CMAS (AMT) - Certified Medical Administrative Specialist

The Certified Medical Administrative Specialist (CMAS) certification validates the knowledge and skills of medical administrative specialists. American Medical Technologists (AMT) offers the CMAS exam, accredited by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (NCCA).

Eligibility

To be eligible to take the CMAS exam, applicants must meet all the requirements within one of 3 pathways:

• Experience Pathway

  • Worked at least 5 years as a full-time or part-time equivalent medical office administrative specialist within the last 7 years

  • Provide a copy of high school diploma or GED

• RMA Certificant Pathway

  • Hold a current Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification or equivalent 

  • Worked a minimum of 2 years as a medical office administrative specialist within the last 5 years.

• Education Pathway

  • Graduated from (or scheduled to graduate from) a medical administrative specialist program that includes 720 hours of didactic instruction, 160 hours of which are devoted to an externship, and content areas in medical records management, health care insurance processing, coding, office financial responsibilities and information processing

  • Provide a copy of official transcripts

  • Have at least 3 years of full-time experience as a medical office administrative specialist within the last 5 years, if graduated more than 4 years ago 

Completion Time: Candidates have 2 hours to complete the CMLA exam

Cost

• Initial testing fee:$135

• Retest fee: $100

Exam Format

The CMAS exam includes 200 multiple-choice questions. Candidates have 2 hours to complete it and the minimum passing scaled score is 70. CMAS exam topics include:

• Medical Assisting Foundations (26 questions/13%)

• Basic Clinical Concepts (14 questions/7%)

• Medical Office Clerical Assisting (20 questions/10%)

• Medical Records Management (24 questions/17%)

• Health Care Insurance Processing, Coding, and Billing (34 questions/17%)

• Medical Office Financial Management (34 questions/17%)

• Medical Office Information Processing (14 questions/7%)

• Medical Office Management (24 questions/12%)

Test Dates

Applicants can register to take the exam anytime Monday through Saturday based on availability at their selected Pearson VUE Testing Center.

Test Results

Test results appear on the computer screen after test completion. AMT also mails a detailed score report to examinees.

Online Application

• Go to the certification website 

• Click “Apply Now” next to the correct eligibility pathway

• Create an account or log in

• Select “Certified Medical Administrative Specialist (CMAS)”

• Click the correct eligibility pathway

• Enter contact information

• Enter education and training information

• Enter employment history

• Click “Agree” under the Examinee Agreement

• Click “Submit:

• Enter payment information

Allow 2 to 3 weeks for processing. AMT issues an Authorization to Test (ATT) upon approval.

CMAS is valid for 3 years, and certification holders must pay an annual fee. Renewal applicants may renew by retaking the exam or earning Certification Continuation Program (CCP) points.

Renewal by Exam

• Print the Recertification by Exam form 

• Insert contact information

• Check the box next to “Certified Medical Administrative Specialist (CMAS)”

• Answer personal information

• Sign and date the Examinee Agreement

• Check the box next to “CMAS”

• Insert payment information

• Submit by emailing to [email protected] or mailing to American Medical Technologists, 10700 West Higgins Road, Suite 150, Rosemont, IL 60018

Once AMT processes applications, candidates receive an ATT and can schedule their exam with Pearson VUE.

Renewal by CCPs

• Print the Recertification by CCP form

• Complete the checklist

• Insert contact information

• Check the box next to “Certified Medical Administrative Specialist (CMAS)”

• Answer personal information

• Insert CCP information

• Sign and date the Attestation

• Check the box next to “CMAS”

• Insert payment information

• Submit by emailing to [email protected] or mailing to American Medical Technologists, 10700 West Higgins Road, Suite 150, Rosemont, IL 60018

Renewal Fees

Annual fee of $75, plus

• Renewal by Exam: $205

• Renewal by CCPs: $205

To be eligible for renewal, applicants must:

• Hold a current, active CMAS certification from the AMT

• Complete 30 CCPs or retake the CMAS exam

• Pay renewal fee

Part of the renewal process requires 30 CCP points. Qualifying activities include:

• Professional Education (no maximum)

• Formal Education (45 points maximum)

• Authorship of Scholarly Works (no maximum)

• Instructional Presentations (no maximum)

• Organizational Participation (9 points maximum)

For full information, refer to the Qualified CCP activities. Applicants can track their CCP points on AMTs online portal, AMTrax.

AMT provides several resources to help prepare for the CMAS exam, including:

• CMAS Content Outline

• Certification Handbook

• CMAS Reference Materials

Other related certifications include:

• Medical Technologist (MT)

• Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT)

• Certified Medical Laboratory Assistant (CMLA)

• Molecular Diagnostics Technologist (MDT)

• Phlebotomy Technician (RPT)