If you are choosing a medical assistant certification, the CMA and RMA are two of the names you will run into most. They serve the same basic purpose, showing employers you have met a recognized standard, but they are run by different organizations, and the details that matter for you (how you qualify and how you renew) differ. Here is how they compare, and the short version of how to pick: eligibility usually decides it, because your training program determines which credential you can even sit for, and your local employers determine which one is worth holding.

Who issues each one

The two credentials come from two separate certifying organizations:

  • The CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) is issued by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
  • The RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) is issued by American Medical Technologists (AMT).

Both are national, voluntary certifications. Neither is a government license, and holding either one does not change your legal scope of practice. Our certification guide puts both in the context of the wider credential landscape.

CMA vs. RMA at a glance

DimensionCMA (AAMA)RMA (AMT)
Issuing bodyAmerican Association of Medical AssistantsAmerican Medical Technologists
TypeVoluntary national certificationVoluntary national certification
Main eligibility routeGraduating from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program (the AAMA also lists other pathways)AMT publishes more than one eligibility route; confirm the current options with AMT
Keeping it currentRecertify every 60 months through continuing education or re-examinationAMT's points-based Certification Continuation Program (CCP), on a three-year cycle
A license?NoNo

Because the certifying bodies set and update these rules, treat the eligibility and renewal cells as a starting point and confirm the current specifics with the AAMA and AMT directly.

Eligibility, the difference that usually decides it

For many people, eligibility is what actually settles the choice, because it depends on the program you attend.

The CMA is primarily earned by graduating from a medical assisting program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES, though the AAMA also lists other pathways. If a CMA is your goal, confirming a program's accreditation before enrolling matters, which our accredited programs guide covers in detail.

The RMA has its own set of eligibility routes published by AMT, and they have historically included more than one way to qualify. Because these routes are defined by AMT and can change, the reliable move is to check AMT's current requirements rather than assume.

The practical takeaway: decide which credential you want, then confirm that a specific training program qualifies you for it before you pay.

Keeping the credential current

Both certifications require upkeep, not a one-time exam:

  • The CMA requires recertification every 60 months, either through continuing education or by re-taking the exam.
  • The RMA is maintained through AMT's points-based Certification Continuation Program (CCP) on a three-year cycle.

Either way, plan for continuing education as part of holding a credential. Our continuing education guide explains how renewal and CE generally work and how to verify requirements with your certifying body.

How to choose

Rather than asking which credential is "best" in the abstract, work from your own situation:

  1. Check local job postings. If employers in your area name a specific certification, that is the strongest signal.
  2. Match it to your program. Confirm which credential your training program actually qualifies you for; this often makes the decision for you.
  3. Consider renewal. Look at each body's continuing-education and renewal expectations so you know what maintaining the credential involves.
  4. Confirm the current rules. Eligibility and renewal are set by the AAMA and AMT and change over time, so verify with the source before committing.

For most people, the answer is simply the recognized credential that their program qualifies them for and that their local employers accept, not a universal winner.