How to Become a Medical Assistant in Nevada

Who can apply

• Nevada does not license medical assistants. NRS 630.0129 defines a medical assistant as a person who performs clinical tasks under a physician or physician assistant and does not hold a Nevada license, certificate or registration for those tasks.
• Your employer must document in your employment record that you were trained and are competent for each task or procedure you are assigned (NAC 630.810).
• To take x-rays you need a limited license from the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (NRS 653.520).

Step by step

1. Finish a medical assisting program or on-the-job training.
2. Optionally earn a national certification (CMA-AAMA, RMA-AMT, CCMA-NHA or NCMA-NCCT). Nevada does not require one for MA work.
3. Your employer documents your training and competence for each task in your employment record.
4. If your job includes x-rays, complete a course that uses the ASRT Limited X-Ray Machine Operator curriculum, pass the ARRT limited-scope exam, and get a limited license from the Division of Public and Behavioral Health.
5. Work for (or with the same employer as) the physician or physician assistant who delegates your tasks. For invasive procedures, that practitioner must be immediately available in person.

Training and exam

Training: No state-mandated medical assistant program. NAC 630.810 requires the delegating physician or physician assistant to know you have the knowledge, skill and training to perform each task safely, and requires your employer to document your training and competence in your employment record.

Exam: Nevada has no state medical assistant exam, and national certification is not required by NAC 630.800-630.830. Taking x-rays requires passing the ARRT examination for the limited scope of practice in radiography (NRS 653.520).

What it costs in Nevada

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

Keeping your credential

Renewal: X-ray limited license only: renew every 2 years with the Division, pay $200, and show 20 continuing education credits in ARRT category A or A+ (NAC 653.200, 653.300).

Good to know in Nevada

What a medical assistant can do in Nevada: A physician or physician assistant may delegate a task if they know you have the knowledge, skill and training to do it safely, the task does not require a license or certification, you work for them or the same employer, and your employer documented your training (NAC 630.810). Under NRS 454.213, a medical assistant may possess and administer dangerous (prescription) drugs at the direction of the prescribing physician and under the supervision of a physician or physician assistant.

Supervision: For an invasive procedure, the delegating practitioner must be immediately available to oversee in person. Remote supervision is allowed only in rural areas (anywhere except Carson City, Elko, Henderson, Reno, Sparks, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas) when the practitioner is physically a significant distance away, the patient has urgent needs, the patient has an existing relationship with the practitioner, and the practitioner is immediately reachable by phone or other instant communication (NAC 630.820).

What a medical assistant cannot do: A medical assistant may not make a diagnosis, start any treatment or prescribe any drug. The practitioner may not let you give an anesthetic that makes a patient unconscious or semiconscious, and you may not pass a delegated task on to anyone else (NAC 630.810, 630.830).

X-ray: Limited licenses cover chest, extremities, spine and extremity, skull and sinus, podiatric, and bone densitometry radiography, or combinations. Holders work only under a licensed practitioner's supervision and may not use contrast media, nuclear medicine or radiation therapy. Spine and extremity also requires American Chiropractic Registry of Radiologic Technologists certification; podiatric requires a Nevada podiatry hygienist license or American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants certification; bone densitometry requires ISCD certification or passing the ARRT bone densitometry exam (NRS 653.520). A separate rural authorization exists for X-ray work in a rural health clinic or federally qualified health center.

X-ray limited license renewal: A limited license expires 2 years after issue. To get or renew it you must attest that you know and follow CDC safe injection practice guidelines (NRS 653.500). Renewal costs $200 and requires 20 continuing education credits in ARRT category A or A+ (NAC 653.200, 653.300).

Sources

• NAC Chapter 630 - Supervision of Medical Assistants (NAC 630.800-630.830)
• NRS 630.0129 - Medical assistant defined
• NRS 454.213 - Who may possess and administer dangerous drugs
• NRS 653.520 - Limited license to engage in radiologic imaging
• NAC Chapter 653 - Fees (NAC 653.200), limited license supervision (NAC 653.425), rural authorization (NAC 653.430)