1. Unit 1: Health Assisting
Lesson 3: Education
and Credentials

2. Lesson 3 – Education and Credentials
Career path or ladder
Career Ladder
It is best to think of a career as a path or a ladder. Often, several jobs are taken as steps along the way to an ultimate career goal. There may be many ways to enter the field and achieve the same career goal.
An assistant is a person in an entry-level position whose job is to help a person in a more highly-skilled position. Many health care workers enter the field as assistants. Some may then continue their education and move up the career ladder, but others find that an assistant-level position provides all of the rewards and satisfaction they need.

3. Lesson 3 – Education and Credentials
Career levels
Assistant or aide
Technician
Technologist or therapist
Professional
Career Levels
Common career levels in health care and their typical educational requirements are:   
Assistant or Aide: 1 or more years of training on-the-job, in the classroom, or a combination of both.   
Technician: 2-year associate's degree or 3-4 years of on-the-job training.   
Technologist or Therapist: 3-4 years of college plus work experience. Usually a bachelor's degree, and sometimes a master's degree, is required.   
Professional: 4 or more years of college with a bachelor's or master's degree or a doctorate. Often clinical training is also required.

4. Lesson 3 – Education and Credentials
Health assistants
Nurse assistant
Medical assistant
Medical laboratory assistant
Recreational therapy assistant
Dietetic assistant
Restorative nursing assistant
Hospice assistant
Psychiatric assistant
Health Assistants
Health assistants are important members of health care teams. There are many types of assistants and they have a variety of skills, education, and jobs. Some examples of health assistants are:   
Nurse assistant   
Medical assistant   
Medical laboratory assistant   
Recreational therapy assistant   
Dietetic assistant   
Restorative nursing assistant   
Hospice assistant   
Psychiatric assistant
The vast majority of assistants are nurse assistants or medical assistants.

5. Lesson 3 – Education and Credentials
Nurse assistant education
High school diploma or GED
Trained on the job
State-approved training program and exam to become certified nurse assistants (CNAs)
Nurse Assistant Education
Nurse assistants must have a high school diploma or GED.
Some nurse assistants are trained on the job. Other nurse assistants complete a state-approved training program. After passing a state exam, they become certified and are placed on the state's registry of nurse assistants. These nurse assistants are known as certified nurse assistants (CNAs).

6. Lesson 3 – Education and Credentials
CNA OBRA certification
75 hours state-approved training
16 hours of supervised practical training
Exam
Performance reviews
In-service education
State specific
OBRA Certification
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) is a federal law that regulates health care facilities that receive funding from Medicare or Medicaid. OBRA requires these facilities to hire only CNAs.
According to OBRA, CNAs must complete at least 75 hours of state-approved training. At least 16 of these hours must be supervised practical training. Then CNAs must pass a certification exam. This exam includes a written or oral test and a skills test.
OBRA also requires that CNAs have performance reviews. And they must take part in in-service education. If CNAs do not work for two consecutive years, they must pass another exam. They may also have to complete another training program.
OBRA requirements ensure that CNAs provide quality care to patients.
Each state has specific requirements for CNA training and certification. People interested in becoming a CNA must comply with the requirements in their state.

7. Lesson 3 – Education and Credentials
Medical assistant education
High school diploma or GED
Trained on the job
Training program
Medical Assistant Education
Medical assistants must have a high school diploma or GED.Some medical assistants are trained on the job. Other medical assistants complete a training program.

8. Lesson 3 – Education and Credentials
Certified medical assistants (CMAs) AAMA certification
Training program
Clinical internship
Exam
Continuing education units
AAMA Certification
Medical assistants are not required to be certified or registered. Doing so, though, helps ensure that medical assistants provide quality care to patients.
The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) is an agency that certifies medical assistants. In order to be certified by the AAMA, medical assistants must complete an accredited training program. The program must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). These programs include a clinical internship. After medical assistants pass the AAMA's exam, they become certified. These medical assistants are known as certified medical assistants (CMAs).
To remain certified, the AAMA requires that CMAs be recertified every five years. To do this, they must earn continuing education units (CEUs) or they must pass a recertification exam.

9. Lesson 3 – Education and Credentials
Registered medical assistants (RMAs) AMT certification
AMT Registration
The American Medical Technologists (AMT) has a certification process for medical assistants. Those who complete the AMT requirements are known as registered medical assistants (RMAs).

10. Lesson 3 – Education and Credentials
State regulations
State Regulations
Each state may also have specific regulations for assistants. Assistants are responsible for understanding the regulations in their state, in addition to any facility guidelines. Not following state regulations may result in legal action against the assistant.

11. Lesson 3 – Education and Credentials
Professional organization benefits
Meeting people with similar interests and sharing ideas
Growing more confident and competent in skills through education
Networking
Professional Organizations
Health assistants should join professional organizations. A professional organization is a group that exists to further a certain career.
Taking part in professional organizations provides many benefits, including:   
Meeting people with similar interests and sharing ideas.   
Growing more confident and competent in professional skills through education.   
Opportunities for networking

12. Lesson 3 – Education and Credentials
Student organization benefits
Enhance student’s education in quality and impact
Sponsor competitions
Award scholarships
Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
Skills USA-VICA
Student Organizations
While in training, assistants should become involved in student organizations. In addition to offering similar benefits as professional organizations, student organizations:   
Enhance the student's education in both its quality and impact. They strive to help the student build knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will lead to success in the workplace.   
Sponsor special competitions with the goal to encourage pride and excellence in work.  
Award scholarships to make sure that deserving students can get the further training they need.
Two national organizations that assist students who are studying health assisting careers are:   
Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), whose mission is "to promote career opportunities in health care and to enhance delivery of quality health care to all people."   
SkillsUSA-VICA, formerly the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, which serves students enrolled in training programs for technical, skilled, and service occupations.

13. Lesson 3 – Education and Credentials
Professional development
Courses
Workshops
Seminars
Articles in professional journals
Professional development
Professional development means that even after becoming employed, a person needs to continue to get more education. Health assistants must frequently adapt to new technologies and procedures. A commitment to lifelong learning is important in order to keep skills up-to-date and stay competitive in the job market.
Resources for professional development may include:   
Courses   
Workshops   
Seminars   
Articles in professional journals
Places to look for such resources may include:   
Your place of work   
Professional organizations   
Local technical or career schools, colleges, or universities   
The Internet

14. Lesson 3 – Education and Credentials
Continuing education units (CEUs)
Specified amount of additional education
Continuing Education Units
In many careers, continuing education units (CEUs) are required to stay certified and registered. A CEU represents a specified amount of additional education. Usually a minimum number of CEUs are required within a certain amount of time.
Each state and facility may have specific requirements for professional development. Assistants must comply with these requirements.

15. Lesson 3 – Education and Credentials
Additional training
Taking knowledge, skills, and experience to the next career level
Additional Training
After people have worked as health assistants, they may want to take their knowledge, skills, and experience to the next level. They can do this through additional training.
For example, a nurse assistants may want to become:   
certified nurse assistant   
licensed practical nurse   
registered nurse   
nurse practitioner
For example, medical assistants may want to become:   
certified or registered medical assistant   
Medical records technician   
Medical laboratory technician   
Phlebotomist   
Registered Nurse