According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistant will be one of the fastest growing jobs through 2018. While the number of job openings in the field is growing, so will the number of candidates. For the best employment options, it is wise for the prospective medical assistant to obtain certification. One of the largest certification bodies for medical assistants in the US is the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), which offers the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential. Checking the status of your CMA with the AAMA is a simple process.

Look on your CMA certificate. After taking the certification exam, you should have been informed if you passed or failed the exam, and then several weeks later a certificate was sent to your home address. Save your certificate, as it will serve as dated proof of when you passed the exam. CMA credentials are good for five years.

Check online through the AMAA website for your certification status. Your employer can also check your certification status through the AMAA website.

Order a replacement CMA certificate if yours is lost and you don't have internet access to check your status. Call the AAMA at 1-800-228-2262 to order a replacement certificate if you do not have computer access, wish to pay with credit card, or need assistance with the ordering process. The cost of this service, as of May, 2011, is $20.