Do you need certification to become a medical administrative assistant?

Certification is not legally required in most states to work as a medical administrative assistant. However, many employers strongly prefer or encourage certification, and being certified can improve your job prospects and salary potential.

What certification is available for medical administrative assistants?

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offers the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam. Passing this exam demonstrates your knowledge and skills in medical administration and can give you a competitive edge in the job market.

Is certification required in every state to become a medical administrative assistant?

No. Certification is optional in all U.S. states, but according to the NHA, 84% of employers nationwide encourage or prefer certification when hiring medical administrative assistants.

How can I prepare for the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exam?

You can prepare by enrolling in a medical administrative assistant training program that covers the skills and knowledge needed to pass the exam. For example, Stepful’s online program takes three months to complete and includes exam preparation, job coaching, and career support.

What is the average salary of a medical administrative assistant?

Salaries for medical administrative assistants vary by state. For example, the average salary is around $37,400 in Alabama, $45,160 in Alaska, and $51,830 in California. Certification and experience can help you earn on the higher end of the pay scale.

Medical Administrative Assistant Certification Requirements by State

Written by

Steven Nieves

Reviewed by

Published

February 17, 2026

If you’re looking into becoming a medical administrative assistant, also called a medical receptionist or medical office assistant, you might already know that the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offers a certification you can earn by passing their Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exam.

Acquiring this certification can boost your job prospects and put you on the higher end of the average medical administrative assistant salary no matter where you live, but only certain states actually require you to pass the NHA’s exam or a similar test before you can legally start working in medical administration.

This guide makes it easy to find out if you’ll need to be certified in your state in order to become a medical administrative assistant.

National Requirements for Becoming a Medical Administrative Assistant

According to the NHA, 84% of employers nationwide encourage certification for prospective medical administrative assistants. This means that whether certification is legally required in your state or not, you’ll have a better chance of getting hired if you take the time to get certified.

To do so, you’ll want to find a reputable medical administrative assistant training program to teach you everything you need to know to pass the exam and earn your certification. For example, Stepful’s entirely online program takes only three months to complete and not only prepares you to pass the NHA exam, but also sets you up for success in your new career with effective coursework, job coaching, interview prep, and more.

Learn about Stepful’s Online Medical Administrative Assistant program

Medical Administrative Assistant Certification Requirements by State

National Requirements for Becoming a Medical Administrative Assistant

Requirements for Becoming a Medical Administrative Assistant in Every State

Alabama (AL)

Alaska (AK)

Arizona (AZ)

Arkansas (AR)

California (CA)

Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (CT)

Delaware (DE)

District of Columbia (DC)

Florida (FL)

Georgia (GA)

Hawaii (HI)

Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

Iowa (IA)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Maine (ME)

Maryland (MD)

Massachusetts (MA)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Mississippi (MS)

Missouri (MO)

Montana (MT)

Nebraska (NE)

Nevada (NV)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

New York (NY)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

Pennsylvania (PA)

Rhode Island (RI)

South Carolina (SC)

South Dakota (SD)

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)

Utah (UT)

Vermont (VT)

Virginia (VA)

Washington (WA)

West Virginia (WV)

Wisconsin (WI)

Wyoming (WY)

About

Steven Nieves

About

Medical Administrative Assistant Certification Requirements by State

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