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What's on the CCMA exam? Topics, format and test plan

The CCMA has 180 multiple choice questions in 3 hours, 150 scored and 30 unscored. NHA's test plan splits the scored items across 7 domains, and one of them, Clinical Patient Care, accounts for 84 of the 150.

Updated October 2026

CCMA scored items by domain

Clinical Patient Care84
Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science15
Patient Care Coordination and Education12
Administrative Assisting12
Communication and Customer Service12
Anatomy and Physiology8
Medical Law and Ethics7
NHA CCMA test plan, based on a 2022 job analysis.

CCMA format

Questions
180 multiple choice
Scored
150
Unscored pretest
30, mixed in and unmarked
Time
3 hours
Passing score
390 on a 200 to 500 scale
Where
Your school (if NHA authorized), a PSI test center, or live remote proctoring

Clinical Patient Care: 84 items

Sub areaScored items
General Patient Care28
Infection Control and Safety15
Patient Intake and Vitals14
Phlebotomy12
Point of Care Testing and Laboratory Procedures9
EKG and Cardiovascular Testing6

This domain is more than half the exam. If you have limited study time, this is where it goes first.

The other six domains

  • Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science: 15 items
  • Patient Care Coordination and Education: 12 items
  • Administrative Assisting: 12 items
  • Communication and Customer Service: 12 items
  • Anatomy and Physiology: 8 items
  • Medical Law and Ethics: 7 items

Together they are 66 items, 44% of your score. None is large on its own, but skipping any of them is an easy way to land just under 390.

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Old CCMA outlines still online

An older one page CCMA summary based on a 2016 job analysis is still hosted on NHA's site, with different numbers (for example 19 to 20 administrative items). The current plan is the one based on the 2022 job analysis, linked from NHA's CCMA page. Study from that one.

CCMA FAQ

How many questions are on the CCMA?

180: 150 scored and 30 unscored pretest questions.

How long is the CCMA exam?

3 hours.

What is the biggest section of the CCMA?

Clinical Patient Care, with 84 of the 150 scored items.

Is there EKG on the CCMA?

Yes. EKG and Cardiovascular Testing has 6 scored items inside Clinical Patient Care.

Is there phlebotomy on the CCMA?

Yes. Phlebotomy has 12 scored items inside Clinical Patient Care.

Free CCMA practice questions

More CCMA guides

Sources
  1. NHA CCMA Test Plan (2022 job analysis)
  2. NHA Candidate Handbook

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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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