---
title: NHA Collaborates with State Leaders to Advocate for SC Medical Assistants & Healthcare Employers
description: NHA collaborated with state leaders to advocate for South Carolina medical assistants and healthcare employers in response to an 2022 amended statue.
image: https://info.nhanow.com/hubfs/OR-10832059449-nha-collaborates-with-state-leaders-to-advocate.webp
---
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# NHA News Center
# NHA Collaborates with State Leaders to Advocate for SC Medical Assistants & Healthcare Employers
Posted by [Jessica Langley, Executive Director of Education + Advocacy](https://info.nhanow.com/mediacenter/author/jessica-langley-loep) on July 2024
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In 2022, the state of South Carolina amended their statute regarding the qualifications for Certified Medical Assistants or CMAs and the corresponding duties that may be delegated to them. While the statute gave CMAs two years to meet new educational and certification requirements, the new language presented only one educational pathway for individuals to earn eligibility as a CMA.
The nation is currently experiencing a healthcare workforce shortage crisis and the role of medical assistants is one of the most in demand professions according to the 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics. “We realized that the amended statute was not widely discussed or shared with key stakeholders across the state, and that it created a substantial barrier to entry into the profession during a time when educational institutions and health systems are struggling to produce and hire enough MAs to meet industry demands”, noted Jessica Langley-Loep, executive director of education and advocacy for NHA (National Healthcareer Association). “The language did not contemplate all appropriate educational and workforce pathways that would adequately prepare and allow for an individual to be competent as a medical assistant and verified through the new certification requirement. Because of this, we knew that action needed to be taken,” shared Langley-Loep.
With the leadership and support of Senator Tom Davis and Representatives Mark Smith and Jay West, key stakeholders, including the National Healthcareer Association, Prisma Health, Bon Secours, the South Carolina Hospital Association, the South Carolina Medical Association, the Medical University of South Carolina and the Department of Education collaborated to address needed changes in the statute and come to an agreement on revised language.
The new, collaborative language in the bill ensures that multiple educational and workforce pathways, including accredited medical assisting education programs, those offered by a branch of the US Military, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs approved by the South Carolina Department of Education and those delivered by a health care employer, were clearly outlined and approved. These varied pathways will allow more adequately prepared individuals to become eligible to sit for a nationally accredited exam, like the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) from NHA, to be recognized as a Certified Medical Assistant, ultimately increasing the workforce pipeline.
On May 29, 2024, the Governor signed H. 5183 into law, making it Act 209 of 2024. To review the full bill text, click [here](https://legiscan.com/SC/text/H5183/id/2994850).
CMAs have until July 15, 2026 to meet the new education and training requirements if they do not currently and are employed as CMAs.
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