RMA Eligibility Routes & Certification Process
Key Takeaways
AMT offers 5 eligibility routes: education, competency and work-based learning, work experience, military, and instructor
Route 1 (Education) requires graduating within the past 4 years from an accredited program with 720 hours of instruction, including at least 160 hours of externship
Route 3 (Work Experience) requires at least 3 years of full-time employment as a medical assistant within the past 7 years, with both clinical and administrative duties
Route 4 (Military) requires graduating within the last 4 years from a formal U.S. Armed Forces medical services training program
The application process includes online registration, documentation submission, and fee payment through AMT
RMA certification must be renewed every 3 years through 30 Certification Continuation Program (CCP) points
Annual AMT membership dues are $75 per year, required to maintain active RMA certification
CCP points come from professional education, formal education, authorship, instructional presentations, and organizational participation
The RMA exam is taken in person at a Pearson VUE test center or a school's Pearson VUE site; AMT is not authorizing new remote-proctored exams
One of the key advantages of the RMA credential is that AMT offers five different eligibility pathways, making it accessible to a broader range of candidates compared to certifications that require specific program accreditation. You need to meet only one route.
Five Eligibility Routes
Route 1: Education (Most Common)
- Graduate within the past 4 years, or be scheduled to graduate, from an accredited medical assisting program or a program housed within an accredited institution
- The program or institution must be accredited by a regional or national agency approved by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or otherwise approved by AMT
- Program must include 720 hours of instruction, with at least 160 hours of externship
- Documentation: official final transcripts showing graduation from an MA program
Route 2: Competency & Work-Based Learning
- Complete, within the last 4 years, an AMT-approved hybrid education/work-experience medical assisting program (such as a secondary school program, a structured workforce development program, or a government-approved apprenticeship)
- The program must combine didactic and clinical experience to total 720 hours (at least 160 hours of externship), or be a structured, approved alternative training course of at least 500 hours with at least 160 hours of externship
- Demonstrate practical competence through a structured competency evaluation
- Documentation: program completion records, a Medical Assisting Competency Checklist, and a valid CPR card
Route 3: Work Experience
- At least 3 years of full-time employment as a medical assistant within the past 7 years (AMT counts 3 years at 36 hours per week as 5,616 hours)
- Experience must include both clinical and administrative duties
- Documentation: a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent; an RMA Employment Verification Form; and a valid CPR card
Route 4: Military Training
- Graduate, or be scheduled to graduate, from a formal medical services training program of the United States Armed Forces
- Must have graduated within the last 4 years
- Documentation: a Joint Services Transcript, or a DD214 if discharged
Route 5: Instructor
- Currently instructing in an accredited medical assisting program, with a completed course of instruction in a healthcare discipline related to medical assisting
- At least 5 years of full-time teaching in a medical assisting discipline covering both clinical and administrative competencies
- With more than 1 but fewer than 5 years of teaching, document at least 3 years of full-time clinical work experience in a healthcare profession whose scope of practice equals or exceeds medical assisting
Step-by-Step Certification Process
Step 1: Verify Eligibility
- Determine which of the 5 routes applies to your background
- Gather required documentation (transcripts, employment verification, military records, and a CPR card where the route requires one)
Step 2: Create an AMT Account
- Register online at americanmedtech.org
- Complete the application form selecting your eligibility route
- Upload required documentation
Step 3: Pay the Exam Fee
- $150 application fee (non-refundable; includes the application, exam, and first annual fee)
- $150 RMA retesting fee for each additional attempt
- Payment accepted online via credit/debit card
Step 4: Schedule Your Exam
- After application approval, AMT sends your authorization to test
- Schedule through Pearson VUE at pearsonvue.com, or test at your school's Pearson VUE site if your instructor arranges it
- AMT is not currently authorizing new exams by live remote proctoring, so plan to test in person
Step 5: Take the Exam
- Arrive 30 minutes early with two valid forms of ID (see the table below)
- Complete 210 questions within 2 hours
Step 6: Receive Results
- Results appear on screen when you finish, and you receive a paper copy before leaving
- Results reach AMT within 48 hours; you then claim a digital badge through Credly and can download your member card from the AMT Portal
Recertification Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Cycle | Every 3 years |
| CCP Points | 30 points required per 3-year cycle (AMT suggests recording about 10 each year) |
| Annual Dues | $75 per year |
| CCP Categories | Professional education, formal education, authorship, instructional presentations, organizational participation |
Earning CCP Points
AMT's candidate handbook lists five types of qualifying activity:
- Professional education (continuing education)
- Formal education (college coursework)
- Authorship of written works
- Instructional presentations
- Organizational participation
AMT sets the point value of each activity. Log activities in your AMT Portal, and keep proof in case AMT audits your record.
What to Bring on Exam Day
| Required | Details |
|---|---|
| Two forms of ID | Both original and valid, both bearing your name and signature; at least one with a photo (driver's license, passport, military ID, or state ID card) |
| Name Match | First and last name on both IDs must match your AMT authorization letter |
| Authorization letter | Suggested by AMT; bring it with your Pearson VUE appointment details |
NOT Allowed:
- Cell phones, smartwatches, or electronic devices
- Notes, textbooks, or study materials
- Food or drinks in the testing room
- Calculators (not permitted and not needed; all calculations can be done by hand)
How many eligibility routes does AMT offer for the RMA exam?
2 routes
3 routes
4 routes
5 routes
What is the minimum number of clock hours required for the education eligibility route (Route 1)?
480 clock hours
600 clock hours
720 clock hours
1,000 clock hours
How many CCP points are required to renew RMA certification, and over what time period?
20 points every 2 years
30 points every 3 years
60 points every 5 years
40 points every 4 years
For the work experience eligibility route (Route 3), how many years of full-time employment are required?
1 year within the last 3 years
2 years within the last 4 years
3 years within the last 7 years
5 years within the last 7 years
Put the RMA certification steps in the correct order from first to last.
Arrange the items in the correct order
Take the 210-question RMA exam
Schedule exam through Pearson VUE
Receive Authorization to Test (ATT)
Pay the $150 exam fee
Determine your eligibility route
Apply online and submit documentation
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.