Medical assistant certification lasts between two and five years, depending on which credential you hold. The most common certification, the CMA through the AAMA, is valid for 60 months (five years). Other credentials have shorter cycles, with some requiring annual steps to stay active. Here’s what each major certification requires.
CMA (AAMA): Five-Year Cycle
The Certified Medical Assistant credential from the American Association of Medical Assistants has the longest renewal window. You’re current for 60 months from the end of the calendar month you certified or last recertified. So if you passed your exam in March 2024, your certification runs through March 2029.
To recertify, you can either retake the certification exam or complete continuing education credits during that five-year window. The AAMA structures continuing education around clinical, administrative, and general categories, so your credits need to span the different areas of medical assisting rather than focusing on just one.
RMA (AMT): Three-Year Cycle
The Registered Medical Assistant credential through American Medical Technologists operates on a three-year certification cycle. Unlike the CMA’s single renewal deadline, the RMA requires you to stay engaged year by year. You’ll pay a $75 annual renewal fee to keep your certification active, and you need to earn 30 total continuing education points over the three-year period (10 points per year is the recommended pace to stay on track).
If you fall behind on points in one year, you can catch up later in the cycle, but the annual fee is non-negotiable. Missing it can lapse your certification.
CCMA (NHA): Two-Year Cycle
The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant credential from the National Healthcareer Association has the shortest renewal period at two years. You’ll need to complete 10 continuing education credits and pay a recertification fee before your two-year mark. The shorter cycle means less continuing education overall, but you’ll go through the renewal process more frequently than CMA or RMA holders.
NCMA (NCCT): Annual Requirements
The National Certified Medical Assistant credential through the National Center for Competency Testing takes a different approach. Rather than a multi-year renewal deadline, NCCT requires you to complete continuing education hours and pay a recertification fee every year to maintain active status. This means there’s no single expiration date to circle on your calendar. Instead, you’re keeping up with requirements on a rolling annual basis.
Side-by-Side Comparison
- CMA (AAMA): Renew every 60 months (5 years)
- RMA (AMT): 3-year cycle with annual fees of $75 and 30 total points
- CCMA (NHA): Renew every 2 years with 10 CE credits
- NCMA (NCCT): Annual CE hours and fee required each year
What Happens If Your Certification Lapses
Letting your certification expire doesn’t necessarily mean starting from scratch, but reinstatement gets harder the longer you wait. Each certifying body has its own process for lapsed credentials. In most cases, you’ll need to meet additional requirements beyond what a routine renewal asks for, which may include retaking the certification exam rather than simply submitting continuing education credits.
The simplest way to avoid this is to track your specific deadline and start working on continuing education well before it arrives. Most certifying organizations send reminders as your expiration approaches, but the responsibility is yours. If you’re planning a career break, check your credentialing body’s reinstatement policy before you step away so you know exactly what getting back in will require.
Choosing a Certification With Renewal in Mind
If you haven’t yet decided which certification to pursue, the renewal cycle is worth factoring in. A five-year CMA cycle gives you more breathing room and fewer administrative tasks, but the AAMA requires graduation from an accredited medical assisting program, which is a higher barrier to entry. The NHA’s two-year CCMA cycle means more frequent renewals, but the initial eligibility requirements are often more flexible.
Your employer’s preference matters too. Some healthcare systems and states favor one credential over another, so the renewal schedule may be less important than which certification actually gets you hired. Once you’re working, many employers offer continuing education opportunities that count toward your renewal requirements, making the ongoing maintenance easier to manage regardless of which credential you hold.