PassPulse Medical AssistantPrepare for the NCMA

NCMA certification: what it is and who qualifies

The NCMA (National Certified Medical Assistant) comes from NCCT, which has tested healthcare professionals since 1989 and lists the NCMA among its NCCA-accredited programs. The exam is 150 questions in 3 hours, costs $119, and renews every year.

Updated October 2026
$119
NCMA exam feeSame for every route; remote testing adds $44
150questions
3 hrstime limit
575to pass, on 200–720

Six ways to qualify

All routes need a high school diploma or equivalent, and qualifying education or experience less than 5 years old.

  1. High school: provisional certification after passing.
  2. Current student at an NCCT-authorized program, apprenticeships included.
  3. Graduate within the last 5 years.
  4. Experience: 1 year (2,080 hours) full-time MA work within 5 years.
  5. Military.
  6. Instructor.

Your route changes your odds

Route (2025, first time)TestsPass rate
Experience79591.6%
High school78668.3%
Education4,18266.7%

Experienced MAs pass far more often. If you're coming from school, put extra time into clinical procedures: 72 of the 125 scored items. More in is the NCMA exam hard.

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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Keeping it

The NCMA renews every year: 12 contact hours of continuing education and a fee of $89 for one certification.

NCMA FAQ

What does NCMA stand for?

National Certified Medical Assistant, a credential from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT).

How much is the NCMA exam?

$119 for every eligibility route, plus $44 if you test remotely.

Is the NCMA accredited?

NCCT lists the NCMA among its NCCA-accredited certification programs.

How often do you renew the NCMA?

Every year, with 12 contact hours of CE and an $89 fee for one certification.

More NCMA guides

Sources
  1. NCCT: Accreditation
  2. NCCT: Medical Assistant certification
  3. NCCT Candidate Handbook (January 2026)
  4. NCCT: Medical Assistant Detailed Test Plan
  5. NCCT: Pass rates
  6. NCCT: Guide to the Recertification Process

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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