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Best first assistant certifications
First assistant certifications allow job seekers to demonstrate their competency as an first assistant to employers. However, not all first assistant certifications provide the same value for job seekers.
The best certifications for a first assistant are Physician Assistant - Certified (PA-C), Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), and Medical Assistant.
Below is a list of the best first assistant certifications. Obtaining an first assistant certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.
9 best certifications for first assistants
| Rank | First assistant certification | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physician Assistant - Certified (PA-C) | NCCPA |
| 2 | Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) | NBSTSA |
| 3 | Medical Assistant | ASPT |
| 4 | Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) | American Red ... |
| 5 | Certified SurveyTechnician Level I (CST) | NSPS |
| 6 | Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA) | NASC |
| 7 | Certified Surgical Assistant | ABSA |
| 8 | Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) | NBSTSA |
| 9 | Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) | NHA |
9 best first assistant certifications
1. Physician Assistant - Certified (PA-C)
A PA is a nationally certified and state-licensed medical professional. PAs practice medicine on healthcare teams with physicians and other providers. They practice and prescribe medication in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the majority of the U.S. territories and the uniformed services.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 6 year(s)
2. Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)
The choice to become certified demonstrates pride in the profession and a desire to be recognized for mastery of skills unique to surgical technology, as well as an on-going commitment to quality patient care.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 4 year(s)
3. Medical Assistant
The medical assistant job description varies depending on the employer's needs. A medical assistant is a multi-skilled professional and an asset to a physician.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
4. Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
Train to be a certified nurse assistant working with other health care professionals to provide quality care for elderly or sick individuals in nursing homes and hospitals and at home.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required?
5. Certified SurveyTechnician Level I (CST)
Level I Technicians are required to demonstrate knowledge of basic first aid skills and safety requirements. The individual in this position possesses a basic knowledge of field operations and types of surveys as well as familiarity with field equipment and procedures used in these functions. Additional skills required include computational ability, survey note taking, drafting/CAD and map reading.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
6. Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA)
CRNFA credentialing represents a level of professional achievement and a demonstrated knowledge of clinical competence and practice standards. Just as important, it demonstrates proficiency in support of quality patient care and sets a standard of commitment to the profession of operating room nursing.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
7. Certified Surgical Assistant
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
8. Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA)
The choice to become certified demonstrates pride in the profession and a desire to be recognized for mastery of skills unique to surgical technology, as well as an on-going commitment to quality patient care.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 4 year(s)
9. Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
A Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) draws blood from patients or donors in hospitals, blood banks, or similar facilities for analysis or other medical purposes.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
What is the best certification for a first assistant?
The best first assistant certification is Physician Assistant - Certified (PA-C). The Physician Assistant - Certified (PA-C) is awarded by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.
Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this first assistant certification:
- To become a certified Physician Assistant - Certified (PA-C), you need to pass the exam.
- Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
- Renew certification every 6 year.
What are some of the most in-demand certifications for first assistants?
The most in-demand first assistant certification is Certified Surgical Technologist based on all active job postings. Having this first assistant certification will give you access to more first assistant jobs with higher salaries.
What certifications can impact a first assistant career and salary?
The Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant certification will help you to secure a registered nursing assistant position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A registered nursing assistant's average salary is $60,028 whereas first assistants make an average salary of $52,444.
The most common combination of first assistant certifications include: Physician Assistant - Certified (PA-C), Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), and Medical Assistant.
Online courses for first assistants to earn certifications
1. Trauma Emergencies and Care
Welcome to Trauma Emergencies and Care. In this course, you will learn about some of the mechanics and physics of trauma on the human body, and how this can cause injury. You will continue to expand your new vocabulary with medical terminology, and learn how to describe the different injuries you may see. You will also learn about the trauma system itself- and when it is important to transport patients to a trauma center. Then we will dive into specific injuries based on what part of the body...
2. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale
Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...
3. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System
Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...
4. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors
The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...
5. Introduction to Cataract Surgery
This comprehensive course will give you the fundamental knowledge needed to begin performing cataract surgery by phacoemulsification and extracapsular removal. Each step from preoperative evaluation to postoperative care will be covered to help prepare you for the operating room...
6. Operations and Patient Safety for Healthcare IT Staff
Now that you've been introduced to the world of Health IT and the important role played by electronic health records (EHRs), we'll focus on other technologies that play a role in maintaining ongoing operations in healthcare. Telemedicine, patient portals, barcode scanners, printers, and medical devices are just some of the technologies that impact providers and patients. As an IT support specialist, you’ll be asked to troubleshoot issues with a wide variety of tools. You'll see a scenario with...
7. First Aid Masterclass: A Complete Guide to First Aid
The Complete Guide to First Aid and Emergency Medicine: Learn CPR, Heimlich, How to Stop Bleedings, Baby Care & More!...
8. Emergency Life Support First Aid Training
Learn important life saving first aid. Treatment of major illness and injuries...
9. Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation
In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a...
10. Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers
This course is designed with a singular goal: to improve the care you provide to your patients with substance use disorders. By delving into a model case performed by actors, seven Yale instructors from various fields provide techniques to screen your patients for substance use disorder risk, diagnose patients to gauge the severity of their use, directly manage treatment plans, refer out to treatment services, and navigate the various conditions that may limit your patient’s access to treatment...
11. Providing Trauma-Informed Care
Exploring psychological trauma and how to provide care and compassion to trauma survivors...
12. Fun food safety and sanitation course
The food safety course will help prepare you for safely working in a kitchen and food handler tests like Servesafe...
13. Medical Emergencies: CPR, Toxicology, and Wilderness
In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Identify the signs and symptoms associated with a patient in shock, to describe the major categories of shock, to assess a patient with signs of shock and formulate a plan for treatment to stabilize the patient for transport, (2) Identify a patient in cardiac arrest and to describe the components of high performance CPR...
14. The Critical Role of IT Support Staff in Healthcare
This is a very exciting time to be exploring a career in Health IT Support! In this introductory course, you’ll learn about various roles in IT support that are common in healthcare. IT support staff play critical roles in many different healthcare venues. In addition to helping clinics, hospitals, and emergency rooms, you may end up providing support in a skilled nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, virtual care setting, or even a patient’s home! On any given day, you may interact...
15. The Customer: Build a Customer Service Strategy (BITE SIZE)
For you and your team to be successful in providing great customer service, start by putting your customer first...
16. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer
Master Customer Service using this practical customer care course...
17. Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children
Welcome to the final course of lectures in your quest to master EMT basics. In this course, we will cover some of the highest-stress patient populations: pregnant patients and kids, also known as pediatrics. To wrap up your EMT knowledge we will end this course with information about hazmat situations, extricating patients from tight spots and finally how you write a note about your patient care. You will learn to ensure it communicates what your assessment of the patient was, what...
18. How to Find Your FIRST Virtual Assistant Clients
Find clients that you love working with, and who love working with you!...
19. First Aid, and Children's Health: Your Complete Guide
Taught by a Doctor: Mandatory first aid course covering all of the common injuries and illnesses especially of children...
20. HACCP-Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point Certification
Food Safety Preventive Approach (HACCP System)...