MA exams side by side
| Exam | Questions | Time | Passing score | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCMA (NHA) | 180 | 3 hrs | 390 / 500 | 81.38% of exams, 2024 |
| CMAA (NHA) | 135 | 2h 15m | 390 / 500 | 62.68% of exams, 2024 |
| CMA (AAMA) | 200 | 160 min | 405 / 800 | 69% first time, 7/2024 to 4/2025 |
| RMA (AMT) | 210 | 2 hrs | 70 / 100 | 71%, 2023 |
| NCMA (NCCT) | 150 | 3 hrs | 575 / 720 | 66.7% to 91.6% first time by route, 2025 |
Each body measures pass rates differently: NHA counts all exams given, the AAMA reports first-time candidates, AMT gives one yearly figure and NCCT splits by eligibility route. Use them as a sense of scale, not a strict ranking.
What actually makes an MA exam hard
- Pace. The RMA gives you about half the time per question that the NCMA does.
- Clinical weight. Clinical content is 55% of the RMA, 56% of the CCMA's scored items and 59% of the CMA (AAMA).
- Scaled scores. No exam publishes a fixed number of questions you can miss.
- Hidden pretest items. Every exam mixes unscored questions in with scored ones.
Know you're ready for the MA exam before you book your date
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Start preparing for the MA examWhich one should you take?
Usually your school, your state or your employer decides. If you have a choice, compare eligibility, cost and where you can test, then prepare for that exam's format specifically, especially its pace.
MA exam FAQ
Which medical assistant exam is the easiest?
No exam is easy. By the published numbers the CCMA had the highest passing rate in 2024 (81.38% of exams), but pass rates are measured differently by each body.
Which MA exam has the lowest pass rate?
Among the figures published, the CMAA had 62.68% in 2024, and NCMA education route candidates had a 66.7% first-time pass rate in 2025.
How many questions are on medical assistant exams?
CCMA 180, CMAA 135, CMA (AAMA) 200, RMA 210, NCMA 150.
More MA exam guides
- NHA annual pass rates 2024 (revised 1/8/25)
- AAMA: CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam
- AMT: 2023 pass rate by program
- NCCT: Pass rates
- NHA CCMA Test Plan (2022 job analysis)
- NHA CMAA Test Plan (2021 job analysis)
- AAMA: CMA (AAMA) content outline
- AMT: RMA content outline
- NCCT: Medical Assistant Detailed Test Plan (effective January 2024)
- AMT: Applying and testing FAQ