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Medical Assistant Glossary

Learn important medical assistant terms.

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Medical Assistant Terms and Organizations


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As you start your medical assistant career, there are several terms, professional associations and certifications with which you should become familiar. Your medical assistant training will no doubt give you a vast vocabulary of medical terms and specialties, but beyond anatomy lessons and procedural definitions, you will want to become familiar with the following associations and medical assistant certifications that will help you take your career to the next level.

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Industry Definitions and Medical Assistant Associations

Allied Health

Allied health is a vast field of health careers comprised of over 100 health care professions including physical therapy, medical assisting, radiologic technology and health information management.

American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)

The American Association of Medical Assistants awards the Certified Medical Assistant credential.

American Medical Technologists (AMT)

American Medical Technologists (AMT) awards the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential.

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Medical Assistant Certifications

Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)

The American Association of Medical Assistants awards the Certified Medical Assistant credential.

Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)

American Medical Technologists (AMT) awards the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential.

Medical Assistant Accrediting Bodies

Accreditation Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)

ABHES is the only agency recognized by the US Department of Education as a specialized accreditor of institutions focusing on health care education and training.

Commission on Accrediation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

CAAHEP is the largest programmatic accreditor in the health sciences field.

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Spotlight Schools

Apollo College

Apollo College provides practical, real-world education. Our medical assistant programs prepare students with clinical instruction, class lectures and practical experience through an externship in a medical facility.


Keiser University

Graduates from Keiser University's medical assisting programs are multi-skilled, able to handle both administrative and clinical duties.


Sanford-Brown College

Sanford-Brown Institute's medical assisting program is designed to provide its students with the skills to assist physicians by performing administrative and basic clinical duties in an office or medical center.