If you are a medical assistant, continuing education can feel like one more thing you have to keep track of while you are already managing patients, providers, schedules, charting, and home life. The work itself can be rewarding, but CEU renewal is often a background stressor until a deadline gets close.
Annals of Continuing Education, often shortened to ACE, is designed to make that process easier. ACE is a web-based continuing education platform for medical assistants and allied healthcare professionals who want affordable online courses, clear documentation, and a simple way to keep track of completed CE credits.
Quick answer
ACE helps medical assistants complete online continuing education through a membership model. Members can access the ACE course library, complete courses online, take short post-tests, download certificates in real time after passing, and view CE activity inside their account dashboard. ACE also states that all ACE courses have been granted prior approval by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) for CEUs, with the standard AAMA disclaimer that approval does not constitute endorsement of the course content or provider.
For medical assistants, the main benefit is not just access to courses. It is the combination of online learning, immediate certificates, transcript-style tracking, and a process that feels manageable instead of scattered.
Why continuing education feels harder than it should
Most medical assistants are not short on motivation. The challenge is usually time, organization, and confidence that a course will count when it is time to renew.
A typical medical assistant may need to answer several questions before completing CEUs. What does my credential require? How many credits do I still need? Do I need clinical, administrative, or general credits? Will I receive a certificate right away? Where will I store it? Do I need to submit it myself?
Those questions create friction. When friction builds up, people procrastinate. A simple continuing education platform helps by reducing the number of decisions a medical assistant has to make each time they sit down to complete a course.
How ACE works for medical assistants
ACE follows a straightforward workflow: join, learn, test, download, and track.
First, a user creates an account and activates an annual membership. The membership is built for 12-month access, which makes it easier to plan CEUs throughout the year instead of trying to finish everything in one weekend.
Next, members select courses from the ACE library. Courses are available online, and ACE notes that members who prefer paper can print course PDFs for studying. The test still needs to be completed online to receive a certificate, but the ability to print materials can be helpful for people who like to highlight, take notes, or study away from a screen.
After reviewing the course material, the member completes a post-test. ACE states that a score of 80% or higher is needed to pass and that users have three attempts to successfully complete a test. Once the test is passed, the certificate can be downloaded or printed in real time.
Finally, completed certificates and CE activity are saved in the member account. This is especially important because CEU stress often comes from documentation, not learning. Having certificates and a transcript available from the dashboard can make renewal preparation feel much more organized.
What is included with ACE membership?
ACE promotes an annual membership at $49.95 per year. Membership includes unlimited access to the ACE course library during the membership period, with ACE marketing materials stating that members can earn over 60 CEUs through membership. ACE also emphasizes real-time CE test grading, certificate processing, and a CE transcript inside the secured account.
For medical assistants who need multiple credits during a renewal cycle, that membership model can be easier to understand than paying for one course at a time. It also encourages a steadier approach. Instead of waiting until the deadline, a member can complete a course when their schedule allows, save the certificate, and keep moving.
AAMA approval and why the wording matters
ACE states that all ACE courses have been granted prior approval by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) for CEUs. The full approval language is important: granting approval in no way constitutes endorsement by the AAMA of course content or the course provider.
That distinction is normal in continuing education. Prior approval means the course has gone through an approval process for CEU credit. It does not mean AAMA is endorsing the provider as a company or recommending one provider over another.
For AAMA-certified medical assistants, ACE also states that it submits completed CEUs to AAMA at the start of every month and includes all CEU completions from the previous month. Once ACE sends the report, users should allow 7 to 10 business days for AAMA to transfer the CEUs into the AAMA account. Medical assistants who are not certified through AAMA are responsible for submitting completed CEUs to their own certifying organization.
That is a detail worth noting before renewal season. Even when credits are submitted for you, it is smart to verify that they appear in your certifying body account and to save your own certificates.
Who is ACE best suited for?
ACE is a strong fit for medical assistants who want a simple, affordable way to complete CEUs online and keep documentation in one place. It can be especially helpful for people who prefer self-paced learning, work irregular hours, or want to spread CE completion across the year.
It is also useful for medical assistants who want practical course topics tied to real clinic work. The ACE course library includes topics such as HIPAA privacy and security, EKG awareness, pharmacology, patient rights, medical errors, front office duties, clinic responsibilities, pediatrics, dermatology, and other areas medical assistants may encounter in everyday practice.
The platform is not a replacement for checking your own credential requirements. Requirements can vary by certifying body and renewal cycle. A good routine is to check your certifying organization first, note what you need, and then use ACE to complete and document relevant courses.
A practical CEU routine using ACE
A simple routine can prevent CEUs from becoming a last-minute project. At the start of your renewal year, check your deadline and write down the number and type of credits you need. Then choose a recurring time that feels realistic, such as one evening every other week or one weekend morning each month.
During each session, complete one manageable piece of work: choose a course, read a section, take notes, finish a test, or download a certificate. The goal is not to make continuing education feel intense. The goal is to make it feel steady.
After passing a course, download the certificate and save it in a folder on your computer or cloud drive. Even though ACE keeps certificates in your account, having your own copy adds another layer of security. Once a month, check your ACE transcript and, if applicable, your AAMA account to make sure everything looks right.
FAQs about ACE
Is ACE only for AAMA-certified medical assistants?
No. ACE is designed for medical assistants and allied healthcare professionals. ACE lists several certifying organizations in its FAQ, but users should always confirm their own credential rules and submission requirements.
Can I complete ACE courses fully online?
Yes. ACE courses are completed online, including the post-test required for a certificate. Members may print course PDFs for studying, but the test must be completed online to generate the certificate.
Do I get a certificate after each course?
Yes. ACE states that certificates are generated after you pass a CE test and remain available in your account dashboard.
Does ACE track my CE activity?
Yes. ACE states that members can access CE activity and an online transcript through the account dashboard.
What is the easiest way to start?
Start by checking your credential renewal requirements. Then review the ACE course library and choose one course that fits your current needs. When you are ready to set up access, use the Buy ACE Membership option and build a simple CE routine around your schedule.