That five-year certification mark sneaks up fast, doesn’t it? One day you’re celebrating passing your exam, and the next you’re getting reminders about maintaining your credential. The pressure of managing your CMA recertification hours can feel like just another task on an already long to-do list. But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be a source of stress. This guide will transform the entire recertification process into a simple, manageable system you can follow with confidence, ensuring you never have to worry about losing your hard-earned CMA (AAMA) status.
The Short Answer: The 60-Credit, 5-Year Rule Explained
Let’s start with the numbers, because that’s what you need to know first. To maintain your CMA certification through continuing education, you must earn 60 recertification credit hours within your 5-year recertification cycle. That’s it. The clock starts the month after you initially passed your exam or last recertified. This is the core of the AAMA recertification process. Think of your 5-year cycle as a container you need to fill with 60 credits. Now, let’s talk about what kind of credits go in that container.
Breaking Down the Credits: AAMA’s A, C, and G Categories
Not all credits are created equal. The AAMA has specific categories to ensure you’re maintaining a well-rounded skill set. To complete your CMA CEU requirements, your 60 credits must include:
- A minimum of 10 Administrative (A) credits
- A minimum of 10 Clinical (C) credits
- A minimum of 30 General (G) credits
- The remaining 10 credits can be from any category (A, C, or G). These are your “flex” credits!
But what do these categories mean?
- Administrative (A): Topics like medical billing, coding, office management, and electronic health records (EHR).
- Clinical (C): Hands-on patient care topics like phlebotomy, EKG, medication administration, and infection control.
- General (G): Broad topics that apply to all healthcare professionals, such as legal issues, ethics, communication skills, or patient safety.
Clinical Pearl: Many single activities, like a conference session, are approved for multiple categories (e.g., A and G). Always check the certificate to see which credits you earned!
How to Earn Approved CE Credits: A CMA’s Action Plan
You have plenty of options for earning your CMA continuing education credits. The key is choosing activities approved by the AAMA. Approved providers include the AAMA itself, state medical societies, and other accredited healthcare organizations.
Here are some common ways to earn credits:
- AAMA Webinars and Online Self-Study: The AAMA offers numerous on-demand and live webinars, which are a convenient way to earn credits from home.
- Your Local AAMA Chapter: These meetings are fantastic for networking and often offer approved credits for a nominal fee.
- National Conferences: Major events like the AAMA Annual Conference can earn you a large chunk of credits in a few days.
- College Courses: A relevant, for-credit course from an accredited college can count for multiple CE credits.
- Authoring or Presenting: If you author a healthcare-related article or present on a medical topic, you can earn credits for that too.
Pro Tip: Before you pay for or attend any course, double-check that the provider is AAMA-approved. The AAMA website has a searchable database of approved providers. Don’t assume—verifying beforehand can save you time and money.
Your Record-Keeping System: How to Track CE Credits Without the Stress
Imagine this: it’s month 58 of your recertification cycle. You’re frantically searching through emails and drawers for certificates you collected years ago. We’ve all been there, but it’s a panic you can easily avoid. The secret is a simple tracking system. You don’t need anything fancy—a dedicated folder on your computer or a physical binder works perfectly.
Your mission is to save a Certificate of Completion for every single CE activity. The AAMA doesn’t need you to submit these with your application unless you’re randomly audited, but you must have them if they ask.
CMA Recertification Tracker Checklist
Use this checklist to stay organized throughout your 5-year cycle:
- [ ] Create a folder (digital or physical) labeled “CMA Recertification [Current Cycle Years]”
- [ ] For every activity, save: the Certificate of Completion, the date, the number of credits earned, and the category (A, C, G).
- [ ] Update a simple spreadsheet or log after each activity with the running total for each category.
- [ ] Set a calendar reminder for month 48 of your cycle to check your progress.
- [ ] Set a final reminder for month 55 to ensure you’re on track to finish on time.
Common Mistake: Completing an activity and assuming it’s approved. Always verify the credits and categories on your certificate. Sometimes a course is only approved for General (G) credits, which might not be what you need at that moment.
The Final Hurdle: Submitting Your AAMA Recertification Application
Once you have your 60 credits logged and organized, the final step is submitting your application. The process is straightforward and done online through the AAMA website. Your recertification date is the last day of your birth month in the fifth year of your cycle. If you’re running behind, don’t panic—the AAMA offers a 60-day grace period after your expiration date to submit without penalty.
You’ll log your completed activities into the online portal and pay the recertification fee. Remember, you only submit your certificates if you’re selected for a random audit.
Key Takeaway: You are not required to mail in your certificates unless you are audited. However, if you are audited and cannot provide proof of an activity, those credits will be voided.
Recertification by Examination: When is it the Right Choice?
Earning CME for medical assistants isn’t the only way to recertify. You also have the option to recertify by successfully retaking and passing the CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Examination. This path is less common but can be the right choice for some.
Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which is best for you:
| Feature | Recertification by Continuing Education (CE) | Recertification by Examination |
|---|---|---|
| Time Commitment | Spread over 5 years; flexible | Intense study period before the exam |
| Cost | Varies based on CE activities + app fee ($130-$170) | Exam fee + application fee ($250 total for AAMA members) |
| Focus | Broad, ongoing learning across many topics | Core knowledge tested on the exam |
| Stress Level | Lower, managed over time | High, focused on one exam day |
| Best For | Most CMAs; those who enjoy continuous learning | CMAs who have been out of the field, test well, or prefer a one-time event |
Learning how to renew CMA certification through CE is generally the preferred method because it encourages lifelong learning, which is central to the CMA role.
Your Top CMA Recertification Questions, Answered
Q: What if I earn more than 60 credits? Can I carry them over to my next cycle? A: Unfortunately, no. Excess credits earned during one cycle cannot be carried over to the next. The cycle starts fresh at zero.
Q: How do I know how many CEU for CMA recertification a college course is worth? A: Generally, one semester credit hour of an approved course counts for 15 CE credits. For example, a 3-credit course equals 45 credits. You’ll need official documentation from the college.
Q: Do employer-provided in-services count? A: They can if they are offered by an AAMA-approved provider. Many hospitals and large clinics are approved providers, but check with your education department and get the proper documentation.
Conclusion & Key Takeaways
Maintaining your CMA credential is a manageable process when broken down. Focus on earning 60 credits over five years, ensuring you meet the minimums for A, C, and G categories. Create a simple tracking system from day one and save every certificate. By taking these small, consistent steps, you’ll master the CMA recertification hours requirement and move through your career with confidence. You’ve got this!
What’s your best tip for staying organized with CE credits? Share your experience in the comments below—your insights could help a fellow CMA!
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