CCMA
Offered by National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) is a national medical assistant certification from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Clinics, health systems, and training programs use it as evidence that you can handle clinical and front-office medical assisting tasks. NHA builds the exam from a job analysis. The current detailed test plan is the 2022 outline NHA still publishes.
EXAM AT A GLANCE
Format
180 multiple-choice questions (150 scored + 30 unscored pretest)
Testing time
3
hours
Sections
7
Delivery
At your school, a PSI testing center, or live remote proctoring
Passing score
390
Cost
NHA shows the current fee when you schedule in your account
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Join discussion →What the exam covers
Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science
15 items
Anatomy and Physiology
8 items
Clinical Patient Care
84 items
Patient Care Coordination and Education
12 items
Administrative Assisting
12 items
Communication and Customer Service
12 items
Medical Law and Ethics
7 items
About the CCMA certification
It is not a state license to practice medicine or nursing, and it is not the Certified Medical Assistant credential from the American Association of Medical Assistants. Employers may accept one, the other, or both.
Who it’s for
Medical assisting students and working medical assistants who need NHA's national clinical certification.
- Passing score
- 390 or higher on a 200–500 scaled scale. The scaled score holds the passing standard steady across exam forms.
- Cost
- You pay per attempt. A school or employer voucher may cover it. Prep products are optional and are not required to sit.
- Validity
- 2 years. Renew with 10 continuing-education credits (two hours of attendance equal one credit). California CCMAs who train other medical assistants follow a separate 60-hour / 5-year rule.
- Prerequisites
- High school diploma or equivalent (or within 12 months of graduating, which can be provisional) plus either a medical assistant training program completed within the last 5 years or qualifying supervised work experience
Official exam page· Details verified October 2026
Exam details can change. Always confirm current requirements, fees, and exam policies with the certification provider before registering.
How to take the CCMA certification
- 1
Confirm eligibility. The training route is a medical assistant program completed within the last 5 years. The work route is 1 year of supervised experience in the last 3 years, or 2 years in the last 5. California work-experience applicants need 2 years within the last 5.
- 2
Create an NHA account and schedule at your school, a PSI center, or live remote proctoring.
- 3
Pay the fee shown when you schedule. A school or employer voucher may cover it.
- 4
Download the official CCMA test plan and use that outline.
- 5
After you pass, the credential is valid for 2 years. Keep renewal records. NHA allows reinstatement within one year of expiration.
How to prepare
01
Download NHA's CCMA test plan
Clinical Patient Care is 84 of 150 scored items: intake and vitals, general patient care, infection control, point-of-care testing, phlebotomy, and EKG.
02
If you just finished a program, a few focused weeks of practice questions may be enough. If you are qualifying through work experience or it has been a while since class, plan a longer runway and track it week by week.
03
Keep a shorter block for foundational science, anatomy, coordination, administration, communication, and law and ethics so those 66 scored items are not an afterthought.
04
Sit timed practice exams built to 180 items and a 3-hour limit. The passing standard is a scaled 390, not a published raw percentage.
05
Recheck your pathway and the fee in your NHA account before you schedule. Do not assume a CMA (AAMA) question bank matches this blueprint.
Related resources
FAQ
What is the CCMA certification?
It is NHA's Certified Clinical Medical Assistant credential. It shows you can perform the clinical and administrative tasks in NHA's medical-assistant test plan. It is not a license to practice as a nurse or provider.
Who is eligible for the CCMA?
You need a high school diploma or equivalent, or to be within 12 months of earning one. You also need a medical assistant training program completed within 5 years, or supervised medical assisting experience: 1 year in the last 3 years, or 2 years in the last 5. California work-experience applicants need 2 years within 5 years.
How much does the CCMA exam cost?
NHA lists the current fee in your account when you schedule, and you pay it per attempt. Schools and employers sometimes cover it with a voucher. Buying NHA's study guide or practice tests is optional and is not required to sit.
What score do I need to pass the CCMA?
A scaled score of 390 or higher on NHA's 200–500 scale. The raw number of correct answers can vary by form.
What happens after you pass the CCMA?
You hold the CCMA certification for two years. Renewal takes 10 continuing-education credits before it expires. California CCMAs who train other medical assistants have a separate continuing-education rule. The credential does not replace a state license.
Is CCMA the same as CMA (AAMA)?
No. CCMA is NHA. CMA (AAMA) is a separate certification, usually requiring graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program. Employers may accept one, the other, or both.
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