A medical administrative assistant certification (CMAA) is an accessible entry point into healthcare and a non-clinical role with plenty of potential for growth. Jobs are available in a variety of medical settings and involve supporting day-to-day clinical activities. Discover exactly what a CMAA does, where they work and how to get certified.
What You’ll Do as a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
A medical administrative assistant is similar to a medical office administrator. The position runs the admin side of a medical facility, hospital or office, which includes tasks like:
- Scheduling and confirming appointments
- Entering data into and updating patient records
- Helping with billing and reporting
- Preparing insurance and claim forms
- Answering phones and responding to incoming messages
The role is non-clinical, which makes it different from the similar-sounding certified clinical medical assistant career. Where medical assistants help with minor procedures, hand out medications and take case histories, CMAAs aren’t involved with direct patient care.
Interactions are limited to healthcare administrative details, and the role mostly focuses on keeping the facility running smoothly. It’s a good fit if you’re interested in a medical front office career without hands-on clinical tasks and are detail-oriented and organized.
Where CMAAs Work and Career Outlook
CMAAs work in any medical practice setting that requires front office administration. You’ll typically find positions in hospitals, specialty practices, outpatient clinics and physician offices. These roles are focused on business or office operations and are different from ward or unit roles in hospitals, which are clinical roles and usually for unit clerks or clinical medical assistants.
Medical administrative assistants are the most popular positions among all admin roles, and make up the majority of jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects roughly 358,000 job openings every year until 2034, though the overall job market is expected to remain steady.
Gaining a CMAA certification and working in a medical administrative assistant role is a good stepping stone into more advanced healthcare admin roles.
How To Become a CMAA With MedCerts
Entering the CMAA field is fairly straightforward and starts with training. MedCerts offers a fully online CMAA program you can complete in as little as 15 weeks and prepares you to take the National Healthcare Association’s medical administrative assistant certification exam.
You don’t need any prior healthcare experience to enroll, and you can study on your own schedule from the comfort of your own home. MedCerts offers student support services if you need help during your study journey and provides career coaching resources for graduates to help you prepare for your first role.
The healthcare industry is broad and includes many non-clinical roles, such as medical office administrator and other admin positions, to help keep the system running smoothly. These roles are ideal for those who are detailed and attentive and who want a career in a steady, stable industry with room to grow.
