Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the difference between Medical Assistant Certification and Registration?
A. Certification is an independent qualification earned through examination. Medical Assistants must first be Certified in order to become Nationally Registered.
Registration is a secondary process by which a Medical Assistant commits to a high standard of professionalism, accountability and is listed in a public database as having met specific qualifications. A Medical Assistant can be Certified without being Registered but cannot be Registered without being Certified. NRMA members are both Certified and Registered by default.
Q. How long is my certification valid?
A. Certifications are valid for one year. Certifications must be renewed annually.
Q. Why do I need to be certified if I have a diploma?
In the past, a diploma was considered adequate. However, new rules may prohibit non-certified Medical Assistants from accessing patient records. Employers must now ensure their MAs are Certified in order to remain compliant.
Certification should be issued by an independent Third Party. It can NOT be issued by your employer or school.
NRMA is an established Third-Party. Our primary objective is to help Medical Assistants achieve their career goals.
A. Certification is an independent qualification earned through examination. Medical Assistants must first be Certified in order to become Nationally Registered.
Registration is a secondary process by which a Medical Assistant commits to a high standard of professionalism, accountability and is listed in a public database as having met specific qualifications. A Medical Assistant can be Certified without being Registered but cannot be Registered without being Certified. NRMA members are both Certified and Registered by default.
Q. How long is my certification valid?
A. Certifications are valid for one year. Certifications must be renewed annually.
Q. Why do I need to be certified if I have a diploma?
In the past, a diploma was considered adequate. However, new rules may prohibit non-certified Medical Assistants from accessing patient records. Employers must now ensure their MAs are Certified in order to remain compliant.
Certification should be issued by an independent Third Party. It can NOT be issued by your employer or school.
NRMA is an established Third-Party. Our primary objective is to help Medical Assistants achieve their career goals.