free AAMA CEUs and submit two-year CPR (and basic life support) cards for CEUs.

Medical assistants must acquire 60 recertification points to recertify by continuing education, with 30 or more being AAMA-approved continuing education units (CEUs), although medical assistants are welcome to acquire all 60 points from AAMA-approved sources.

Recertification points are available in three content areas—general, administrative, and clinical. Recertifying medical assistants must have at least 10 recertification points from each category included in their overall 60 recertification points. You can visit the AAMA e-Learning Center to discover the various CE courses.

CMAs (AAMA) work hard and deserve tools for a simple recertification process. The AAMA has some simple tips for planning for recertification and helping ensure that you are on schedule to earn all required CEUs.

Planning for recertification is a critical part of the process. Several strategies support a smooth recertification process for CMAs (AAMA) and provide comfort in having a distinct plan in place:

Fill in your calendar. A physical or digital calendar can prevent you from forgetting crucial dates for acquiring CEUs and deadlines for recertification. Dates like recertification deadlines or the AAMA Annual Conference can feel far away but quickly approach when wrapped up in the busyness of daily life. Being proactive by documenting critical dates and deadlines can help you avoid the anxiety of an expired credential.

Build a medical assisting community. Developing a strong community of people with similar goals uplifts you and motivates you to stay on track. Connecting with other medical assistants through work, social media, or AAMA state society and local chapter meetings can be a gateway for finding friends who value the integrity of their work just like you. You can form study groups, work on continuing education, and talk about your goals in the medical assisting profession. You can easily find your local chapter or state society and connect with their webpages via the AAMA website. By forming a community, you hold yourself accountable and inspire one another to be the best medical assistants possible, developing the profession with your knowledge.

Use a day planner. Day planners help students and workers tackle daily tasks and visualize their to-do lists. A day planner helps prioritize tasks and develop a practical and productive schedule that accommodates your goals. Adding tasks for recertification to your planner weaves your plan into your daily life and tracks your progress on acquiring CEUs. A detailed planner breaks down tasks and keeps recertification from becoming overwhelming.

Take care of yourself. Before you can balance work, education, and your personal life, you must practice self-care. By taking time throughout the day to drink water, eat well-balanced meals, and get proper rest, you put yourself in a better position to reach your goals. Remember to care for your physical and mental health and leave time for your favorite activities outside work and school. A well-rounded social life and engagement in hobbies encourage a happy and healthy life overall.

Many strategies exist for planning your CMA (AAMA) recertification, and the AAMA is here to help guide you through the process. By being diligent about deadlines and priorities, making friends in the profession, and taking care of yourself, you are on your way to stress-free recertification and are bound to learn a great deal along the way.

You can learn more about the policies and requirements for recertifying via continuing education by reviewing the CMA (AAMA) Recertification by Continuing Education Application.

 

Ahead of the Curve: How to Plan for Your Certification Deadline

7 May, 03:12 PM
Review best practices for recertification planning.

 

Originally published December 3, 2022
Updated June 24, 2025

Are you hoping to recertify your CMA (AAMA)® credential before it expires but need a plan of action? Do you have trouble keeping track of dates due to your various responsibilities? The AAMA has your back!

CMAs (AAMA) must recertify every 60 months to ensure their continuing knowledge and competency. This requirement maintains the credential’s gold standard but requires careful planning to prevent an expired credential.

When planning to recertify, knowing the paths available to you is essential. To recertify a CMA (AAMA) credential, medical assistants can either take the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam or fulfill continuing education requirements.

Recertifying via continuing education allows medical assistants to brush up on and discover relevant topics in the profession, including working with patients of certain ages and with various conditions. Visit the “Find CEUs” webpage to discover resources for accumulating recertification points. One such resource is the AAMA e-Learning Center, which makes continuing education accessible and flexible, with 24/7 availability and remote access. With such flexibility available, you are sure to recertify with ease. Also, visit the “Find CEUs” webpage to learn how you can earn free AAMA CEUs and submit two-year CPR (and basic life support) cards for CEUs.

Medical assistants must acquire 60 recertification points to recertify by continuing education, with 30 or more being AAMA-approved continuing education units (CEUs), although medical assistants are welcome to acquire all 60 points from AAMA-approved sources.

Recertification points are available in three content areas—general, administrative, and clinical. Recertifying medical assistants must have at least 10 recertification points from each category included in their overall 60 recertification points. You can visit the AAMA e-Learning Center to discover the various CE courses.

CMAs (AAMA) work hard and deserve tools for a simple recertification process. The AAMA has some simple tips for planning for recertification and helping ensure that you are on schedule to earn all required CEUs.

Planning for recertification is a critical part of the process. Several strategies support a smooth recertification process for CMAs (AAMA) and provide comfort in having a distinct plan in place:

Fill in your calendar. A physical or digital calendar can prevent you from forgetting crucial dates for acquiring CEUs and deadlines for recertification. Dates like recertification deadlines or the AAMA Annual Conference can feel far away but quickly approach when wrapped up in the busyness of daily life. Being proactive by documenting critical dates and deadlines can help you avoid the anxiety of an expired credential.

Build a medical assisting community. Developing a strong community of people with similar goals uplifts you and motivates you to stay on track. Connecting with other medical assistants through work, social media, or AAMA state society and local chapter meetings can be a gateway for finding friends who value the integrity of their work just like you. You can form study groups, work on continuing education, and talk about your goals in the medical assisting profession. You can easily find your local chapter or state society and connect with their webpages via the AAMA website. By forming a community, you hold yourself accountable and inspire one another to be the best medical assistants possible, developing the profession with your knowledge.

Use a day planner. Day planners help students and workers tackle daily tasks and visualize their to-do lists. A day planner helps prioritize tasks and develop a practical and productive schedule that accommodates your goals. Adding tasks for recertification to your planner weaves your plan into your daily life and tracks your progress on acquiring CEUs. A detailed planner breaks down tasks and keeps recertification from becoming overwhelming.

Take care of yourself. Before you can balance work, education, and your personal life, you must practice self-care. By taking time throughout the day to drink water, eat well-balanced meals, and get proper rest, you put yourself in a better position to reach your goals. Remember to care for your physical and mental health and leave time for your favorite activities outside work and school. A well-rounded social life and engagement in hobbies encourage a happy and healthy life overall.

Many strategies exist for planning your CMA (AAMA) recertification, and the AAMA is here to help guide you through the process. By being diligent about deadlines and priorities, making friends in the profession, and taking care of yourself, you are on your way to stress-free recertification and are bound to learn a great deal along the way.

You can learn more about the policies and requirements for recertifying via continuing education by reviewing the CMA (AAMA) Recertification by Continuing Education Application.