A Certification Guide for Medical Office Administrators
Essential Information and Test Prep Tips to Help You Become Certified
In a recent article, we outlined the steps for how to become a medical office administrator. MOAs, or medical record technicians, play an essential role on the healthcare team. They provide critical support for physicians and patients by organizing and managing health information data. Their job is to maintain the quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security of this data which is vital to the operation of any healthcare facility.
Medical office administrator jobs have many benefits. These include decent wages, job stability, and like so many other healthcare professions, a very positive career outlook.
Another rewarding aspect of becoming a medical office administrator is the ability to advance within the profession. Some enjoy lifelong careers as MOAs, while others use their experience to become a medical or health service manager. After earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree and completing the required certification courses, you could potentially earn as much as $182,600 per year.
For these reasons, many aspiring MOAs will enroll in medical office administration programs to help them prepare for certification in this field. While MOA certification is not always required, having it can significantly improve your chances of gaining employment.
In this guide, we will explore the various certifications available for medical office administrators who wish to advance their careers.
Medical Office Administration Certification
Do You Need a Medical Office Administration Certificate?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most employers prefer to hire medical office administrators who possess certification. If they choose to hire an applicant who isn’t certified, they may expect them to earn certification shortly after they’re hired. There are several credentials/certifications you can seek, such as:
- Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)
- Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS)
- Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
- Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS)
You’ll find that some organizations base their certification on passing an exam, while others simply require graduation from an accredited program.
In addition, many coding certifications require experience in a work setting. Once certified, many medical office administrators are required to renew their certification on a regular basis. In some cases, they may also be required to complete continuing education courses.
The following sections will provide details on each of the medical office administration certifications outlined above.
1. Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) Certification
RHIT Eligibility Requirements
RHIT applicants must meet one of these eligibility requirements:
- Successfully complete the academic requirements, at an associate degree level, of a Health Information Management (HIM) program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM); OR
- Graduate from a Health Information Management program approved by a foreign association with which AHIMA has a reciprocity agreement.
RHIT Exam Prep
- Three and a half hours to complete the exam
- 150 four-option multiple-choice questions
- The exam consists of 130 scored questions and 20 pretest questions.
- The RHIT test is based on an explicit set of competencies that are outlined in the following documents:
- RHIT Exam Content Outline (Effective January 2, 2018)
- RHIT Exam Crosswalk
RHIT Exam Costs
- Premier Member Price: $217.55
- Member Price: $229
- Non-member price: $299
Apply for the exam here.
2. Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) Certification
CEHRS Eligibility Requirements
CEHRS applicants must meet these requirements:
- Successfully completed a program that included electronic health records training within the last 5 years.
- Possess a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalent.
CEHRS Exam Prep
- One hour and fifty minutes to complete the exam
- 100 scored questions and 10 pretest items
- The exam covers topics like software applications and equipment, insurance and billing, charting, regulatory compliance, and reporting.
- Check out this free test plan, or consider other study materials for a fee.
CEHRS Exam Costs
- The cost of the CEHRS exam is about $117.
- If you choose to buy optional study materials, you can incur additional costs that range from $39 to $69.
- Learn more at the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Apply for the exam here.
3. Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) Certification
CMAA Eligibility Requirements
CMAA applicants must meet these requirements:
- Successfully completed a program that included medical administrative assistant training within the last 5 years.
- Possess a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalent.
CMAA Exam Prep
- Two hours and ten minutes to complete the exam
- 110 questions and 20 pretest items
- The exam covers topics like scheduling, patient intake, office logistics, compliance, patient education, general office policies and procedures, and basic medical terminology
- Check out this free test plan, or consider other study materials for a fee
CMAA Exam Costs
- The cost of the CMAA exam is also about $117.
- Optional study materials range in price from $39 to $69.
- Learn more at the NHA.
Apply for the exam here.
4. Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) Certification
CBCS Eligibility Requirements
CBCS applicants must meet these requirements:
- Successfully completed a program that included medical billing and coding training within the last 5 years.
- Possess a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalent.
CBCS Exam Prep
- Two hours to complete the exam
- 100 questions and 20 pretest questions
- The exam will cover topics like regulatory compliance, claims processing, front-end duties, payment adjudication, and coding
- Check out this free test plan, or consider other study materials for a fee
CBCS Exam Costs
- Like some of the others on our list, the cost of the CBCS exam is about $117.
- As you prepare for the test, you might want to purchase some NHA study materials.
- Learn more at the NHA.
Apply for the exam here.
Maintaining Your Medical Office Administration Certification
In order to renew your certification, you will need to check with your certifying organization. Below we’ve included renewal steps for the two organizations we’ve used today.
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
AHIMA provides the following checklist for recertification.
- Obtain 20 continuing education units during your recertification cycle.
- Complete your mandatory annual coding self-reviews (self-assessments), if applicable.
- Participate in accepted and qualified continuing education activities.
- Enter your continuing education units on time.
- Document your continuing education unit activity for auditing.
- Ensure your recertification fee is paid.
National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
Similarly, NHA has outlined the below steps for recertification.
- Log in to your nhanow.com account.
- Select “Renew Certifications” on the left menu.
- Select “Complete More CE” to view the library.
- Complete 15 continuing education credits.
- Pay your reinstatement fee.
Note: To reinstate, you must pay the renewal fee of $253.50 and a $99 reinstatement fee, for a total of $352.50.
Advance Your Career as a Medical Office Administrator
Our goal for this article was to inform you about the certification process for medical office administrators. We hope it gives you the knowledge and confidence to take that next step toward your future.
The healthcare industry is full of wonderful specialties and careers. There are various paths you could choose, as healthcare professionals will always be needed. This is especially evident when you consider the expected job growth for medical office administrators, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
The possibilities are practically limitless. Best of luck!
