In 1955, the American Association of Medical Assistants, also known as AAMA was founded by the Kansas Medical Assistants Society members. They wanted to create a national organization to gain more recognition and visibility. They had their first meeting two years later, where they created educational events that helped to shape and increase professionalism for medical assistants.
During the 1960s, the certification board for medical assistants was established. Then in 1963, the first official exam was made for Florida, Kansas and California. During 1966, there was an appointment of a special committee that produced the standards for curriculum for the field of medical assisting training.
The qualifications for the field were stretched in the 1970s to include medical assisting students and instructors. Then in 1972, another committee was created to develop a guided home study course. A nationwide exam was created and passed out everywhere in 1978.
Then the Certification Revalidation Program was launched in 1980, which allowed professionals in this field to revalidate their certificates by obtaining continuing education. Or they were offered examination options.
Later on in 1998, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs was established; required exam candidates become graduates of a medical assisting training program that was accredited by them. When graduating from accredited programs, they were eligible to take the certification exam. In 2003, it became mandatory for assistants to recertify. In 2005, it became mandatory to obtain a CPR certificate as well.
