CMA vs CCMA: What’s the Difference?

In the healthcare industry, medical assistants play a crucial role in ensuring smooth patient care and efficient clinic operations. If you have a passion for helping others and you’re considering a career in healthcare, contemplate a career as a medical assistant (MA). In the realm of medical assisting, there are two popular certification credentials; Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). Understanding the distinctions between these certifications can help individuals make informed decisions about their careers and provide clarity on what each certification entails. Medical Assistants are healthcare professionals that play a crucial role in the healthcare industry by aiding other healthcare professionals and attending to patients. Medical Assistants are typically found in healthcare clinics, doctor’s offices, or hospitals. If you’re pursuing a career as a medical assistant, you may be asking yourself CMA vs CCMA: what’s the difference? In this blog we are going to breakdown the differences between a CMA vs CCMA.

What is a CMA?

A Certified Medical Assistant is a Medical Assistant that is certified through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). CMAs provide both medical and clerical duties depending on the employer’s needs. As an important member of the healthcare team, CMAs assist physicians and other healthcare professionals. The responsibilities of a Certified Medical Assistant include maintaining patient records or processing insurance claims to performing basic medical needs such as taking vital signs or educating patients on plans of care. In order to become a CMA in New Jersey, you must first either earn your high school diploma or your GED.

One of the key aspects of the CMA certification is its comprehensive nature. The CMA exam includes topics such as medical terminology, physiology, anatomy, and patient care. This broad scope ensures that CMAs are well-versed in both the clinical and administrative aspects of medical assisting.

What is a CCMA?

The acronym CCMA stands for Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. A CCMA is a medical assistant that is certified by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). CCMAs are crucial members of the healthcare team that provide supportive healthcare services. Unlike CMAs, CCMAs typically steer clear from any administrative duties. Becoming a CCMA in New Jersey is fairly easy. You must first meet the education requirement of having a high school diploma or a GED.

To earn the CCMA title, medical assistants must pass the CCMA exam. Unlike the CMA exam, the CCMA exam covers topics such as patient preparation, clinical procedures, and laboratory tests. This exam is designed to evaluate a candidates ability to perform hands-on clinical tasks. The clinical tasks can include duties such as taking blood samples, administering medications, and assisting with minor medical procedures.

CMA vs CCMA: What’s the difference?

Both Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs) and Certified Clinical Medical Assistants (CCMAs) are certified medical assistants. There are two major differences between these medical assistant titles. The first difference is that a CMA gets certified from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and a CCMA gets certified through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). The second major difference between CCMAs and CMAs is that CMAs focus on both clerical and medical duties whereas CCMAs primary focus is medical/healthcare duties and assisting physicians.

Conclusion

Both the CCMA and CMA certifications offer valuable credentials for medical assistants. The CMA certification provides a broad skill set applicable to both clinical and administrative tasks, while the CCMA certification emphasizes specialized clinical expertise. By understanding the differences between the two certifications, medical assistants can choose the certification that aligns with their goals the most. Whether pursuing a CCMA or a CMA, achieving a certification is a significant step in demonstrating competence and commitment to excellence in the field of medical assisting.

Whether you’re looking for a medical assistant job in NY or a certified medical assistant job in NJ, Horizon Healthcare Staffing has you covered! Either take a look at our current open jobs to see what we currently have available or send us your resume and one of our dedicated recruiters will get you started.