Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
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Are you eligible for RMA certification?

Applicants must meet one of the following routes to be eligible for RMA certification. All applicants must pass the AMT examination for RMA, to become certified.

Required Documentation

Education

Applicant shall be a graduate within the past 4 years or scheduled to graduate from an accredited MA program* or program that is housed within an accredited institution.

  • Must have 720 hours of instruction that includes at least 160 hours of externship

*Program or institution must be accredited by a regional or national accreditation agency approved by the US Department of Education, The Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or otherwise approved by AMT.

  • Official final transcripts from the school showing graduation from an MA program
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Competency and Work-Based Learning

Applicant shall have completed, within the last four years, a hybrid education/work experience medical assisting program that has EITHER

  • a combination of didactic and clinical experience to equal 720 total hours (160 hours of externship as a minimum) OR
  • shall have completed a structured, approved alternative training course that is a minimum of 500 hours in duration, which must include at least 160 hours of externship experience

AND shall have demonstrated practical competence through a structured competency evaluation process that reflects mastery of required skills and knowledge defined by the medical assisting practice role.

*All acceptable programs must be approved by AMT as meeting or surpassing AMT criteria for medical assisting competencies.

  • Official documentation showing completion of an eligible hybrid program, such as a secondary school program, structured workforce development program, or government-approved apprenticeship program.
  • Medical Assisting Competency Checklist attesting to the successful completion of the required Medical Assisting skills.
  • Valid CPR card (copy of front and back). CPR training must include both theoretical and in-person demonstration of CPR proficiency.
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Work Experience

Applicant shall be employed as a medical assistant for a minimum of 3 years within the past 7 years.

  • 3 years of full-time employment at 36 hours per week is the equivalent of 5,616 hours.
  • Experience must include both clinical and administrative duties.

  • A copy of your high school diploma, GED, or equivalent
  • 3 years of documented, full-time experience within the last 7 years that includes both clinical and administrative duties
  • Valid CPR card (copy of front and back). CPR training must include both theoretical and in-person demonstration of CPR proficiency.
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Military

Applicant shall be a recent graduate, or scheduled to graduate from a formal medical services training program of the United States Armed Forces.

  • Must have graduated within the last 4 years.

  • Copy of Joint Services Transcript or DD214 (If discharged) showing graduation from a formal training program
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Instructor

Applicant shall be currently  instructing in an accredited medical assisting program*, shall have completed a course of instruction in a healthcare discipline related to medical assisting, and shall have a minimum of five years of full-time teaching experience in a medical assisting discipline that encompasses a range of both clinical and administrative competencies that are broadly representative of core medical assisting duties.

An applicant who has less than five years of teaching experience, but more than one year, shall provide documentation of at least three years of full-time clinical work experience in a healthcare profession in which the scope of practice is commensurate with, or exceeds, the medical assisting scope of practice.

*Program or institution is accredited by a regional or national accreditation agency approved by the US Department of Education, The Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or otherwise approved by AMT.

If instructing 5 + years:

  • A copy of your transcript showing completion of a course of instruction in a healthcare discipline related to medical assisting
  • 5 years of documented work experience instructing a medical assisting program within the past 7 years which is verified by AMT

If instructing less than 5 years:

  • A copy of your transcript showing completion of a course of instruction in a healthcare discipline related to medical assisting
  • More than 1 year of current, documented work experience instructing a medical assisting program which is verified by AMT
  • 3 years of documented, full-time clinical experience within the last 7 years which is verified by AMT
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Want help choosing the application route that’s right for you? Try the RMA Eligibility Assistant

Once Eligible You Can Apply

Complete application and submit fee online.

Once you are eligible you can apply. Submit a separate application for each certification.

Pay fee*

RMA
$150

*Fees are non-refundable and include application, exam and first annual fee.

Apply Today

Application is valid for 1 year, allow 1-2 weeks for processing.

Utilize AMT study resources to increase testing confidence.

Medical Assistant (RMA)

Practice Exams

Purchase a Practice Exam

*AMT practice exams are excellent resources for test preparation. They are an optional resource and not required to pass the exam.

Fundamentals Courses

Purchase a Fundamentals Course

Once you receive notification from AMT with approval you may proceed.

Schedule the exam

If you are taking the exam at your school, your instructor will provide information about the exam date and time. If you are taking the exam at a one of the hundreds of Pearson VUE testing center locations across the country, you will schedule your own exam.

Locate a Testing Center Near Me

To cancel or reschedule

Call Pearson VUE at 1-888-846-6941 24 hours prior to your exam. If you are late or don’t show, you must pay a retesting fee to reschedule.

  • Schedule as far in advance as possible
  • AMT cannot schedule for you
  • Scheduling online is preferred
  • The Pearson VUE profile you create for the exam is separate from your AMT account, so AMT Log-in information won’t work
Schedule Exam Online

or Call 1-888-846-6941

Take the Exam

Arrive 30 minutes prior to exam time with the required testing items:

  1. Authorization letter
  2. Two forms of valid identification
    • Both must have your first and last name identical to your name on your authorization letter
    • Both must bear your signature
    • One form must be a photo ID, either a driver’s license, state ID card, military ID, or passport

If you have questions about the acceptability of your identification, contact Pearson Vue:

Call 1-888-846-6941

Know what to expect:

Pearson VUE Security Measures

After the Exam

  • Results are available after the exam and are sent to AMT within 48 hours
  • All documentation MUST be complete to receive certification
  • Official certificate will arrive in the mail within 7-14 days
  • You may download your certified member card from My AMT Portal.

If your application expires prior to gaining certification, you must submit a new application and fee to continue.

Retesting

If you receive a failing score, you will need to retake the entire exam.

  • Retake is permitted no sooner than 45 days from previous attempt
  • A non-refundable fee is required for each additional attempt
  • You are limited to 4 exam attempts for any one certification
  • Consult the AMT study resources to prepare for a retake

Retesting fee

RMA
$110

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