Medical assistant (CCMA, CMA)

The CCMA exam, from eligibility to renewal

Independent site, not affiliated with the certifying body or the test vendor. Applications, payments and scheduling happen only on their own websites.

What the NHA asks before you can sit the CCMA, how the exam runs and is scored, and what happens after a failed attempt or a pass.

Time per question on the real exam

Seconds per question

57

Questions
180
Time allowed
3 h
Average with no review
60 s

CCMA: 180 questions, of which 150 count toward the score.

Practice at that pace →

The CCMA is the certification exam for clinical medical assistants run by the National Healthcareer Association. It has 180 questions, 150 scored, in 3 hours, taken at a test center or with live remote proctoring, and has followed its current test plan since January 10, 2024. Candidates need a high school diploma or equivalent and either a medical assistant training program completed within the last five years or supervised work experience as a medical assistant, one year within the last three or two years within the last five, according to the NHA candidate handbook (archived copy). The result is a scaled score, scaled score of 390 (scale 200 to 500). After a failed attempt the wait is 30 days; after 3 attempts it becomes one year between attempts. The credential is renewed every 2 years with 10 continuing education credits. The NHA did not show the exam fee on a public page on October 26, 2026; it appears in your account when you register.

Question 1 of 5 · General patient care
Which site is generally preferred for intramuscular injections in infants?

CCMA · practice

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Study target: 4 of 5 (80%), not the official passing score

Practice questions written by Radif Partners from the public outline; not questions from the real exam. Progress stays in this browser.

Questions, formats and fees by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources

The exam at a glance

NHA test plan and candidate handbook, archived copies, read on October 26, 2026.
ItemCCMA
Questions180 (150 scored)
Time3 hours
DeliveryTest center or live remote proctoring
Scorescaled score of 390 (scale 200 to 500)
Current test plan sinceJanuary 10, 2024

The timing calculator above shows what that means per question. The test plan's twelve areas are detailed on the CCMA practice test page; clinical patient care makes up most of the exam.

Eligibility routes

After a high school diploma or equivalent, the NHA accepts two routes:

  • Training: a medical assistant training program completed within the last five years.
  • Experience: supervised work as a medical assistant, one year within the last three years or two years within the last five.

The NHA candidate handbook (archived copy, cited in the sources) gives the documents for each route. Because the NHA website blocks automated reading, we read its pages in dated archive copies; check the live handbook in your account before you apply.

Registration and test day

You create an NHA account, submit the eligibility information, pay and choose a test center or a remote session. For remote testing, the proctor checks your room, your identification and your computer before the exam starts. Bring the identification the handbook names; a mismatch between the name on your account and on your ID is a common reason to be turned away.

After the exam

NHA candidate handbook and renewal page, archived copies.
SituationNHA rule
Failed attemptWait 30 days, then retake
After 3 attemptsOne attempt a year
PassCredential for 2 years
Renewal10 continuing education credits per cycle

Each attempt is paid again. The fees and retakes page compares these rules with the AAMA, the PTCB and the NREMT.

Is the CCMA the right credential for you?

If you trained in a program that is not accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES, or you learned on the job, the CCMA is usually the open route, since the CMA (AAMA) mostly requires an accredited program. If your program is accredited, compare what employers near you ask for. The medical assistant practice page sets the two exams side by side, and the certification finder covers the other jobs.

This site is not the NHA and has no role in eligibility, registration or results.

Questions candidates ask

Can I take the CCMA without going to school?

Yes, through the work experience route: supervised work as a medical assistant, one year within the last three years or two years within the last five, after a high school diploma or equivalent. The employer or supervisor attests the experience. Without either a program or that experience, the NHA does not accept the application.

What is the difference between the CCMA and the CMA (AAMA)?

The CCMA is run by the NHA, has 180 questions in 3 hours and accepts work experience. The CMA (AAMA) has 200 questions in four timed segments, mostly requires an accredited program, and gives administrative tasks a larger share. Employers often accept either; some name one. The medical assistant practice page compares them in detail.

When do I get my CCMA result?

The NHA reports results through your account after the exam, with a breakdown by area that helps if you need to retake. The certificate follows a pass once eligibility documents are complete. Exact timing depends on how you tested and whether documents are pending, so check your NHA account rather than counting on a fixed delay.

What does the CCMA renewal require?

Every 2 years, 10 continuing education credits completed during the cycle, and the renewal fee, according to the NHA renewal page (archived copy). Keep track of the expiry date in your account; a lapsed credential has its own reinstatement rules, which can include retesting.

Keep practicing

CCMA practice test

Ten CCMA questions at a time from one of the twelve areas of the NHA test plan, each answer explained.

CCMA practice exam (full mock)

A full 180-question timed CCMA mock over three hours, spread across the twelve test plan areas.

Medical assistant practice test

Practice for either medical assistant exam, CCMA or CMA (AAMA), and see how the two credentials differ.

Exam fees and retakes

What each certification exam costs, what a failed attempt costs again, and how long you must wait.

Which certification?

From the job you want to the exam it needs: certifier, route to eligibility, official fee and renewal.

Official pages this page was checked against

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Exam formats, fees and rules 2026, read on the certifying bodies’ own pages, last checked on