Post job

Best operating room assistant certifications

The best certifications for an operating room assistant are Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Medical Assistant, and Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT).

Operating room assistant certifications demonstrate your competency as an operating room assistant to employers. However, not all operating room assistant certifications provide the same value.

Below is a list of the best operating room assistant certifications. Obtaining an operating room assistant certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

11 best operating room assistant certifications

1. 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.

Certification details
  • 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? 
Certifying website
Certified Nurse Assistant

2. 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.

Certification details
  • 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)
Certifying organization
American Society of Phlebotomy...

3. 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.

Certification details
  • 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)

4. Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)

PTCB's pharmacy technician certification program enables technicians to work more effectively with pharmacists to offer safe and effective patient care and service. Certification is achieved by meeting specific eligibility requirements and earning a passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). The PTCB certification program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

Certification details
  • 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)
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Become a Pharmacy Technician
udemy
4.7
(2,374)

5. 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.

Certification details
  • 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)
Certifying organization
National Board of Surgical...

6. Certified Medical Interpreter - Spanish (CMI)

The mission of the National Board is to foster improved healthcare outcomes, patient safety and patient/provider communication, by elevating the standards for and quality of medical interpreting through a nationally recognized and accredited certification for medical interpreters.

Certification details
  • 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 5 year(s)

7. Patient Care Technician

1. Completion of an Approved Patient Care Technician Program 2. Minimum of 80 Hours Lecture 3. Minimum of 80 Clinical Rotation In Phlebotomy 4. Must Be Certified Nursing Assistant 5. High School Diploma or G.E.D 6. Successful Completion of Certification Exam

Certification details
  • 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)
Certifying website
Patient Care Technician
Certifying organization
American Phlebotomy Association

8. Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)

A Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) performs routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices and clinics of physicians running smoothly.

Certification details
  • 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)

9. 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.

Certification details
  • 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)

10. Nationally Certified Medical Office Assistant (NCMOA)

Medical Office Assistants typically perform administrative duties for health care providers in office settings, although some may also perform basic clinical tasks (as allowed by state laws). Their responsibilities will vary by employer, but may include answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing medical records, completing insurance forms, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, and handling billing or bookkeeping.

Certification details
  • 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)

11. Certified Patient Care Technician/Associate/Nurse Technician (CPCT/CPCA/CNT)

A Certified Patient Care Technician/Associate/Nurse Technician (CPCT/CPCA/CNT) works with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to provide direct patient care in a variety of healthcare environments. A CPCT/CPCA/CNT may perform some or all of the following duties. However., they are not limited to just these responsibilities:Basic patient care under the direction of nursing staff Feeding, bathing, or moving patients and changing linens Answer patients' call lights Set up equipment Escort patients to the operating and examining rooms Gives injections or treatments and performs venipuncture laboratory test Performs EKG's.

Certification details
  • 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)
Course that help you to prepare for certification
Become a Pharmacy Technician
udemy
4.7
(2,374)

What is the best certification for an operating room assistant?

The best operating room assistant certification is Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA). The Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) is awarded by the American Red Cross. 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 operating room assistant certification:

  • To become a certified Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), you need to pass the exam.
  • Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for operating room assistants?

The most in-demand operating room assistant certification is Certified Nurse Assistant based on all active job postings. Having this operating room assistant certification will give you access to more operating room assistant jobs with higher salaries.

What certifications can impact an operating room assistant career and salary?

The Certified Nurse Assistant certification will help you to secure an certified nursing assistant position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. An certified nursing assistant's average salary is $28,738 whereas operating room assistants make an average salary of $34,177.

Best certifications

The most common combination of operating room assistant certifications include: Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Medical Assistant, and Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT).

Online courses for operating room assistants to earn certifications

Advertising disclosure

1. Introduction to Cataract Surgery

coursera

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...

2. Operations and Patient Safety for Healthcare IT Staff

coursera

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...

3. Interior Design for your Modern Home: A Room by Room Guide

udemy
4.2
(437)

Learn how to take charge of your home interior design and confidently make the right design decisions...

4. Design your Room Using Sketchup

udemy
4
(712)

Learn the principles of interior design and how to use Sketch Up to make a 3D model of a bedroom's layout and décor...

5. Navigating Healthcare Supply Chain Operations

coursera

This course is the continuation of "Introduction to Healthcare Supply Chain Operations". If you have not visited the first part yet, please check it out before starting this course. If you have finished the first part of this series: Introduction to Healthcare Supply Chain Operations, you will be able to apply what you learned to your own career. The foundational knowledge and project plan from the introduction are carried through in this deeper dive into healthcare supply chain operations. In...

6. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes

coursera

COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...

7. How to Design a Room in 10 Easy Steps

udemy
4.6
(7,662)

Interior Design Made Simple...

8. Become a Virtual Assistant

udemy
4.5
(1,223)

Live Free. Work Virtually. Virtual Assistant Training...

9. Palliative Care Always Capstone Course

coursera

The Palliative Care Always Capstone course is designed to let you test your knowledge about palliative and help others understand the value of palliative care, while showing your creative side. In this course, you will impact community awareness about palliative care, promote self-care and wellness, show-off your communication skills in a virtual environment, and finish the course off by proving your thoughts on ways to offer psychosocial support to a patient and family...

10. The Critical Role of IT Support Staff in Healthcare

coursera

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...

11. Virtual Assistant Training, a Complete Guide: Work From Home

udemy
4.4
(358)

Rock Star Virtual Assistant Training: Create an online business + become a freelancing virtual professional in any field...

12. Operational Risks Management ORM

udemy
4.3
(1,174)

Operational Risks Management ORM Case Studies for Risk Management, Compliance, Audit, IS Security, Banking Professionals...

13. Must-Have Tools for Virtual Assistants in 2023

udemy
4.8
(1,267)

Step by step tutorials for over 30 tools that will make your Virtual Assistant business and productivity skyrocket!...

14. Supply Chain Management A-Z: Operations & Logistics Basics

udemy
4.5
(2,394)

Supply Chain Management Basics: An MBA style course to boost your career as a business operations & logistics manager...

15. Google Assistant development with Actions on Google

udemy
4
(513)

Google Assistant development in Node.js with Actions on Google & Dialog Flow & Firebase for Google Home & Android device...

16. The Complete RxJava 3 For Android Development Masterclass

udemy
4.5
(1,011)

Architect Android Apps With Rx Java 3 , MVVM, Room DB, Retrofit 2 & Dagger 2. Advanced Android Architecture mastery...

17. Executive Assistants: Manage Client's GCal (Beginners)

udemy
4.6
(917)

Google Calendar (2018) Setup, Strategies and Scripts...

18. How to Find Your FIRST Virtual Assistant Clients

udemy
4.8
(265)

Find clients that you love working with, and who love working with you!...

19. Public Speaking and Presenting at Work

udemy
4.5
(6,108)

Master professional presentation skills, develop confidence, command the room, facilitate meetings & design your speech...

20. Set Up A Photography Studio With Equipment - On A Budget

udemy
4.5
(349)

Learn How To Set Up A Photography Studio On Any Budget: Location, Room, Backgrounds, Lighting, Props And More!...

Browse healthcare support jobs