Credentialing-Medical Assistants

Medical assistants can earn several credentials, including, but not limited to, Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), and National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA).

ICATAP curriculum provides a standard of excellence that prepares the apprentice for various board exams. Partners receive a comprehensive comparison book that outlines alignment with industry standards and standards of accreditation. ICCATAP currently works with RMA and CCMA credentials.

Contact us today to begin a partnership that brings industry and cutting edge training together to form elite staffing tailored to your organization.

The Certifications

Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)

Offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
Requires completing an accredited training program and passing the CMA certification exam

Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)

Offered by American Medical Technologists (AMT)
Requires completing an accredited MA program or gaining relevant work experience
Exam focuses on clinical skills, patient care, medical office procedures, and general medical knowledge

Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)

Offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
Demonstrates expertise in clinical patient care
CCMAs often have more clinical duties than administrative responsibilities

National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)

Offered by the National Center for Competency Testing

The "Credentialed Assistant" and Medicare

As most of you are aware, there is a rule which practices must adhere to in order to remain in compliance with the Meaningful Use criteria of the EHR incentive program:

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has established that use of the CPOE (Computerized Physician Order Entry) within the Electronic Health Record should be limited to Eligible Professionals (EPs) and ‘credentialed medical assistants’.

What does this mean?

If you are 1) participating in the Medicaid EHR incentive program and 2) your medical assistants actively participate in the entry of lab orders or prescriptions into the EMR – they must be “credentialed” or their activity will count against core measures!

So how does CMS define “credential”?

CMS has thankfully provided much needed clarification with the release of Meaningful Use Stage 3 Final Rules on October 16, 2015. As stated on page 62838 of the Federal Register (here), they confirm:

So how does CMS define “credential”?

CMS has thankfully provided much needed clarification with the release of Meaningful Use Stage 3 Final Rules on October 16, 2015. As stated on page 62838 of the Federal Register (here), they confirm:

‘A credentialed medical assistant may enter orders if they are credentialed to perform the duties of a medical assistant by a credentialing body other than the employer.’

…and further on page 62839:

‘We defer to the provider’s discretion to determine the appropriateness of the credentialing of staff to ensure that any staff entering orders have the clinical training and knowledge required to enter orders for CPOE.’

It’s also worth noting that CMS does not limit the “medical assistant” job description to only those who have received formal training in an accredited medical assistant trade school or college program. As described on 62838 of the Stage 3 Final Rules, CMS states:

‘…medical staff whose organizational or job title, or the title of their credential, is other than medical assistant may enter orders if these staff are credentialed to perform the equivalent duties of a credentialed medical assistant by a credentialing body other than their employer and perform such duties as part of their organizational or job title.’

Finally, it’s important to dispel an often-quoted myth regarding this rule – that being that “only credentials provided by NCCA-accredited medical assistant organizations are acceptable.” This is false.

Also clarified within the Final Rules for Stage 3 of Meaningful Use, CMS confirms:

‘We believe there may be some confusion related to the term ‘‘Certified Medical Assistant’’ which is not used by CMS in our proposed rules or guidance with reference to the credentialed medical assistant or the credentialed medical staff equivalent of a medical assistant.

We reiterate that CMS does not require any specific or general ‘‘certification’’ and note that credentialing may take many forms including, but not limited to, the appropriate degree from a health training and education program from which the medical staff matriculated. We note that a simple search online returns dozens of medical assistant training and credentialing programs as well as local industry associations for Medical Assistants offering resources on training…’