Medical assistant (CCMA, CMA)
Medical assistant practice test: CCMA or CMA
Switch between the CCMA and the CMA (AAMA) with the exam menu; ten questions a set, each explained. Below, how the two exams differ.
CCMA · practice
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| Study target: 8 of 10 (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.
Medical assistants in the United States usually certify through one of two national exams. The CCMA of the National Healthcareer Association has 180 questions in 3 hours, organized in twelve test plan areas led by clinical patient care, and accepts either a training program or supervised work experience. The CMA (AAMA) of the American Association of Medical Assistants has 200 questions in four 40-minute segments, organized in three categories, clinical competency, general and administrative, and in most cases requires a program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES. Both report scaled scores: scaled score of 390 (scale 200 to 500) for the CCMA, scaled score of 405 (scale 200 to 800) for the CMA. The AAMA publishes its fee, $125 for members and recent graduates; the NHA did not show its fee on a public page on October 26, 2026. Most of the knowledge is shared, which is why the practice above lets you switch exams: the same clinical questions train both.
The CCMA (NHA) accepts work experience; the CMA (AAMA) asks for an accredited program in most cases.
NHA
CCMA
- Exam:
- 180 questions, 180 minutes
- Fee:
- not published by the NHA
- To qualify:
- A training program finished within 5 years, or one year of supervised work in the last three
- Renewal:
- Every 2 years, 10 continuing education credits
AAMA
CMA (AAMA)
- Exam:
- 200 questions, 160 minutes
- Fee:
- $125
- To qualify:
- A medical assisting program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES (other routes are narrow)
- Renewal:
- Every 60 months, 60 continuing education units or a new exam
Questions, formats and fees by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
The two exams side by side
| CCMA | CMA (AAMA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | NHA | AAMA |
| Questions | 180 (150 scored) | 200 (180 scored) |
| Time | 3 hours | 2 hours 40 minutes in four segments |
| Structure | 12 test plan areas | 3 content categories |
| Score | scaled score of 390 (scale 200 to 500) | scaled score of 405 (scale 200 to 800) |
| Fee | Not published on a public page | $125 member, $250 otherwise |
Eligibility, the deciding difference
For most candidates the choice is made by eligibility. The NHA accepts, after a high school diploma or equivalent, a medical assistant training program completed in the last five years or supervised work experience (one year in the last three, or two in the last five). The AAMA asks, in most cases, that you be a student or graduate of a medical assisting program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES. If your program is not accredited, or you learned on the job, the CCMA is usually the realistic route.
What the content difference means for your practice
The CCMA puts most of its weight on clinical patient care, split into six areas from intake and vitals to EKG. The CMA (AAMA) gives clinical competency a little over half of the exam and keeps a fifth for administrative work: scheduling, records, insurance, claims and coding concepts. If you prepare for the CMA, add administrative sets every week. If you prepare for the CCMA, spend more time on the clinical areas, especially general patient care and infection control.
Using the practice above
The exam menu switches the quiz between the CCMA and the CMA. The domain menu then lists that exam's areas or categories. The questions shared between the two count once in your progress, so a rule you fixed for one exam stays fixed for the other. For a full timed test, use the CCMA mock or the CMA mock; each keeps its exam's length and time.
After certification
The CCMA is renewed every 2 years with continuing education; the CMA (AAMA) every 60 months, by continuing education or by retesting. Many medical assistants later add a phlebotomy or EKG credential: the certification finder shows the routes.
The finder above shows both medical assistant exams with their routes, fees and renewal. This site is independent of the NHA and the AAMA, and recommends no school.