NAHP (NRCMA) Recertification: What You Need to Know

NAHP (NRCMA) Recertification: What You Need to Know

Maintaining your Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant (NRCMA) certification through the National Association for Health Professionals (NAHP) requires continuing education and renewal every two years.

Keeping track of your CE credits, expiration date, documentation, and renewal requirements can help you maintain an active credential and avoid complications if your certification expires.

Because certification policies and fees can change, always verify the current requirements directly with NAHP before completing your renewal.

How Often Does an NAHP NRCMA Need to Renew?

The NAHP NRCMA certification follows a two-year renewal cycle.

Your certification must be renewed before the expiration date listed on your NRCMA credential.

Rather than waiting until the final weeks of your certification period, it is a good idea to check your certification status periodically and keep track of your continuing education progress.

What Is the NAHP Renewal Fee?

The current renewal fee is listed as $95.

Certification fees can change, so verify the current fee through NAHP before submitting your renewal materials.

How Many Continuing Education Credits Are Required?

NAHP requires 10 continuing education (CE) credits for NRCMA renewal.

These credits should be completed during your certification period and must meet the applicable requirements for renewal.

A simple way to stay on track is to aim for approximately 5 CE credits per year during the two-year certification cycle.

This is a planning strategy rather than a separate annual requirement.

What Types of Continuing Education Can You Use?

Continuing education should be relevant to your professional responsibilities and healthcare practice.

Potentially appropriate topics may include:

• Medical assisting
• Healthcare
• Clinical skills
• Patient care
• Professional development
• Other relevant healthcare subjects

If you plan to use a course from an outside provider, verify that the CE activity is acceptable to NAHP before completing the course.

This is especially important when a provider's course does not specifically identify NAHP as an accepted CE organization.

What Documentation Should You Keep?

Keep documentation for every continuing education activity you complete.

CE certificates should include information such as:

• Course title
• Completion date
• CE provider information
• Number of CE credits earned

If CPR documentation is being used toward applicable CE requirements, keep your current CPR documentation as well.

Maintaining organized records can make renewal much easier if NAHP requests supporting documentation.

A simple recordkeeping strategy

Create a digital folder for your current certification period and save each CE certificate as soon as you complete the activity.

This prevents the common problem of trying to locate multiple certificates several months—or years—after completing a course.

Does NAHP Review CE Documentation?

CE documentation may be required as part of the renewal process.

For this reason, certificants should maintain copies of all certificates and supporting documentation rather than assuming that completed education will automatically be accepted.

When using outside CE, verify that the activity meets NAHP's requirements before completing it.

How Do You Submit CE Credits?

Renewal materials are submitted through the NAHP certification system according to the organization's current renewal instructions.

The renewal process generally involves providing:

1. Your required CE documentation.

2. Any other required renewal information.

3. The applicable renewal payment.

Before submitting your renewal, review your records to make sure you have completed the required 10 CE credits and have documentation available for each activity.

What Happens If Your Certification Expires?

If your NRCMA certification expires, you should contact NAHP to determine what steps are required to regain active certification.

Depending on the circumstances, NAHP may require:

• Renewal through an applicable expired-certification process
• Additional documentation
• Meeting current certification requirements
• Retesting

Because the requirements can depend on the status of the expired credential, don't assume that an expired certification can simply be renewed by paying the regular renewal fee.

Contact NAHP for instructions specific to your situation.

Can You Renew by Examination?

Yes.

Individuals who do not maintain active certification may need to meet current eligibility requirements and retake the certification examination.

If your credential has expired, check with NAHP before attempting to register for an examination. Current eligibility and testing requirements may apply.

Does NAHP Require a Professional Membership?

No separate professional membership requirement is listed for maintaining NRCMA certification.

Maintaining the credential requires meeting the applicable certification requirements and submitting the required renewal materials.

A Simple NAHP NRCMA Renewal Strategy

The NRCMA's two-year renewal cycle gives you time to complete your 10 CE credits.

The easiest way to stay organized is to treat continuing education as an ongoing professional development activity.

During your two-year certification period:

1. Track your CE credits.
Keep a running total of completed CE.

2. Choose relevant education.
Focus on medical assisting, healthcare, clinical skills, patient care, and professional development.

3. Verify outside CE.
Make sure an activity is acceptable before relying on it for renewal.

4. Save your certificates.
Keep documentation showing the course information, provider, date, and CE credits.

5. Maintain CPR documentation.
If CPR documentation is applicable to your renewal or CE requirements, keep your current documentation available.

6. Check your expiration date.
Know when your NRCMA certification expires.

Before your expiration date:

Make sure you have:

• Completed the required 10 CE credits
• Saved your CE certificates
• Confirmed that your CE activities meet NAHP requirements
• Gathered any applicable CPR documentation
• Reviewed your certification expiration date
• Prepared your renewal materials
• Confirmed the current renewal fee
• Submitted your renewal before expiration

Don't Wait Until Your Certification Expires

One of the easiest ways to avoid renewal complications is to complete the process before your expiration date.

If your certification expires, you may need to contact NAHP to determine whether additional documentation, a different renewal process, or retesting is required.

Maintaining your certification throughout the two-year cycle is generally much simpler than trying to resolve an expired credential later.

Quick Reference: NAHP NRCMA Recertification

Requirement	NAHP NRCMA Information
Renewal fee	$95*
Renewal cycle	Every 2 years
CE requirement	10 CE credits per renewal cycle
Recommended planning pace	Approximately 5 credits per year
Renewal deadline	Before certification expiration
CE topics	Medical assisting, healthcare, clinical skills, patient care, professional development, and related topics
Documentation	CE certificates and applicable supporting documentation
CPR documentation	Maintain current documentation when applicable
Separate membership required?	No separate membership requirement listed
Expired certification	Contact NAHP for applicable requirements
Renewal by examination	May be required for inactive/expired certification
CE submission	Through the NAHP certification system
Renewal information	https://nahpusa.com/nrcma

*Fees and requirements may change. Verify the current renewal fee and requirements directly with NAHP before renewing.

Where Can You Find NAHP NRCMA Renewal Information?

NAHP provides NRCMA certification and renewal information through its website.

NAHP NRCMA Information/Renewal:
https://nahpusa.com/nrcma

Important Reminder

Certification fees, CE requirements, approved educational activities, expiration policies, and renewal procedures can change. Always verify the current requirements directly with the National Association for Health Professionals (NAHP) before completing continuing education or submitting your renewal.

This article is intended as an educational overview and should not replace NAHP's official certification policies and requirements.