The ways to qualify for the CCMA
| Route | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Training program | A medical assistant training program completed within the past 5 years |
| Work experience | At least 1 year of supervised work experience in the last 3 years, or 2 years in the last 5 |
| Military | Formal medical services training from any branch of the U.S. military, completed within the past 5 years |
You also need a high school diploma or equivalent (such as a GED), or to be scheduled to earn one in the next 18 months. Students in a program can test before graduating through NHA's provisional certification, up to 18 months before graduation.
The attestation and the audit
On the work experience route you attest at registration that you have the required supervised experience, for example a minimum of 1 year in the last 3 years. NHA reserves the right to audit attestations, so keep records of your employment and supervision.
If NHA finds a false attestation, it can disallow the exam, invalidate the score, or suspend or revoke the credential after it is issued, with no refund. Only use this route if your experience clearly qualifies.
California is different
For the CCMA in California, NHA's work experience route requires 2 years of work experience as a medical assistant within the last 5 years, counted back from your exam date.
No school and no experience?
Then you don't qualify yet. You need either a training program or the supervised work experience. Many people start as a medical assistant on the job and test once they reach the required time.
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Start preparing for the CCMAStudying without a course
Experience-route candidates take the same exam: 180 questions (150 scored), 3 hours, and a passing score of 390 on a 200 to 500 scale. The trap is theory you don't use at work. Clinical Patient Care is 84 of the 150 scored items, and law, ethics and anatomy show up too. Start from what's on the CCMA exam and plan with how long to study.
CCMA FAQ
Can you become a CCMA without going to school?
Yes, with at least 1 year of supervised work experience in the last 3 years (or 2 in the last 5) and a high school diploma or equivalent.
What proof does NHA need for the work experience route?
You attest to your experience at registration. NHA reserves the right to audit attestations, so keep records of your employment and supervision.
Do I have to be working as a medical assistant right now?
The rule is about experience within a time window: 1 year in the last 3 years, or 2 years in the last 5.
Can I take the CCMA online?
Yes. If you register on your own, you test at a PSI center or with live remote proctoring from home. Candidates from an NHA-authorized school may test at their school.
Is the exam different on the work experience route?
No. It's the same CCMA exam with the same passing score.