CCMA Certification Guide for Aspiring Medical Assistants
CCMA Certification 2026: Requirements, Exam & Renewal.
This CCMA certification guide explains the NHA certification, the exam, and how to renew it. To earn the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential, you need NHA’s rules, a 150-question scored exam, a scaled score of at least 390, and renewal every two years with 10 continuing education credits.
This guide covers who can qualify, what the exam tests, how the CCMA compares with other medical assistant credentials, and how a training program fits into the process. It is written for career changers, recent high school grads, and pre-health students planning their first clinical role.
What is CCMA certification?
A CCMA is a medical assistant who passed the NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam. The credential shows that you have entry-level knowledge of clinical and office work, with a strong focus on hands-on patient care.
Three terms are easy to mix up:
- Training is the schoolwork that gets you ready. A school or training provider gives it.
- Certification is the credential you earn by passing an exam. For the CCMA, NHA gives it, not your school.
- Licensure is state permission to work. Most states do not license medical assistants, though some limit certain tasks.
Finishing a program does not make you certified. You become a CCMA only after you pass the NHA exam and NHA confirms your result.
CCMA vs. CMA vs. RMA
The CCMA is one of several national medical assistant credentials. The main difference is how you qualify for each exam. Employers often accept more than one, so check job posts in your area before you choose.
| Credential | Issued by | How you qualify (summary) | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCMA | National Healthcareer Association (NHA) | Training program completed in the last 5 years, or qualifying supervised work experience | Every 2 years, 10 CE credits |
| CMA (AAMA) | American Association of Medical Assistants | Graduation from a medical assisting program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES [VERIFY] | Every 5 years [VERIFY] |
| RMA (AMT) | American Medical Technologists | Education, military, or work-experience routes [VERIFY] | Annual fee plus CE on a 3-year cycle [VERIFY] |
If you plan to train through a program that is not CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited, t
According to employers, 89% of organizations encourage or require their medical assistants to be certified.
LEARN MORE: NHA CERTIFICATION CCMA
The CMA (AAMA) route is usually closed to you, while the CCMA stays open. Check the current rules with each certifying body.
Who can take the CCMA exam?
NHA has two entry rules: a high school credential and either training or work experience.
- High school credential. You need a high school diploma or GED, or one you expect to earn in the next 18 months.
- Training or experience. You need one of these:
- Finish a medical assistant training or education program in the last 5 years.
- One year of supervised medical assisting work in the last 3 years.
- Two years of supervised medical assisting work in the last 5 years.
Most new medical assistants use the training route, because the work routes assume you already have the job. NHA’s Candidate Handbook shows the full rules and paperwork you need.
What is on the CCMA exam?
The exam has 180 questions: 150 scored items and 30 unscored practice items. You have 3 hours. You will not know which items are practice, so treat every one as real.
Clinical patient care makes up more than half of the scored exam. The table below follows NHA’s CCMA Test Plan, based on NHA’s 2022 job study.
| Domain | Scored items | Share of exam |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Patient Care | 84 | 56% |
| Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science | 15 | 10% |
| Patient Care Coordination and Education | 12 | 8% |
| Administrative Assisting | 12 | 8% |
| Communication and Customer Service | 12 | 8% |
| Anatomy and body | 8 | 5% |
| Medical Law and Ethics | 7 | 5% |
Within Clinical Patient Care, general patient care has the most questions (28). Next are infection control and safety (15), intake and vitals (14), phlebotomy (12), point-of-care testing and lab work (9), and EKG and heart testing (6).
Scoring, results, and retakes
- Passing score: Scores run from 200 to 500. You need 390 or higher to pass.
- Where you test: At an NHA-authorized school, a PSI testing center, or through live remote proctoring from home. Check which options apply when you register.
- Results: Preliminary scores show right away at authorized schools and within 48 hours through PSI. Final results post to your NHA account.
- Retakes: You may retake the exam after 30 days, for up to three tries. After a third fail, you must wait one year. Each retake needs a new registration and full exam fee.
- Fees: NHA lists the current exam price on its website, not in the handbook. Check nhanow.com before you budget, and ask your training program if the fee is included.
How do you keep your CCMA current?
You renew the CCMA every two years by earning 10 CE credits and paying NHA’s renewal fee. You can finish CE any time before your expiration date, and NHA does not punish early renewal.
If your certification lapses, NHA gives you one year to renew it. See NHA’s Stay Certified page for current fees and CE options.
Do you need certification to work as a medical assistant?
In most states, the law does not require certification for medical assistants. Employers often do. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says employers may prefer or require certification, and some states require graduation from an accredited program, certification, or licensure (BLS).
State rules most often affect specific tasks, such as giving injections or doing certain lab tests. Before you enroll, check two things:
- Your state’s rules on medical assistant duties, through the state medical board or licensing agency.
- Recent job posts near you, to see which credentials local employers name.
Career outlook for medical assistants
BLS says medical assistant jobs will grow 13% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all jobs. That works out to about 109,700 openings each year, many from workers who change jobs or retire.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Median annual pay (May 2025) | 45,690(21.97 per hour) |
| Jobs (2025) | 833,900 |
| Projected growth, 2025–2035 | 13% |
| Average annual openings | About 109,700 |
| Typical entry-level education | College nondegree award |
Pay varies by state, employer, and specialty. A national median is not a forecast of what any one person will earn. Source: BLS Job Outlook Handbook: Medical Assistants.
How training prepares you for the CCMA exam
A strong program teaches the test plan and gives you supervised practice in the skills it covers. Because 56% of the scored exam is clinical patient care, look for training that goes beyond reading and video.
Advanced eClinical Training (ACT) offers an online, self-paced CCMA prep program. Its approach includes:
- Simulation-based learning for clinical tasks such as vital signs, infection control, phlebotomy, and EKG.
- Instructor support through office hours.
- Exam prep mapped to the NHA CCMA content domains.
- Externship support for eligible students after they earn the CCMA, with placement at a partner healthcare site. [VERIFY current externship hours and sequence]
- Career services, including resume and interview help.
ACT prepares students for the NHA exam. NHA, not ACT, gives the CCMA credential. Externship placement and career services support your job search; they do not guarantee employment.
When comparing programs, ask each one:
- Does the program meet NHA’s training route?
- Is the exam fee included, and how many tries does it cover?
- Is there a clinical externship, and when does it happen?
- What is the program’s state approval or license status where you live?
- How long do you have access to the course?
Frequently asked questions
What does CCMA stand for?
CCMA stands for Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) gives the credential.
How many questions are on the CCMA exam?
The exam has 180 questions: 150 scored and 30 unscored practice items. You have 3 hours to finish it.
What score do you need to pass the CCMA?
You need a scaled score of 390 or higher on a scale of 200 to 500.
Can you take the CCMA exam online?
NHA offers live remote proctoring through PSI or another approved provider, along with testing centers and authorized schools. Remote testing can depend on your registration path, so check with NHA.
Can you take the CCMA without going to school?
Yes, if you have a high school diploma or GED plus one year of supervised medical assisting work in the last 3 years, or two years in the last 5 years.
How often do you renew the CCMA?
Every two years, with 10 continuing education credits and a renewal fee.
Is the CCMA the same as the CMA?
No. NHA gives the CCMA. The American Association of Medical Assistants gives the CMA (AAMA), and the rules are different.
Sources
- NHA: Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) — rules and renewal
- NHA CCMA Test Plan — exam length and content domains
- NHA Candidate Handbook — scoring, testing options, retakes (marked updated 10/05/2026)
- NHA: Stay Certified — renewal
- BLS Job Outlook Handbook: Medical Assistants — pay, jobs, outlook
