How to Become a Certified Medical Assistant in AZ
Medical assistants work in doctors' offices and clinics in outpatient services. They perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks such as answering telephones, coding and filling out insurance forms, taking medical histories and drawing blood. Medical assistants in Arizona, like in other states, are required to pass the CMA certification examination administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants.
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Things You'll Need
- List of hospitals and clinics in your area
- List of accredited medical assistant programs in your state
- Certification application fee of $95 or $170
- Study materials for certification examination
Instructions
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Explore your interest in the health-care field. If you like helping people and are interested in the health-care profession, a good way to explore that would be to volunteer at a local clinic or hospital. Also talk to medical assistants to learn more about what their professional lives are like.
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Enroll in an accredited medical assistant program. Medical assistant programs are accredited by two accreditation bodies: the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Some medical assistant programs can be completed in as little as six months.
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Seek out internships. If the medical assistant program you choose does not provide you with an internship or externship, make sure you seek out internship opportunities on your own to get practical experience.
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Prepare for certification. See the link below for recommended study resources. The certification exam will test such areas as medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, psychology and communication.
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Apply to take the certification examination. The CMA exam is held in January, June and October. Make sure you send in your application ahead of time with the appropriate documentation as it takes about 75 days after applying before you know whether you are approved to take the exam. Recent graduates (within 12 months of graduation) of a CMA program pay a reduced application fee.
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If your application is accepted, take the exam at the nearest approved testing center. It takes about 12 weeks after taking the test to receive your scores.
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