If you're a certified medical assistant, or a phlebotomy tech, pharmacy tech, or any allied health professional, you might assume you're locked into the agency that certified you: their renewal fees, their CE platform, their card, indefinitely.
You're not. You can transfer your certification to American Allied Health without retaking your exam. It's called renewal by reciprocity, and if a renewal invoice has ever caught you off guard, it's worth a few minutes to look into.
What Is Certification Reciprocity?
In medical education, reciprocity means one organization recognizes a certification issued by another. If you were certified by a credentialing agency AAH recognizes, AAH can accept that credential as proof you already know the material, because you do. You demonstrated competency with a standardized national exam and work experience.
So instead of re-registering and sitting for a new exam, you apply to renew your existing credential under AAH and keep working without a gap.
Who Qualifies to Switch?
Reciprocity comes down to three things:
- Your previous certification was issued by a credentialing agency AAH recognizes.
- Your certification hasn't been expired for more than 36 months. Active certifications qualify, and so do lapsed ones, as long as the expiration date isn't more than three years past.
- Your previous certification is the same as, or similar in scope to, one of AAH's credentials. A clinical medical assistant certification maps to AAH's Medical Assistant (RMA), a phlebotomy certification to AAH's CPT, and so on.
The second point is the one many people find surprising. Even if your certification lapsed a year or two ago, you may still be able to renew with AAH rather than beginning again as a new candidate.
Why Are Professionals Switching to AAH?
Lower renewal costs
AAH's annual renewal dues are $32 a year. Renewal fees at some other agencies run $185 or more per renewal cycle. Even accounting for different renewal schedules, AAH members generally pay a fraction of what it costs to stay current elsewhere.
No retesting
This is the one that matters most for anyone whose certification lapsed. Reinstating with your original agency can mean extra fees, added continuing education, or in some cases a full retake of the exam. Reciprocity bypasses that: complete your CE requirement with AAH, renew for $32, and your credential is active again.
Continuing education in the same place
Once you're certified with AAH, your CE work lives in one account. AAH's online course library applies your 5 annual credits when completed. Alternatively, if you've already earned CE elsewhere, you can upload the documentation and import your external CE credits.
How to Transfer Your Certification to AAH
The process happens inside your AAH account and takes just a few minutes of your time:
- Create your free AAH account at AmericanAlliedHealth.com.
- Navigate to the Renewal section of your dashboard and select Transfer Certification.
Upload proof of your previous certification. Any one of the following works:
a. Your official certification card from your previous agency, or
b. Your official Member ID card from your previous agency, or
c. An official document, letter, or certificate showing your previous certification number.- AAH reviews your documentation, typically within 1 to 2 business days.
From there, you complete your renewal requirements and your credential becomes active on the national registry with American Allied Health. Same profession, better member benefits, and a renewal process you can easily keep up with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch certification agencies without retaking the exam?
Yes, as long as your certification is active or expired less than 36 months. AAH recognizes credentials from other agencies through renewal by reciprocity, so there's no need to retest.
My certification expired. Can I still transfer it?
If it's been less than 36 months, yes. Complete your CE requirement and renew with AAH; no exam required. Past 36 months, you'd need to register and test as a new candidate.
How long does the reciprocity process take?
Documentation review usually takes 1 to 2 business days. The application itself takes only a few minutes inside your AAH account.
Does my certification transfer between states?
National certification isn't state-issued, so it stays valid if you move. Some states add requirements for specific duties. Check AAH's Regulations Map for your specific state’s requirements.
How much does it cost to maintain an AAH certification?
$32 a year. You’ll also need 5 CE credits, which you can purchase and complete for a small fee through AAH’s online course library. Alternatively, you may load external CEs for renewal.
Your Certification Should Work For You
You already put in the training, the exam, and the hours on the job. Where you maintain that credential now is up to you. If your current agency keeps raising the price of staying certified, reciprocity is a way to change that without starting from scratch.
Ready to make the switch? Register today and join over 60,000+ members already growing with American Allied Health.