---
title: How to get your allied health certification
description: There are a few things to know right off the bat as you begin your healthcare certification journey. Things to know about allied health certification.
image: https://info.nhanow.com/hubfs/Blog_imgs/stairs-man-person-walking.jpg
---

[![NHA Logo](https://info.nhanow.com/hubfs/brand-resources/logos/nha-logo-abbreviated.png)](http://www.nhanow.com/)

![display-about-us.png](https://info.nhanow.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Landing_Page_Headers/Blog_Header.jpg?width=1280&name=Blog_Header.jpg "display-about-us.png")

# Care + Career

Resources, news and fun for NHA certification candidates and alumni.

# How to get your allied health certification

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

So you’ve decided to [invest in your future](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/why-pursue-an-allied-health-career) and [get certified.](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/do-you-really-need-an-allied-health-credential) Congratulations! *Now what?*

There are a few things to know right off the bat as you begin your certification journey.

### ![close up of man's feet walking up stairs](https://info.nhanow.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_imgs/stairs-man-person-walking.jpg?width=576&name=stairs-man-person-walking.jpg "close up of man's feet walking up stairs")

### Choose which certification(s) you want.

It’s not uncommon to get multiple certifications depending on what your career aspirations are. Be clear about your goals and determine what your best options are for moving forward. NHA currently offers the following certifications:

- Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
- Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
- Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
- Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
- EKG Technician (CET)
- Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS)
- Electronic Health Record Specialist (CEHRS)
- Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A)

### Carefully pick your certification provider.

Not all providers are the same, so doing your research upfront is important! Here are some questions to ask: Is the provider is accredited by a reputable, independent accrediting organization? Is the certification nationally-recognized? Does my target employer respect the certification?

All certifications from NHA are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), a nationally recognized third party agency that accredits certification programs which are able to meet and comply with its standards.

### Check out the minimum requirements.

The requirements vary depending on the certification, but all require at least a high school diploma (or equivalent) and either a specialized training program or relevant work experience. Learn more about the specific requirements of each certification on [our FAQs page](http://nhanow.com/help-center/faq). 

### Register and prepare for the exam.

Success is when preparation meets opportunity. Plan for success with the resources and information you need.

We’ve created an easy-to-follow guide to help you during your certification journey. In it you’ll find tips for getting started, registering for your exam, preparing and even tips for next steps after your exam. And the best part? [It’s completely free to you!](https://info.nhanow.com/5-things-to-know-about-certification-a-free-guide)

[![Get Your Free "5 Things to Know About Certification" Guide](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/1430252/0577c3b9-578f-4c2d-bffe-67758f873791.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1430252/0577c3b9-578f-4c2d-bffe-67758f873791)

At NHA, your success is our success. We’re dedicated to equipping you with the knowledge and resources you need to reach your fullest potential as an allied health professional. As Mark Twain said, “The secret to getting ahead is getting started.” Being here shows you’re ready to take that big first leap — getting started! Let’s go.

 Topics: [Insider](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/insider), [Getting Certified](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/getting-certified)

## You make a difference every day.

When you work in healthcare, you go home every day knowing that you changed lives. Here, we're sharing industry news, updates, professional resources and more.

### Subscribe to Email Updates

### Recent Posts

### Posts by Topic

- [Allied Health Careers (52)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/allied-health-careers)
- [Continuing Education (38)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/continuing-education)
- [Career Pathways (33)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/career-pathways)
- [Insider (33)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/insider)
- [Getting Certified (16)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/getting-certified)
- [CBCS (15)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/cbcs)
- [Industry News (15)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/industry-news)
- [Job Search Tips (15)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/job-search-tips)
- [Medical Assistants (15)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/medical-assistants)
- [NHA Certified (11)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/nha-certified)
- [Regulatory Udates (11)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/regulatory-udates)
- [Certification Exams (9)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/certification-exams)
- [Real Stories (9)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/real-stories)
- [membership (9)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/membership)
- [Career Tools (8)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/career-tools)
- [Exam Prep (8)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/exam-prep)
- [Pharmacy Technicians (8)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/pharmacy-technicians)
- [Study Tips (8)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/study-tips)
- [CCMA (6)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/ccma)
- [CTE (6)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/cte)
- [Pharmacy (6)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/pharmacy)
- [Professional Skills (6)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/professional-skills)
- [Professional Tips (6)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/professional-tips)
- [member (6)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/member)
- [studying (6)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/studying)
- [CPhT (5)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/cpht)
- [Career & Technical Education (5)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/career-technical-education)
- [EKG (5)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/ekg)
- [Recertification (5)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/recertification)
- [Staying Certified (5)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/staying-certified)
- [Study Prep (5)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/study-prep)
- [COVID (4)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/covid)
- [Patient Care (4)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/patient-care)
- [Stacked Credentials (4)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/stacked-credentials)
- [Billing and Coding (3)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/billing-and-coding)
- [CET (3)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/cet)
- [Credentialing (3)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/credentialing)
- [Electronic Health Records (3)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/electronic-health-records)
- [Patient Care Technician (3)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/patient-care-technician)
- [CEHRS (2)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/cehrs)
- [CMAA (2)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/cmaa)
- [Candidate tools (2)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/candidate-tools)
- [Great Topic (2)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/great-topic)
- [NHA News (2)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/nha-news)
- [Phlebotomy (2)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/phlebotomy)
- [Resume Tips (2)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/resume-tips)
- [Team-Based Care (2)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/team-based-care)
- [Apprenticeships (1)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/apprenticeships)
- [CPT (1)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/cpt)
- [ExCPT (1)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/excpt)
- [HOSA (1)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/hosa)
- [Study Prep (1)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/study-prep)
- [aging (1)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/aging)
- [cancer (1)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/cancer)
- [customer service (1)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/customer-service)
- [halloween (1)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/halloween)
- [health occupations (1)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/health-occupations)
- [health sciences (1)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/health-sciences)
- [heart facts (1)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/heart-facts)
- [style your scrubs (1)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/style-your-scrubs)
- [thanksgiving (1)](https://info.nhanow.com/blog/topic/thanksgiving)

see all

<https://www.facebook.com/nationalhealthcareerassociation/> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-healthcareer-association> <https://twitter.com/nha>

- [Terms of Use](http://www.nhanow.com/terms-of-use)
- [Privacy Policy](http://www.nhanow.com/privacy-policy)
- [Careers](http://www.ascendlearning.com/careers/)
- [Accreditation](http://www.nhanow.com/accreditation)
- [Help Center](http://www.nhanow.com/help-center)

Copyright© 2026 Assessment Technologies Institute®, LLC. All rights reserved.

### Did you miss the "Finding Opportunity: The New Administration, Legislation and You" webinar?

By clicking the button below, I agree to the [Privacy Policy](http://www.nhanow.com/privacy-policy).

X

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Jessica Salley",
    "url" : "https://info.nhanow.com/blog/author/jessica-salley"
  },
  "datePublished" : "2016-07-29T00:00:00.000Z",
  "headline" : "How to get your allied health certification",
  "image" : [ "https://info.nhanow.com/hubfs/Blog_imgs/stairs-man-person-walking.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://info.nhanow.com/blog/how-to-get-your-allied-health-certification",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://info.nhanow.com/hubfs/NHA_Logo_Abbreviated_CMYK_vFA.png"
    },
    "name" : "National Healthcareer Association "
  }
}
```