Most of Martinsburg College’s programs provide students with the opportunity to sit for industry certification exams. Industry certifications are generally accepted as a valuable credential in the workplace to indicate specific competencies. Industry certifications are distinct from programs of study that lead to state licensure such as nursing and teaching. Currently, none of Martinsburg College’s programs prepare students to sit for state licensure exams such as nursing or teaching programs.

There are currently three programs offered by the college: Pharmacy Technician, and Medical Assisting, in which some states require that students pass a certification exam in order to work in the field. Listed below is the information regarding state requirements for each of these three programs.

Pharmacy Technician Program

Martinsburg College’s Pharmacy Technician program provides students with the skills commonly expected of entry-level Pharmacy Technicians and the knowledge required to sit for the two most recognized national certification exams: the PTCE (administered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board – PTCB) and the ExCPT (administered by the National Healthcareer Association – NHA).

Upon graduation, students seeking certification will receive specific information in preparation to sit for the PTCB or the ExCPT exams which are the two national certifications that qualify students to apply for registration or licensure in the majority of states. Students who have not worked in the pharmacy technician field must complete a pharmacy technician training program offered by an accredited or state-recognized institution or provider in order to take the ExCPT certification exam. Our program meets this requirement

As state requirements to work as a Pharmacy Technician vary from state to state, prospective students should check with their state’s Board of Pharmacy or equivalent licensing body for details prior to enrolling in a pharmacy technician program. If you plan on moving to another state, check that state’s requirements also. Please note that completion of the training program alone may not permit you to work in a state as a Pharmacy Technician; you may also need to pass a national certification test (please see below for further information.) As the regulations vary from state to state, we strongly advise prospective students to check the state-specific requirements relating to the requirements for Pharmacy Technicians in the state in which they plan to work. Listed below is a link to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) in order for prospective students to check the requirements in the states in which they plan to work as a Pharmacy Technician: https://www.nabp.net/boards-of-pharmacy/

Martinsburg College has determined that its curriculum meets the state requirements for graduates to be registered/licensed as a pharmacy technician in the following states, upon passing a national certification test, when required:

*State requires students to pass either the PTCE or the ExCPT exam.
** State requires students to pass the PTCE exam.
*** State requires students to pass either the PTCE or ExCPT within 1 – 2 years of working as a Pharmacy Technician.

Martinsburg College’s Pharmacy Technician program does not meet the requirements in the following states:

Martinsburg College does not accept enrollments from residents of these states in this program. Prospective students residing in these states on a temporary basis may request a waiver indicating that they have no plans to work as a pharmacy technician in these states.

In addition to the requirements listed above, most states have the following prerequisites to work as a pharmacy technician:

• Must be a high school graduate or equivalent
• Must not have any felony convictions (this varies by states, for example, some states require individuals not to have any felony convictions within the last five years.
• Must be required to pass a background check and/ or drug screen
• Currently 21 states require passing a national certification test (see below for more information)
• Must be fluent in English

As technician training grows and technicians increase their presence in the pharmacy, regulation of their practice will most likely become more standardized. Thus, students that complete their Martinsburg College Pharmacy Technician program should seek certification by completing either the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) offered through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), or the Examination for Certified Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) offered through the National Healthcareer Association. Upon completion of your program, you will be advised if there are any restrictions on which test you may take depending upon the state in which you plan to work.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB)

The PTCB develops, maintains, promotes, and administers a certification and recertification program for pharmacy technicians. The goal of PTCB’s certification program is to enable pharmacy technicians to work more effectively with pharmacists to offer greater patient care and service. Practice tests and other resources are available to Martinsburg College students to help them successfully complete the PTCE examination.

Individuals who meet all eligibility requirements and who successfully pass PTCB’s Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) become a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). There are two parts to being a CPhT. First, pharmacy technicians must sit for and pass the national PTCE. Once a pharmacy technician has passed the exam, he or she may use the designation of CPhT. Second, to continue to hold certification, a CPhT is required to obtain 20 hours of continuing education for recertification within two years of original certification or previous recertification.

The PTCE is available year-round at over 200 Pearson Professional Centers nationwide. See PTCB’s Web site for more information at www.ptcb.org

The fee to take the PTCE is currently $129 (as of August 2022). As fees may change, please check the PTCB website for the most up-to-date information.

National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

Since 1989, the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) has awarded more than 750,000 certifications to healthcare students and professionals, providing them with nationally recognized measurements of competency.

NHA engages with both regulatory and legislative bodies to promote certification for the industry and for the people working in it. The association is committed to developing, advancing, and advocating for the frontline healthcare worker.

Practice tests and other resources are available to Martinsburg College students to help them successfully complete the ExCPT examination.

Students may take the ExCPT in an online, proctored environment.

The fee to take the ExCPT is currently $125 (as of August 2022). As fees may change, please check the NHA website for the most up-to-date information www.nhanow.com

The ExCPT test may be taken at PSI Testing Centers www.psiexams.com

Medical Assisting Program

Martinsburg College’s Medical Assisting program provides students with the skills commonly expected of entry-level Medical Assistants and the knowledge required to sit for several national certification exams. Currently, there are no state licensure requirements for Medical Assistants, however, three states: Arizona, South Dakota, and Washington State require students to pass certification exams in order to work in the field. Martinsburg College’s program meets the requirements in these three states.

Arizona

State requires students to pass one of the following certification exams in addition to program completion: Registered Medical Assistant Exam through American Medical Technologists (AMT); or Clinical Medical Assistant Exam through the National Health Career Association (NHA).

South Dakota

Upon completion of an accredited program, students must register with the South Dakota Board of Medical Examiners prior to practicing as a medical assistant. https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/2059839

Washington State

Washington State has two pathways: Registered Medical Assistant and Certified Medical Assistant. The program meets the state requirements for both the Registered pathway and the Certified pathways. If students wish to apply for the Certified pathway, in addition to completing the program, they will need to complete a 160-hour externship and pass one of the following certification exams; or Registered Medical Assistant Exam through American Medical Technologists (AMT); or Clinical Medical Assistant Exam through the National Health Career Association (NHA); or National Certified Medical Assistant Exam through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT); or Clinical Medical Assistant Certification Examination through the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA).

Certification Exams

Martinsburg College’s program helps prepares students to take the following certification exams:

• Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)*

*This certification requires a minimum of 160-hour practicum/externship (or 1,000 hours of medical assisting experience following program completion) completed in an outpatient setting to be eligible to take the certification exam. Students who graduate from the Medical Assisting Program by August 31, 2029, will be eligible, through the AAMA CMA Pilot Program, to take the AAMA Certified Medical Assistant professional certification exam, if they meet eligibility requirements. Certification eligibility requirements are subject to change. See qualifications for eligibility to take the certification exam through the pilot program: https://www.aama-ntl.org/cma-aama-exam/eligibility-pilot-program.

Upon graduation, students seeking certification will receive specific information in preparation to sit for certification exams.

Although most states do not have specific licensure requirements for Medical Assistants, students should be aware of the requirements below, as most positions in this field have the following prerequisites to work as a medical assistant:

• Must be a high school graduate or equivalent
• Must not have any felony convictions (this varies by states, for example, some states require individuals not to have any felony convictions within the last five years)
• Must be able to pass a background check and/ or drug screen
• May require passing a national certification test (see below for more information)
• Must be fluent in English

Medical Assisting students have the opportunity to complete an optional 160-hour externship in a setting that provides the hands-on and clinical experience necessary to develop skills needed by medical assistants. Some externship sites may have additional requirements, such as a background check and drug screen, which may incur additional costs.

Martinsburg College has determined that its curriculum meets the state requirements in the following states:

* State requires students to pass one of the following certification exams in addition to program completion: Certified Medical Assistant Exam through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA); or Registered Medical Assistant Exam through American Medical Technologists (AMT); or Clinical Medical Assistant Exam through the National Health Career Association (NHA).

** State requires registration with the South Dakota Board of Medical Examiners prior to practicing as a medical assistant.

***For the Certified Medical Assistant designation, state requires completing a 160-hour externship (in addition to program completion) and passing one of the following certification exams: Registered Medical Assistant Exam through American Medical Technologists (AMT); or Clinical Medical Assistant Exam through the National Health Career Association (NHA); or National Certified Medical Assistant Exam through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT); or Clinical Medical Assistant Certification Examination through the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA).

In addition to the requirements listed above, most states have the following prerequisites to work as a medical assistant:

• Must be a high school graduate or equivalent
• Must not have any felony convictions (this varies by states, for example, some states require individuals not to have any felony convictions within the last five years.
• Must be fluent in English

National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

Since 1989, the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) has awarded more than 750,000 certifications to healthcare students and professionals, providing them with nationally recognized measurements of competency.

NHA engages with both regulatory and legislative bodies to promote certification for the industry and for the people working in it. The association is committed to developing, advancing and advocating for the frontline healthcare worker.

Students may take the CMAA, CBCS, CCMA, and CEHRS certification exams in an online, proctored environment.

For more information on these certification exams, exam preparation, and fees, please check the NHA website for the most up-to-date information www.nhanow.com

American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)

Established in 1956, the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) continues to be the only association devoted exclusively to the medical assisting profession.

The mission of the American Association of Medical Assistants® is to provide the medical assistant professional with education, certification, credential acknowledgment, networking opportunities, scope-of-practice protection, and advocacy for quality patient-centered health care.

The Certifying Board (CB) of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) has launched a pilot program, which opens a new education pathway for medical assistants to become eligible to sit for the CMA (AAMA)® Certification Exam.

This pilot program, begun August 2019, allows graduates of postsecondary (college-level) medical assisting and postsecondary (college-level) medical assisting apprenticeship programs to take the CMA (AAMA) Exam if the program meets certain requirements, including the program being part of an institution accredited by an accrediting body recognized by either the United States Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

The pilot program will remain in effect until Aug. 31, 2029. Graduates of Martinsburg College’s Medical Assisting program who successfully complete the program and meet AAMA eligibility requirements may apply to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)* certification examination. For specific eligibility requirements, please visit the AAMA website pilot program eligibility page: https://www.aama-ntl.org/cma-aama-exam/eligibility-pilot-program.

*This certification requires a minimum of 160-hour practicum/externship (or 1,000 hours of medical assisting experience following program completion) completed in an outpatient setting to be eligible to take the certification exam. Students who graduate from the Medical Assisting Program by August 31, 2029, will be eligible, through the AAMA CMA Pilot Program, to take the AAMA Certified Medical Assistant professional certification exam, if they meet eligibility requirements. Certification eligibility requirements are subject to change. Please review the qualifications for eligibility to take the certification exam through the pilot program: https://www.aama-ntl.org/cma-aama-exam/eligibility-pilot-program

Additional Information

The following programs track to industry certifications.  Currently, certification is not required by any state in order to work in the fields related to these programs:

Computer Support Technology
Computer Systems and Network Technologies
Financial Fundamentals and Bookkeeping
Healthcare Administrative Specialist
Homeland Security
Human Resources
Medical Office Administration
Medical Billing and Coding
Project Management

If a prospective student has any questions regarding any program or the certification requirements, please contact Rita Claypole at 304-944-0296 or [email protected]