Certifications
The California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants (CCBMA) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that has been administering the California Certified Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam since 1990.
CCBMA is recognized by the Medical Board of California as an approved certification agency.
A CCMA meets the established qualifications and passes the comprehensive objective examination administered by CCBMA. Medical assistants are not required to be certified or licensed by the State of California. However some employers may require certification as a condition of employment.
Exam applicants must meet the following requirements, in addition to one of the eligibility requirements outlined below. Clinical certification requires some additional criteria, as detailed at the bottom of the page.
All applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Provide proof of current CPR certification
- Provide a copy of a U.S. government-issued ID, with your signature (driver's license, ID card or passport)
- Match name on application to government-issued ID
Apply through the link below-
https://ccbma.org/certification/requirements/
The National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) Credential
The National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA), which is offered through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCTT), is reserved for medical assistants who meet one of the following requirements and can take and pass the NCMA examination:
- Must be a current student or recent graduate (in the past 10 years) from a medical assistant program from a school authorized by the NCCT
- Must be a foreign physician or RN with documented U.S. equivalency in the past 10 years
- Must have been a medical assistant instructor with 10 or more years of experience
- Must have completed a medical assistant training program in the U.S. military within the last 10 years
- Must possess at least two years of verifiable full-time experience as a medical assistant practitioner within the last 10 years
The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Credential
The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), which is offered through the National Healthcare Association, is reserved for medical assistants who can meet the following eligibility requirements and take and pass the CCMA examination:
- Must possess a high school diploma or the equivalent
- Must have successfully completed a training program or one year of work experience as a medical assistant
Specialty Certifications for Medical Assistants
Medical assistants who work for specialty practitioners may choose to become certified through one of the following:
- The American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants: Podiatric Medical Assistant, Certified (PMAC): Candidates must be a podiatric medical assistant who is a member in good standing of the American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants for at least 90 days and has been employed in a podiatry office.
- The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology: Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA): Candidates can become eligible for the COA credential through the Career Advancement Tool (JCAT), a packaged learning resource that helps medical assistants be eligible to take the COA examination.