Your Work Experience May Qualify You to Take The National Certification Exam
If you have been working in the field—whether as an uncertified medical assistant, phlebotomist, or another healthcare professional—for at least one year, your on-the-job experience can qualify you to sit for a national certification exam.
Employers highly value hands-on experience because it demonstrates that you have developed real-world skills, understand workplace procedures, and can perform effectively in a fast-paced environment. Many healthcare employers now prefer or even require certification, but they also recognize that practical experience is just as critical as formal education.
This shift aligns with the growing emphasis on Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, which now often focus more on work-based learning opportunities, apprenticeships, and industry-recognized certifications. The aim of CTE initiatives is to bridge the gap between education and employment, ensuring that workers gain both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise before entering the workforce. If you’ve been working in your field and want to take your career to the next level, earning your certification can validate your experience and open doors to better job opportunities, higher pay, and career advancement.
Who Can Sit for an AAH Exam?
If you're considering taking an AAH certification exam, the good news is that there are multiple pathways to qualify. The eligibility requirements for AAH's online exams are designed to ensure that candidates have a solid foundation in their field, whether through work experience, education, military training, or prior certification.
Who Qualifies?
Let’s meet a few individuals who are eligible to take an AAH exam:
🔹 Maria, the Recent Graduate
Maria just completed a medical assisting program at her local community college. She has a diploma in hand and is ready to take the next step in her career. She qualifies to sit for the AAH exam because she has successfully completed a related training program.
🔹 James, the Experienced Professional
James has been working as a phlebotomist for over a year at a busy outpatient clinic. While he never completed a formal certification program, his hands-on experience in the field makes him eligible for the AAH exam.
🔹 Alexandra, the Military Veteran
After serving in the U.S. Army as a medical technician, Alexandra is transitioning to civilian life and wants to continue in healthcare. Thanks to her military training, she meets the requirements to sit for the AAH exam.
🔹 Samantha, the Previously Certified Professional
Samantha was certified by another agency a few years ago but wants to obtain AAH certification for better career opportunities. Since she has already been certified in her field, she meets our reciprocity requirement, meaning that as long as her certification has not been expired for over three years, she is eligible to renew by reciprocity without having to re-sit for the national exam.
How to Prove Your Eligibility for the AAH Exam
No matter which pathway you take to qualify for an AAH certification exam, you’ll need to provide documentation to verify your eligibility.
Here’s how each option works:
✅ Education-Based Eligibility
If you have recently completed a formal training program in your field, you can prove your eligibility by uploading a copy of your school transcript, diploma, or certificate. For example, if you’ve graduated from a medical assisting, phlebotomy, or allied health training program, your diploma serves as proof that you have the necessary knowledge and skills to sit for the exam.
✅ Work Experience-Based Eligibility
If you’ve been working in the field already, such as an uncertified medical assistant, phlebotomist, or technician, for at least one year, you can qualify based on experience. To verify this, you’ll need a letter from your employer stating your job title and employment length or a pay stub that shows your job title and hire date. This option is ideal for those who have gained hands-on experience but never completed a formal training program.
✅ Military Training-Based Eligibility
If you have completed relevant military medical training, such as serving as a combat medic, medical technician, or corpsman, you can qualify using your military service. In this case, you’ll need to provide a copy of your DD Form 214, which documents your training and service history. This pathway is perfect for veterans transitioning into civilian healthcare careers.
✅ Previous Certification-Based Eligibility
If you were previously certified by another agency, such as the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) or American Medical Technologists (AMT), you meet our reciprocity requirement, meaning instead of submitting new documentation, you’ll just need to provide a copy of your Member ID or Certificate from the previous agency. As long as your certification has not been expired for more than three years, this is an excellent option for professionals looking to renew or switch their certification to AAH without needing to test again.
✅ Eligibility Code from a Testing Partner
If an AAH-Affiliated testing partner provided you with a Registration Code or Eligibility Code, you’re already pre-approved to sit for the exam. You won’t need to submit any additional documents—just enter the code in your AAH account, and you’re good to go!
Regardless of which pathway applies to you, once you submit the required documentation, AAH will review your eligibility within 1-2 business days.
Can You Confirm Eligibility Before Paying?
You can confirm your eligibility before or after paying the exam registration fee. You’ll be able to check your status and upload documents directly from your AAH account.
If you’ve received a Registration Code or Eligibility Code from an AAH-Affiliated testing partner, you can skip the document submission process altogether!
Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Register today and start your journey toward AAH certification!