Difference between CMA & RMA

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Specializes in Family Practice.

Hello folks. I hope someone can help me out.

I am a RN in a large family practice office. This week I have been orienting a new CMA who says she came from a smaller office then ours- one or two drs I think. We were talking about calling prescri ptions into pharmacies & she asked which controlled substances she would be allowed to call it. I honestly did not know, & asked another CMA standing nearby. She told us 'I can call anything in my Dr wants me to call in'.

Later on that day I asked my supervisor if there were any 'dos and dont's '. Supervisor told me that CMAs cannot call any meds in but RMAs can.

Now I am confused. What is the difference between CMA & RMA? Don't you have to pass a exam for both of them?

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.

When I was a CMA the only diff between CMA and RMA was the organization that you tested through. I would not think that things have changed since then.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.

According to the American Association of Medical Assistants....

The CMA (AAMA) represents a medical

assistant who has been certified by the

Certifying Board of the American Association

of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The RMA is

given by another organization, the American

Medical Technologists. The CMA (AAMA)

and Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) are

both voluntary, national credentials for the

medical assisting profession

See full text here... http://www.aama-ntl.org/resources/library/CMAandRMA.pdf

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
jb2u said:
When I was a CMA the only diff between CMA and RMA was the organization that you tested through. I would not think that things have changed since then.

:yeahthat: When I was a CMA (before nursing school) I was allowed to call in meds if they were refills, but if the dose changed or instructions on how to take them (i.e. BID to TID ect) then the doc had to call it in or I could fax his hand written Rx with the new med/change of med. (not many docs called them in, they usually wrote them and had me fax them)

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Specializes in Family Practice.

Thanks for your help. Were you (CMAs)allowed to call things in like Valium, Vicodin, T3s?

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
chowlover said:
Thanks for your help. Were you (CMAs)allowed to call things in like Valium, Vicodin, T3s?

Yes, I could call anything that was a refill except for triplicates (.i.e. oxycodone) because it can not be faxed or called in, it can only be filled when the patient brings in the Rx on a special Rx form (hence triplicate)...as long as the Valium, vicodin ect was not a new Rx or an Rx change then I could call them in

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Specializes in Plastic surgery and Med/surg.
HeartsOpenWide said:
Yes, I could call anything that was a refill except for triplicates (.i.e. oxycodone) because it can not be faxed or called in, it can only be filled when the patient brings in the Rx on a special Rx form (hence triplicate)...as long as the Valium, vicodin ect was not a new Rx or an Rx change then I could call them in

When I was a CMA (certified medical assistant) I was able to do the same thing. I even worked for a doctor that he would have me fill out the Rx's, but he would sign them. Like you said, if it was a Rx change he would have to call it in and give them his DEA number, but rarely did this happen. Most times we would just fax it in or call the number and give 1 refill at a time.

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HI

The difference between a RMA and a CMA is that the RMA holds an associates degree and the exam that the RMA takes is more in depth than the exam that a CMA takes. A CMA usually only goes to school for about nine months. Hope this helps!

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Specializes in OBGYN.
cfranciscus said:
HI

The difference between a RMA and a CMA is that the RMA holds an associates degree and the exam that the RMA takes is more in depth than the exam that a CMA takes. A CMA usually only goes to school for about nine months. Hope this helps!

I hold an Associates Degree in Medical Assisting. The program that I went through was from an accredited community college in NC. After completing the program, I applied for and passed (95% score), intense 300 question examination to become a Certified Medical Assistant through the American Association of Medical Assistants. You DO NOT have to have an Associates Degree to be a CMA OR RMA. I am NOT trying to be ugly but MANY people have mentioned this before. I actually happen to work with 2 "Seasoned" medical assistants whom are an RMA and a CMA. Neither one of them went to school for their roles. They were on-the-job trained several years ago and were both each eligible to sit for both exams. Also, for the record, I am eligible to sit for the AMT:RMA exam as well.

RMA Requirements: http://www.amt1.com/site/epage/15333_315.htm

CMA Requirements: http://www.aama-ntl.org/becomeCMA/faqs_certification.aspx#requirements

Thank you for letting me put my in!! ?

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I am a CMA (11 years now) and can call in whatever the doctor orders (as long as its a med that can be called in) Doesn't matter if its a refill or new med.

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Actually, I am in the process of receiving my Associate of applied science of medical assisting and would like to educate some of you that have some facts wrong.

A Certified Medical Assistant is a higher credential than the Registered Medical Assistant. A CMA must graduate from an accredited university or college with an associate of applied science. You must take this step before you can even apply to take the exam to become a cma. However, in order to become a rma you only have to be educated, say a tech school that some high schools offer. CMA can do much more than an Ma/RMA. I do plan to take the exam and become a CMA/AAMA

I hope this helps and if any of you have any further questions I would be glad to help!

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ncnurse2b715 said:
i hold an associates degree in medical assisting. the program that i went through was from an accredited community college in nc. after completing the program, i applied for and passed (95% score), intense 300 question examination to become a certified medical assistant through the american association of medical assistants. you do not have to have an associates degree to be a cma or rma. i am not trying to be ugly but many people have mentioned this before. i actually happen to work with 2 "seasoned" medical assistants whom are an rma and a cma. neither one of them went to school for their roles. they were on-the-job trained several years ago and were both each eligible to sit for both exams. also, for the record, i am eligible to sit for the amt:rma exam as well.

rma requirements: http://www.amt1.com/site/epage/15333_315.htm

cma requirements: http://www.aama-ntl.org/becomecma/faqs_certification.aspx#requirements

thank you for letting me put my in!! ?

hi,

if you go to the aama website you will read that you must possess an associate from an accredited college or university before you can take the exam. i hope this helps girl!

q: am i eligible to take the exam?

a: to qualify for the exam, you must be in one of three enrollment categories:

category 1:
completing students and recent graduates of
  • completing students may take the exam no more than 30 days prior to completing their formal education, including a practicum.
  • recent graduates are those who apply for the exam within 12 months of graduation.
category 2:
nonrecent graduates of a
nonrecent graduates are those who apply for the exam more than 12 months after graduation.
category 3:
cma (aama) recertificant
you must have previously passed the exam and been awarded the cma (aama) credential.
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