FAQs on Membership
For your convenience, here are answers to frequently asked questions
regarding membership in the American Association of Medical Assistants
(AAMA).
If you do not see the answer to your question below, please contact us at
info@aama-ntl.org.
Q. What is the cost of joining the American Association of Medical Assistants?
A. Dues vary according to your state society and local chapter and whether you are a student or a nonstudent. Consult Membership Enrollment Dues for application fees in your area and enrollment policies. You may fill out the membership enrollment form online; or you may
download, fill out, and mail in a membership enrollment form (pdf), along with a check.
Q: If I join the AAMA, will I also be a member of a state society and
a local chapter?
A: In most cases, yes. However, seven states currently do
not have an affiliation with the AAMA: Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Rhode Island,
Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming. If you live in one of these states, you
would join the AAMA as a "member-at-large" and would not belong to
a state society or local chapter. Also, if you live within an affiliated state,
but your residence is not within the service area of any local chapters, you
would join as a member-at-large with a national and state affiliation. As a
member-at-large, you would enjoy all of the national features and benefits
available. Find out whether or not you would be a member of a local
chapter.
Q: Starting from the date I join or renew, how long is my membership
valid?
A: The dues year ends on December 31. A new member who pays
dues on or after
May 1 will be a member until December 31 of the following year. (A new member
is an individual joining AAMA for the first time.) A renewing member who pays
dues on or after September 1 will be a member until December 31 of the following
year. (A renewing member is anyone who has ever been a member of the AAMA.)
Q: How can I join the AAMA?
A: You may either fill out the membership enrollment form online with a credit card; or you may
download, fill out, and mail in a membership enrollment form (pdf), along with a check.
Q: What kinds of memberships exist in the AAMA?
A: There are eight membership types within the AAMA:
- Active designates a member who is a CMA (AAMA) or anyone who was an active member of the AAMA on December 31, 1987, and who maintains continuous, active membership. Continuous active membership is defined as having dues postmarked to the AAMA Executive Office by December 31.
- Affiliate designates a member who is not eligible for another category
of membership but is interested in the profession of medical assisting.
- Associate designates a member who is a medical assistant but who is not yet a CMA (AAMA) and who does not fall under any other category.
- International designates a member who is employed in medical assisting
but resides and works outside of the United States of America and its territories.
- Life designates an active member who has had life membership conferred
by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Trustees for outstanding service to
the AAMA. Only one life membership is conferred in any year. Nominations
with supporting documentation are submitted to the Board by a constituent
society or a member of the Board of Trustees. This documentation must be
received by the Executive Office no later than June 1.
- Student designates a member who is enrolled in a medical assisting program
and carries a minimum of six contact hours per week per term. This member
may retain membership for one additional dues year after graduation if he
or she does not choose active or associate membership. A student membership
cannot exceed three years.
- Sustaining designates an active or associate member for at least two years,
who has retired from medical assisting, and who has not entered into another
field. This membership is forfeited if not renewed annually.
- Honorary designates a member who is not eligible for active membership but has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of medical assisting and/or the AAMA. Honorary membership is conferred by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Trustees. No more than two honorary memberships are conferred in any year. Nominations with supporting documentation are submitted to the Board by a constituent society or a Board member. This documentation must be received by the Executive Office no later than June 1.
Q: If I join the AAMA as a student and then graduate
during that membership year, does my membership type change?
A: Student members may retain student membership for one
additional dues year after their graduation date if they do not choose active
or associate status. Student members must apply for membership prior to graduation.
A student membership is limited to three years.
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