ARMA was incorporated on September 22, 1950 by the originators who were Registered Nurses and assistants in local medical offices, hence the title "Registered" applies to our members. We are registered with the Federal Government, Washington, DC, and have been designated a non-profit organization.

Being a national registry, we are represented in every state, including corpsmen and medics in military service hospitals and clinics, and currently have a membership in the many thousands. We are not an employment agency, training center or a school operating for profit, but rather an organization whose purpose is to advance the status and professionalism of the Medical Assistant. Our members are represented in many areas within the medical allied health professions.

We are now seeing the results of our efforts in that many medical facilities now require registration (certification) prior to hiring new employees. This is manifesting itself into upgrading the "Medical Assistant" as a true professional as well as upgrading her/his salary scale.

The many schools and colleges with whom we are affiliated incorporate their students' registration with their graduation exercises.

Currently, the requirement for annual renewal is the accumulation of a minimum of 12 Continuing Educational Activities - equivalent to learning, or attendance in some area within the medical field - to maintain one's proficiency and professionalism.

Since, as stated earlier, many of our members are certified in other areas within the medical profession and are required by those organizations to obtain CEU's to comply, we may accept those acquired to satisfy our requirements.

We are always on the lookout for additional areas, which may assist our members to a better way of life while keeping our fees as low as possible.

The Registry is an independent organization in no way connected to other medical assisting certifying agencies or organizations. We operate with a Board of Directors of which the Director and Executive Secretary are the primary officers involved in the day-to-day operation of the office. Work performed by all Board Members is done without remuneration.

Required

Applicant shall be a graduate of an approved, accredited High School or its equivalent

Copy of Social Security Card , from the USA Social Security Administration, with your signature

Copy of Photo Identification with your signature - unexpired state issued driver's license, state or federal issued identification card, or passport

If there are any discrepancies between valid identification and the documents submitted for review, include a copy of additional government issued identification or legal documentation to substantiate the discrepancies.

May be Required

Copy of diploma or certificate of completion from an accredited medical, nursing or medical assisting institute

Copy of transcripts from a medical, nursing or medical assisting program may be required

An original, official letter of recommendation from the physician for whom you are employed, on original facility letterhead, stating dates of employment, specific clinical and clerical duties performed and the physician's determination you are qualified to be a traditional medical assistant. This letter must include the physician's signature and medical license number, as this is an official letter. If you work for a major medical facility, an original, official letter from the Human Resource Department stating dates of employment and a copy of the official posted job description for your position are acceptable. Foreign Physicians or Nurses: If you do not have an official letter of recommendation as stated above, a copy of your official government issued Physician or Nursing work history is acceptable.

If you are in the USA military, a copy of your SMART/AARTS/CCAFS/ACE transcripts and a letter of recommendation from your Commander or Department Head are necessary. Also include a legible copy of your government issued photo ID and social security card. If you have access to your diploma or certificate of completion, please submit a copy.

We must receive copies of original and official translations of all documentation submitted for final review. If requested documentation is not included with your application, your application will be rejected. The application fee is non-refundable.

 If you are applying from an accredited affiliate school of ARMA, the appropriate representative of the school must sign Part II of the application

If you are applying and submitting a copy of your diploma/certificate and transcripts in medical assisting from an accredited, non-affiliate school, you must have a minimum of 1 year on the job experience as a traditional medical assistant, with an above stated letter of recommendation.

If you are on the job trained and have received extensive on the job training as a traditional medical assistant, you must have a minimum of 3 years on the job experience performing the clinical and clerical duties of a traditional medical assistant, with an above stated letter of recommendation.

Please Be Aware

You are submitting any documents to us at this time, please wait to receive an official application before submitting unrequested documents.

Anything you state below you can submit will be necessary for the final review of your application.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact ARMA.

  Please be advised: It takes 6-8 weeks processing time for Reinstatement Requests upon receiving your Documentation.

Read each option carefully to determine which one applies to you. Contact the ceu@aarma-online.org if you have concerns regarding your eligibility to reinstate.
OPTION 1. If it has been less than 2 years since you have been inactive and you are working as a Medical Assistant, you will need to submit 12 CEUS per calendar year for each year you have not renewed. (Minimum of 24 CEUS)

OPTION 2. If you are presently working as a medical assistant:

If you have been inactive for over 2 years and you are working as a medical assistant, you will need a copy of a recently dated official letter of recommendation from your physician-employer stating the specific clinical and clerical duties you perform, your dates of employment and his/her determination you are qualified to be reinstated to active status. This must be on Facility Letter Head, with the physician’s typed name, license number, and signature. You will also need to submit 12 CEUS per calendar year for each year you have not renewed, for a minimum of 3 years. (Minimum of 36 CEUS)

If you are working at a major medical facility, and cannot obtain a physician letter of recommendation as stated above, you will need a copy of a recently dated official letter from the Human Resource Department stating your dates of employment and a copy of your official job description for the position you hold. You will also need to submit 12 CEUS per calendar year for each year you have not renewed, for a minimum of 3 years. (minimum of 36 CEUS)

OPTION 3. If you have been inactive for over 2 years but less than 5 years and you have not been working as a medical assistant, volunteer at a physician’s office, clinic or hospital - If you explain your situation, they may oblige you with a "position" so you may obtain a recent letter of recommendation verifying your performance of the clinical and clerical medical assisting duties.

A minimum of 160 hours are required. You will also need to submit a minimum of 36 CEUS.

Option 4: If you have been inactive for over 5 years and working as a medical assistant, you will need a minimum of one year documented recent on the job experience as a medical assistant and a minimum of 36 CEUS to be able to reinstate. Your recent employment must be within one year of the year in which you are reinstating. You will need an original official letter of recommendation from your physician-employer stating the specific clinical and clerical duties you perform, your dates of employment and his/her determination you are qualified to be reinstated to active status. This must be on Facility Letter Head, with the physician’s typed name, license number, and signature.

After purchasing a replacement wallet card:

You should use the contact us form above to submit your up to date information, along with the Item Number provided by PayPal. If your name has changed you will need to email legal documentiation to the CEU Department.

ARMA members and non-members may purchase online CEUs:

You must be currently logged into your online account. If you do not have an account you can use the "Create Account" link on the top right.

All purchases are non-refundable.

You will receive an email from "ARMA CEU@arma-online.org" after clicking "Place Order" and are the redirected to PayPal. This is not proof of purchase.

After you have been redirected to PayPal, do NOT sign into your personal PayPal. Please use the "Pay with debit or credit, or Paypal Credit" option below the PayPal login box. If asked to set up a personal PayPal account choose "no" or "not now".

Immediately after you have completed the purchase through PayPal you will receive another email. Please note the "Item Number" listed is confirmation of your purchase.

Please Note: Activation of your account is 24-48 hours after your purchase and ARMA has received confirmation of your payment from PayPal; Please be sure to login after the allotted time of activation to begin taking your ceus.

Your online CEUs may accessed using the "Available CEU Topics" link from your profile page.

If you have been a member of ARMA in the past, please contact ARMA for further instructions or visit the reinstatement page for more information.

To receive an application you must submit the following Pre-Qualification form online. Please be aware processing takes up to 6 to 8 weeks for review. If you are not eligible to apply or clarification is required, you will be contacted via email. Please be sure to check both your Inbox and Junk Email for possible correspondence from ARMA.

Email us any questions concerning pre-qualifications.

1. Complete the Pre-Qualification Form
   
   We suggest:
   
   Read each question carefully before you enter your information.
   
   Include:
   Your dates of employment (start-end/mo-yr) with the medical facilities you worked.
   
   The department/specialty in which you work or worked.
   
   Please be specific with the clinical hands-on core competency skills/procedures you perform on a daily basis.
   
   If you attended school for medical assisting, state as such.
   
   We suggest you have your diploma/certificate and transcripts.
   
   You will need letters of recommendation as stated on the pre-qualification form.
   
   We will review your form for eligibility to apply.
   
   


2. Receive official application and confirmation notice from ARMA via USPS


3. Mail back the application with required non-refundable application fee and documentation as listed on the confirmation notice for final review


4. Receive your official acceptance package via USPS

To begin the above explained application process to become a Registered Medical Assistant with ARMA please complete the following Pre-Qualification form.

If a section does not pertain to you (IE: You are not currently, nor have ever been, in the US Military) leave the section blank and continue to the next.

All Applications Will Require:

• Valid US Photo Identification


• Valid Signed US Social Security Card


• Letter(s) from each employer you list below may be required


• Official Translation for each Non-English Document

All ARMA online ceu tracker accounts are activated within 2 business days. Purchases are non-refundable

For information about Renewing your registration please go here.

If your registration is expired you may need to Reinstate, go here for more information.

To print your tracker list for Renewal or Reinstatement, click here.

The CEU year is from January 1st of each calendar year to December 31st.

The new year of CEUs will become available as early as the end of January for purchase and completion.

Only CEUs that have been purchased and activated will appear below. If additional years of CEUs need to be purchased you may go here to do so.