PassPulse Medical AssistantPrepare for the CMAA

Is the CMAA exam hard?

Harder than its reputation. In 2024 NHA reported a 62.68% passing rate across 9,390 CMAA exams, down from 69.02% in 2023, so more than 1 attempt in 3 failed. You get 135 questions in 2 hours 15 minutes, and the points are spread across seven administrative domains with no single easy section.

Updated October 2026
63%
CMAA exams passed in 202462.68% of 9,390 exams, NHA data
More than 1 in 3 attempts did not pass
135questions
2h 15mtime limit
390to pass, on 200–500

CMAA exam at a glance

Questions
135 (110 scored, 25 unscored pretest)
Time
2 hours 15 minutes
Passing score
390 on a 200 to 500 scaled score
2024 pass rate
62.68% of 9,390 exams
2023 pass rate
69.02% of 8,866 exams
Exam application
$134 (NHA store, October 2026)
Retake
30 day wait, full exam fee each attempt
NHA pass rates count exams, not people, and don't separate first attempts.

Why so many people fail the CMAA

Many candidates expect an administrative exam to be the easy option. The numbers say otherwise: in 2024 the CMAA passing rate was almost 19 points lower than the CCMA's 81.38%.

  • No dominant domain to lean on. The largest domains are 21 items each; everything else sits between 10 and 17.
  • Details matter. Scheduling, billing and compliance questions turn on specific rules, not general common sense.
  • Steady pace. 135 questions in 135 minutes is one minute per question.
  • 25 hidden pretest items that look exactly like scored ones.

What's on the CMAA

DomainScored items
Communication and Professionalism21
Patient Encounter21
Medical Law, Ethics and Compliance17
Scheduling16
Medical Practice Administrative Procedures and Logistics14
Billing and Revenue Cycle11
Foundational Knowledge10

These numbers come from the CMAA test plan that NHA links from its CMAA page (based on a 2021 job analysis). An older 2014 plan with different domains is still online; ignore it.

Know you're ready for the CMAA before you book your date

PassPulse is built for one job: getting you through the CMAA on your first attempt. 880+ exam style questions across every topic on the exam, every answer explained, even the wrong ones. Your readiness score updates after every session and the app keeps drilling your weakest topics until they stop costing you points. 15 minutes a day, on your phone.

Start preparing for the CMAA

How to be on the right side of 63%

  1. Prepare every domain: there is no section you can afford to skip.
  2. Learn the rules behind scheduling, billing and compliance questions, not just the vocabulary.
  3. Practice timed sets at one question per minute.
  4. Book only when practice results are stable above the line. The passing mark is explained in CMAA passing score.

CMAA FAQ

What is the CMAA pass rate?

NHA reported 62.68% for 9,390 CMAA exams in 2024 and 69.02% for 8,866 exams in 2023.

Is the CMAA easier than the CCMA?

Not by the numbers. In 2024 the CCMA passing rate was 81.38% and the CMAA's was 62.68%.

How many questions are on the CMAA?

135: 110 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions, in 2 hours 15 minutes.

How much does the CMAA cost?

The exam application is $134 in the NHA store as of October 2026. Each retake costs the full price again.

More CMAA guides

Sources
  1. NHA annual pass rates 2024 (revised 1/8/25)
  2. NHA annual pass rates 2023
  3. NHA CMAA Test Plan (2021 job analysis)
  4. NHA Candidate Handbook
  5. NHA Store: CMAA exam application

Walk into the CMAA already knowing you're ready

Practice on exactly what the exam covers and watch your readiness climb every day.

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PassPulse is an independent exam preparation tool. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), American Medical Technologists (AMT) or the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). Exam, credential and product names mentioned on this page are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify the exams and materials described.

This page is for general information only. It is not official guidance from any certifying body, state agency or employer, and it is not legal, medical, career or financial advice. The information on this page may contain errors or omissions, or may be out of date: fees, policies, exam content and state rules change. Practice questions, answers and explanations on PassPulse may also contain errors. Always confirm current requirements and facts directly with the certifying body, your state, your employer or the manufacturer's instructions before you register, apply or act on them. Pass rates and statistics describe past candidates and do not predict your result.
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