Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Renewal Requirements
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Created On: Sunday, December 15, 2019
Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Renewal Requirements
Please Note: The following information is provided for those RMAs that obtain credentials from the American Registry of Medical Assistants (ARMA). If information is needed in regards to renewing through a different organization, RMAs are responsible for contacting the necessary organization that maintains their certification.
ARMA membership runs from January 1st to December 31st of each year. Renewal is obtained with completion of CEUs the prior year before membership expiration. For example, if an RMA is seeking renewal in 2020, they will need to complete their CEUs in 2019, and so forth. You may obtain CEUs from wherever you wish.
To maintain membership with ARMA, RMAs must meet the guidelines provided below:
Active Renewal Status (currently a member of ARMA) – If an RMA is submitting earned CEUs from a facility other than the ARMA - they are to be either 12 in the clinical/medical content OR 6 in the clinical/medical content AND 6 in the clerical, administrative, front office or “other” content.
ARMA will accept Domestic Violence, HIPAA, HIV/AIDS, CPR, and OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens as “6 other”. Once the RMA has obtained the required minimum CEUs, they may then send in the renewal or reinstatement form.
Conversion rate:
1 CEU = 10 contact hours. The RMA is required to complete 120 contact hours (or 12 CEUs) per calendar year.
Lapsed Renewal Status (2 years or less) – If it has been less than 2 years since the RMA has been inactive, they will need to submit 12 CEUs per calendar year for each year they have not renewed (minimum of 24 CEUs).
Lapsed Renewal Status (greater than 2 years but still working as an RMA) – These RMAs will need to submit 12 CEUs per calendar year for each year they have not renewed, for a minimum of 3 years (minimum of 36 CEUs). In addition to the 36 CEUS, this RMA will need to submit an original official letter of recommendation from their physician-employer or from Human Resources; depending on the type of facility the RMA works in. Please see the ARMA page on reinstatement requests.
Lapsed Renewal Status (greater than 2 years, less than 5, but not working as an RMA) – In addition to the 36 CEUs, ARMA suggests these RMAs take a refresher course at an area school of medical assisting or volunteer at a physician’s office, clinic, or hospital. An original, official letter of recommendation from the school or place of volunteering must be submitted with the reinstatement form.
Lapsed Renewal Status (greater than 5 years) – A minimum of one year documented, recent on-the-job experience as a medical assistant and a minimum of 36 CEUs are required in order to be able to reinstate. Recent employment must be within one year of the year of reinstatement.
