Allied Health Certificate, Certification, and Licensure Information
Note the difference among the following terms.
Certificate of Completion: The college awards a certificate of completion or achievement at the end of a training program. However, they cannot award certification.
Professional certification: Provided either through government or professional agencies (such as AAPC, the American Association for Professional Coders). Some healthcare jobs require professional certification. Certification can involve a test that may cost $100-$300, depending on the test. Most certification tests are valid anywhere in the nation.
State Licensure: Some states (such as Washington State) require that the student complete a training course, pass a certification test, and apply for licensure through the state before they can get a job in certain health professions. Licensure doesn’t require another test–just an application and documentation of your training and certification.
See below for options and whether certification and/or licensure is required in Washington State for that job.
Administrative Programs
MAA: Medical Administrative Assistant
Certification Required in WA? NO.
Certification Recommended? Yes. It will help put you at the top of the employment candidate list.
Agencies Offering Certification:
- Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) through NHA (National Healthcareer Association)
- National Certified Medical Office Assistant (NCMOA) through NCCT (National Center for Competency Testing)
State Licensure Required? NO.
MBC: Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
Certification Required in WA? NO. Not required by the state government.
Certification Recommended? Yes! Definitely. Most employers REQUIRE certification (pick one below).
Agencies Offering Certification in Coding:
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC) through AAPC (American Association for Professional Coders)
- Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) through AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association)
Agencies Offering Certification in Billing:
- Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) through AMBA (American Medical Billing Association)
- Certified Professional Biller (CPB ) through AAPC (American Association for Professional Coders)
Clinical Programs
MA-P: Phlebotomist
Certification Required in WA? No…just training.
Certification Recommended? Yes.
Agencies Offering Certification:
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
State Licensure Required? YES. Complete training, and then apply for a license through Washington State
CLA: Clinical Lab Assistant
Certification Required in WA? No…just training
Certification Recommended? Yes–after 6 months of full-time employment
Agencies Offering Certification:
Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) through ASCP
- Click on U.S. Certfications. Under Technician Certifications, click on MLA.
- See Route 6 MLA certification option
- High school graduation or equivalent,
- AND successful completion of an acceptable two-part formal structured medical laboratory assistant (MLA) program within the last five years which consists of classroom training and clinical laboratory training,
- AND six months of full time acceptable clinical** experience as a laboratory assistant in an acceptable laboratory within the last five years.
Applicants should not apply until after successful completion of the structured program.
State Licensure Required? No.
MA-C: Clinical Medical Assistant
Certification Required in WA? YES.
Agencies Offering Certification (that are accepted by WA State):
- National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) Examination through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) (preferred by BC)
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Examination through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) (preferred by BC)
- Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification Examination through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Certification Examination through the American Medical Technologists (AMT)
State Licensure Required? YES. Complete training, plus one of the above certification tests, and THEN apply for a license through Washington State
Last Updated May 8, 2023
