CCMA certification: what it is and whether it's worth it

CCMA at a glance

Awarded by

National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

Accreditation

NHA states all its exams are NCCA-accredited

Exam

180 questions (150 scored), 3 hours, pass at 390 on 200–500

Cost

$169 exam application (NHA store, October 2026)

Eligibility

High school diploma or GED, plus a training program or supervised work experience

Renewal

Every 2 years: 10 CE credits plus a fee

Active CCMAs

233,190 as of December 31, 2024

Who can take the CCMA

You need a high school diploma or GED, or be scheduled to earn one within 18 months. Then one of two pathways, according to the NHA Candidate Handbook:

• Pathway 1: an approved training program, apprenticeship, military training, or an employer or institution route, completed within the past 5 years.
• Pathway 2: supervised work experience: 1 year within the last 3 years, or 2 years within the last 5.
• California: 2 years as an MA within the last 5.

Is the CCMA worth it?

Look at what the job market says. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics counts 833,900 medical assistant jobs in 2025, a median pay of $45,690 a year ($21.97 an hour), and projects 13% growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 109,700 openings a year.

On certification specifically, BLS puts it plainly: "Although most states do not require it, employers may prefer or require that medical assistants be certified." In a market with that many openings, a credential is how you stand out from candidates who don't have one.

Where the CCMA counts for state rules

• Washington: the CCMA is one of five exams the Department of Health recognizes for the Medical Assistant-Certified credential. See medical assistant certification in Washington.
• California: MAs can work without certification. The Medical Board's list of approved certifying organizations, needed only for the "qualified medical assistant" role that trains other MAs, does not include NHA.
• Arizona: graduates of non-approved programs can qualify by passing an MA exam from an NCCA- or ANSI-accredited certifying organization.

Rules differ by state, so check your state before you choose a credential.

What the exam looks like

180 multiple choice questions in 3 hours, 150 of them scored. More than half the scored items, 84 of 150, come from Clinical Patient Care. Full details in what's on the CCMA exam, and how the scoring works in CCMA passing score.