Is Certification Required?

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Certification is Voluntary

In most of the USA, medical assistants are not required to be licensed, certified, or registered by their state, or any professional healthcare organization. Although licensing is not required and certification is voluntary for most medical assistants the vast majority of employers wish to seth forth their own requirements for their job applicants. May job ads posted ask for their preference in certifictions. Some job offers state that they are willing to train.

Haven't You Read The Wanted Ads?

Think about it. The healthcare industry is booming. Every day, more and more medical assisting and similarly trained school graduates enter the job market. An endless stream of trained professionals! Now that you are a medical assistant, you, too, want to land a better job… But with hundred-thousands competitors already stacked agains you, it’s tough to set yourself apart. The only way for you to get an edge over the rest is through recognized certifications and credentials. Otherwise you may quickly find yourself left behind the rest. 

If you have read the wanted ads then you should have noticed that just about every job offer for better positions reads: "Must be certified, and/or have x-amount of experience in the field". The IMPACT certification makes on you getting hired should be obvious. 

1. Medical assistants who draw blood in California are required to be certified.
   
2. Medical assistants that perform point of care testing in Georgia are required to be certified.
   
3. Registration is required in South Dakota. No person may practice as a medical assistant in South Dakota unless that person is registered with the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners! An applicant for registration must have graduated from an accredited school or a school which meets standards similar to an accredited school and must meet other qualifications established by the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners and the Board of Nursing.
   
4. Minnesota Law requires that any person who provides services that involve direct contact with patients and residents at a health care facility licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health have a background study conducted by the state. An individual who is disqualified from having direct patient contact as a result of the background study will not be permitted to participate in a clinical placement in a Minnesota licensed healthcare facility. Minnesota colleges will withdraw any student who is disqualified by the Minnesota Department of Health, and the student is responsible for requesting the Commissioner to reconsider the disqualification.
   
5. Furthermore, many malpractice insurance carriers now require that those who provide direct patient care, draw blood, or operate x-ray equipment to be certified by a national certification sponsor to provide insurance coverage to protect them. Therefore it is safe to say that even though state law may not require certification, many employers and insurance companies do. Ask yourself:

1.  What are your short and long term professional goals?
2.  And what are the latest trends on the job market?

Every medical assistant, whether new or seasoned in their field, should ask themselves the above questions, and then seek every available resource and opportunity to be informed about their options and future. - What do you want? - What do employers prefer? - What does the community expect? AMT is happy to answer all your questions.