PassPulse Medical AssistantPrepare for the NCMA

Is the NCMA exam hard?

It depends on how you qualify. NCCT's 2025 data shows a 66.7% first-time pass rate for the education route and 91.6% for candidates qualifying through work experience. The exam itself is 150 questions in 3 hours, the most generous time per question of the major MA exams.

Updated October 2026

NCMA first-time pass rate by route, 2025

Experience (795 tests)91.6%
High School (786 tests)68.3%
Education (4,182 tests)66.7%
NCCT pass rates, first-time candidates, 2025. Military route (28 tests) omitted.

NCMA exam at a glance

Questions
150 (125 scored, 25 unscored pretest)
Time
3 hours
Passing score
575 on a 200 to 720 scaled score
Fee
$119 for every route; remote testing adds $44
Results
Immediately, in your NCCT account
Retake
30 days after the 1st and 2nd attempt, 90 days after the 3rd, 180 days after the 4th

Why students find the NCMA harder

Two thirds of first-time education route candidates passed in 2025, compared with more than 9 in 10 experienced MAs. The gap is practical knowledge: clinical procedures are 72 of the 125 scored items, and that's where hands-on experience pays off.

  • Clinical Medical Procedures: 72 items (infection and exposure control 15, patient intake and care 32, phlebotomy 15, ECG 10)
  • Law and Ethics: 20 items
  • Pharmacology and General Medical Knowledge: 18 items
  • Medical Administrative Duties: 15 items

The test plan changed in January 2024

NCCT's current test plan has 125 scored and 25 pretest items. Older prep material still quotes 150 scored items. Make sure what you study matches the plan effective January 2024.

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

PassPulse is built for one job: getting you through the NCMA 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.

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Passing the NCMA

You need 575 on a 200 to 720 scale, and you see your result immediately after the exam. If you're coming from school rather than the job, spend extra time on clinical scenarios, the area that separates the two groups.

NCMA FAQ

What is the NCMA pass rate?

NCCT's 2025 first-time pass rates are 66.7% for the education route, 68.3% for the high school route and 91.6% for the experience route. NCCT doesn't publish one overall figure.

How many questions are on the NCMA?

150: 125 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions, in 3 hours.

What is the NCMA passing score?

575 on a scaled score from 200 to 720.

How much is the NCMA exam?

$119 for every eligibility route, plus $44 for remote testing.

More NCMA guides

Sources
  1. NCCT: Pass rates
  2. NCCT: Medical Assistant Detailed Test Plan (effective January 2024)
  3. NCCT Candidate Handbook (January 2026)
  4. NCCT: Scoring scale update
  5. NCCT: Medical Assistant certification

Walk into the NCMA 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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