The CCMA (NHA) exam fee is $165.
The passing score for the CCMA (NHA) is 390 (scaled, 200-500).
The CCMA (NHA) has 180 questions with a time limit of 3 hours.
The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential, administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) since 1989, is a widely recognized certification for medical assistants in clinical healthcare settings. Over 1 million candidates have earned this certification, making it one of the most prevalent credentials in the medical assisting field. The CCMA validates core competencies in clinical patient care, diagnostic procedures, and healthcare administration.
Medical assistants who hold the CCMA work in diverse healthcare environments—clinics, hospitals, urgent care centers, and specialty practices—supporting physicians and healthcare teams. The credential signals to employers that a candidate has demonstrated knowledge and practical proficiency in clinical medical assisting tasks, from vital signs and patient communication to infection control and clinical documentation.
The CCMA exam assesses competency across the breadth of clinical medical assisting practice. Candidates are tested on their ability to perform clinical tasks, understand healthcare regulations, and apply best practices in patient care and safety.
To sit for the CCMA exam, candidates must possess a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency, or be scheduled to earn one within the next 12 months. NHA recognizes two pathways to certification: completion of a formal medical assisting training program that is no more than 5 years old, or documented work experience of at least 2 years in a clinical medical assisting role.
The exam covers clinical competencies essential to the role, including patient interaction, vital signs assessment, infection control, specimen handling, diagnostic procedures, and knowledge of medical terminology and healthcare law. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate both theoretical knowledge and practical understanding of clinical medical assisting duties.
The initial CCMA exam registration fee is 165 USD. Candidates who do not pass on their first attempt may retake the exam; the retake fee is the same as the initial fee. Upon certification, the credential remains active for 2 years, after which renewal is required. The renewal fee is 195 USD. If a CCMA credential lapses and the holder wishes to reinstate it rather than retake the full exam, the reinstatement fee is 99 USD.
The CCMA exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within a 180-minute time window (3 hours). NHA offers flexible testing delivery options: candidates may test at authorized test centers or take the exam through online proctoring, whichever is more convenient. The exam is scored on a scaled score basis with a passing score of 390 on a 200–500 scale.
The NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam is moderately challenging and designed to verify competency across clinical, administrative, and interpersonal domains. Most candidates who complete solid preparation pass on the first attempt, but the exam requires sustained focus, clinical knowledge, and hands-on familiarity with medical office workflows. Success depends less on memorization than on understanding real patient care scenarios and equipment protocols.
The CCMA exam consists of 150 questions administered over 180 minutes, giving you just over 1 minute per question on average. Of those 150 questions, all are scored; there are no experimental or unscored items. The time allocation is tight but manageable if you've practiced at speed and are comfortable with quick decision-making. You'll encounter multiple-choice questions spanning phlebotomy, EKG, patient communication, medical terminology, infection control, and administrative tasks.
To pass, you need a scaled score of 390 or higher. The scaled scoring system means raw points are converted to a standard scale; your actual percentage-correct needed may vary slightly, but generally expect to answer 70–75% of questions correctly to reach the passing threshold. Difficulty varies by question; the exam adapts slightly in real-time based on your performance, so some candidates see harder questions as they prove themselves capable.
Eligibility is straightforward: you must possess a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency, or be scheduled to earn one within the next 12 months. Beyond that, you can qualify via two pathways. The most direct is having completed a medical assistant training or education program within the last 5 years—most vocational programs, community colleges, and some universities meet this requirement. Alternatively, if you have 2 years of supervised work experience in a medical assisting field within the last 5 years, you may also sit for the exam. This dual-pathway design makes the CCMA accessible to both fresh graduates and working professionals pivoting into formal certification.
The exam fee is straightforward: $165 to sit for the CCMA. This is a one-time cost to take the test. If you need to retake it (and many do on their first attempt), you'll pay $165 again; there's no bulk discount for retakes. Budget for study materials separately—official NHA prep resources, study guides, and practice exams typically range from $50 to $150 depending on depth and format.
Once you pass and earn certification, renewal costs begin. Your CCMA certification must be renewed every 2 years, and the renewal fee is $195 per cycle. If your certification lapses and you need to reinstate, you'll pay a reinstatement fee of $99 in addition to the renewal fee. Over a 10-year career, renewal costs alone add $1,000+, so factor certification maintenance into your long-term professional budget.
To maintain your credential beyond the initial certification, you must complete 10 continuing education (CE) credits every two years. Most CE can be earned through free or low-cost webinars, employer-sponsored workshops, or self-directed learning via accredited platforms. Some employers cover CE costs; others require you to pursue and fund it independently. This requirement keeps the credential current but is rarely a barrier if you're actively working in clinical settings, where learning opportunities abound.
Expect to study for 4–6 weeks if you're coming straight from a medical assistant program, or 8–12 weeks if you've been out of structured healthcare education for a while. Here's a practical timeline:
Study alone won't carry you. If you worked through a formal program, hands-on lab practice is your hidden advantage—candidates who've actually performed phlebotomy, taken EKGs, and managed real patient interactions consistently outperform those who've only read about these skills. Revisit lab work if possible, or volunteer hours in a clinic to refresh muscle memory.
The NHA has awarded over 1 million certifications since the organization began serving allied health in 1989, making the CCMA one of the most widely recognized medical assistant credentials in the United States. Employers in clinics, hospitals, urgent care centers, and private practices actively seek CCMA-certified staff. Certification typically translates to higher starting pay (often $1–3 per hour more than uncertified), better job security, and eligibility for advancement into senior medical assistant or administrative roles.
The CCMA credential is particularly valued in ambulatory care, where you'll manage both clinical and front-desk duties. It signals to employers that you've been independently vetted against national standards and understand infection control, legal compliance, and patient privacy. In some states and facilities, CCMA certification unlocks specific tasks or overtime opportunities that uncertified assistants cannot access.
| Exam Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 150 (all scored) |
| Time Allowed | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Passing Score | 390 scaled |
| Exam Fee | $165 |
| Renewal Cycle | Every 2 years |
| Renewal Fee | $195 |
| CE Requirements | 10 hours every 2 years |
The CCMA exam is neither a rubber stamp nor a barrier exam—it's a fair, competency-based assessment that most prepared candidates pass. The key is grounding your study in clinical and administrative realities, not just test trivia. If you've completed your training program and invested a month or two in deliberate practice, passing is well within reach. The credential's market value, employer recognition, and career mobility make the effort worthwhile, especially early in your medical assisting career.
If you're weighing the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) against other allied-health credentials, it helps to see them side by side. The CCMA is a clinical-plus-administrative credential, while the exams below range from a rival clinical MA certification to specialized coding and billing credentials. This page compares scope, difficulty, ideal candidates, and prerequisites so you can pick the path that fits your career goals.
The CCMA is a broad medical-assisting credential covering both patient-facing clinical tasks and front-office duties. The exams it's most often compared with fall into two buckets: another general medical-assistant certification (CMA from AAMA) and coding/billing specialist credentials (CPC and CBCS).
The CCMA and CMA (AAMA) both certify hands-on clinical skills (vitals, phlebotomy, EKG, assisting with procedures, patient intake) combined with administrative competencies. In contrast, the CPC and CBCS are non-clinical: they certify the ability to work with documentation, code sets, claims, and reimbursement rather than direct patient care. If you want to work chairside with patients, a medical-assistant credential fits; if you prefer a desk-based revenue-cycle role, a coding or billing credential fits.
Because the CCMA covers a wide breadth of clinical and administrative topics, its difficulty comes from range rather than depth in any single area. The CMA (AAMA) is comparably broad and is often regarded as rigorous within the MA field. The CPC is widely considered the most demanding of these four because it requires detailed mastery of multiple code sets (such as CPT, ICD, and HCPCS) and coding guidelines. The CBCS is more narrowly scoped than the CPC, making it a common entry point into coding and billing.
Eligibility requirements differ by certifying body and can change, so confirm the current criteria directly with each organization before applying. Generally, medical-assistant credentials expect a mix of relevant education and/or hands-on training, while coding and billing credentials emphasize coursework or experience with code sets and claims. Always verify eligibility, required documentation, and any experience or training pathways with the issuing organization.
The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) is a 150-question test with a $165 registration fee. You do not need to buy an expensive prep course to pass — but paid materials can save time and add structure. This page compares free study options against paid courses and books so you can choose the mix that fits your budget, timeline, and study style.
Best when: you are disciplined, on a tight budget, already completed a training program, or just need review rather than first-time instruction.
Best when: you need structure, are testing weak areas cold, want realistic timed simulations, or are willing to spend money to shorten your study timeline.
| Factor | Free resources | Paid prep |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $0 (exam fee is still $165) | Course/book cost on top of the $165 fee |
| Structure | You assemble it yourself | Pre-built syllabus |
| Timed practice | Ad-hoc, varies in quality | Full-length simulations of the 150-question / 180-minute format |
| Content accuracy | Verify against the official test plan | Often aligned to the current blueprint |
| Best for | Reviewers, budget-conscious learners | First-timers, structure-seekers |
A common winning strategy: build a free foundation from the official test plan and library resources, then invest in one paid practice test to calibrate against the real exam before your attempt.
Each of these is a side-by-side on what the provider does better than we do, what it charges today, and where the free path here is enough.
Part 1 of a multi-part NHA CCMA exam review from a dedicated medical assisting instructor, working through practice questions with explanations. Covers clinical and administrative content aligned to the CCMA test plan.
Source: Medical Assisting with Ms. K (YouTube)
Fifty CCMA-style practice questions reviewed with full rationales for each answer. The rationale-first approach helps reinforce why the correct choice is right, not just which letter to pick.
Source: Pass MA with Dani (YouTube)
A study-guide session built around 50 of the harder NHA CCMA question types, with answers and explanations. Useful for stress-testing knowledge after covering the core review material.
Source: Exam Prep Central (YouTube)
First installment of a visual walkthrough of the NHA CCMA study guide, moving through exam content areas with on-screen summaries. A structured content review rather than a question-drill format.
Source: Nursing Exam Support (YouTube)
The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam is a national certification test offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) that verifies you have the clinical and administrative skills to work as a medical assistant. It covers areas like patient care, phlebotomy, EKG, and medical law and ethics. Passing it earns you the CCMA credential, which many employers require or prefer when hiring medical assistants.
The CCMA exam costs $165. That fee covers one exam attempt, so if you need to retake it you will pay again, and NHA may charge separate fees for retakes or rescheduling. Confirm the current fee and retake policy on the NHA's website before you register, since pricing can change.
The CCMA exam has 150 scored questions, and you get 180 minutes (3 hours) to complete it. That works out to a little over a minute per question, so pacing matters. The exam also typically includes some unscored pretest items mixed in, which do not count toward your result.
You need a scaled score of 390 or higher to pass the CCMA exam. This is a scaled score, not a percentage, so it does not translate directly into a fixed number of correct answers. NHA converts your raw performance into the scaled score to keep results consistent across different versions of the exam.
You register through the NHA by creating an account on its website, verifying your eligibility, and scheduling a test date at a PSI testing center or at your school. Eligibility generally requires a high school diploma or equivalent plus either completion of a medical assistant training program or qualifying work experience. Check the NHA's current eligibility requirements before you apply, since the accepted pathways are defined by the NHA and can change.
Start with free CCMA practice questions to find out which topics you already know and where you are weak. From there, focus your study time on your weakest domains, review a summary sheet of must-know facts, and retest regularly to measure progress. You can work through our free CCMA practice questions and printable cheat sheet without paying anything or creating an account.
The CCMA exam is moderately challenging because of its breadth and pace: you answer 150 scored questions in 180 minutes, which works out to just over a minute per question. According to the NHA, you must reach a scaled score of 390 or higher to pass. With disciplined study across all clinical and administrative domains, most well-prepared candidates find the difficulty manageable.
You need a scaled score of 390 or higher to pass the CCMA exam, according to the NHA. The exam contains 150 scored questions, and your final result is reported on a scaled scale rather than as a raw percentage. Because scoring is scaled, aim to answer confidently across every content area rather than targeting a single raw-number threshold.
Study by building both content mastery and timing stamina, since you'll face 150 questions in just 180 minutes. Take full-length timed practice tests so you're comfortable with the roughly one-minute-per-question pace, and target a performance level comfortably above the NHA's scaled passing score of 390. Focus your review on any weak clinical or administrative domains so no single area drags down your scaled score.
The CCMA exam gives you 180 minutes to answer 150 scored questions, according to the NHA. That pace leaves a little over a minute per question, so practicing under timed conditions is essential. Managing your time well helps ensure you reach the scaled passing score of 390 without leaving questions unanswered.
The CCMA exam contains 150 scored questions and gives you 180 minutes to complete it. You need a scaled score of 390 or higher to pass.
The CCMA exam fee is $165. Fees for the CMA (AAMA), CPC (AAPC), and CBCS (NHA) are set by their respective certifying bodies and vary, so check each organization's current pricing before you register.
Choose the CCMA if you want to work directly with patients in a clinical and administrative role. Choose a coding or billing credential like the CPC or CBCS if you prefer a non-clinical, desk-based role focused on documentation, claims, and reimbursement. The CPC is the deepest coding specialty, while the CBCS is a more accessible entry point into billing and coding.
Yes. Many candidates pass using free materials — the official NHA test plan, borrowed textbooks, and free practice questions. Because the exam has a scaled passing score of 390 or higher, what matters is mastering the blueprint domains, not how much you spent. Free study demands more self-discipline and careful cross-checking of source accuracy, but it is entirely viable, especially if you have completed a training program.
It depends on your situation. Paid courses add structure, curated content, and realistic timed simulations of the 150-question, 180-minute exam — valuable if you are a first-time tester or study better with a set syllabus. If you are simply reviewing familiar material, free resources may be enough. Remember the exam itself costs $165, so factor any prep spending on top of that.
Start free: download the official NHA test plan to learn the domain weighting, then study from library textbooks and free tutorials. Once you have covered the material, buy one paid full-length practice test to simulate the real 180-minute exam and expose weak spots. This keeps costs low while still giving you a realistic dry run before test day.
Primary documents used to verify the exam details shown on this page.
Last verified against the official exam content outline: