Medical Assistant Certification Requirements: CCMA, CMA, RMA, and NCMA

There are four nationally recognized medical assistant certifications. Each is offered by a different organization, with different eligibility rules, exam formats, and renewal requirements. This guide gives you a complete picture of all four so you can choose the right credential for your situation.

Why Get Certified at All?

Most states do not legally require medical assistants to hold a certification. But the practical reality is that certification matters. Certified MAs earn $3,000–$5,000 more per year on average than uncertified peers. More importantly, many employers — especially hospitals, large clinics, and specialty practices — require certification for hiring or for advancement beyond entry level. The credential proves you met a national standard, not just the standards of your particular training program.

Certification also protects your patients. When you pass a national exam, you demonstrate that your clinical knowledge is current and meets documented competency benchmarks.

The 4 National Certifications: Full Requirements

NHA CCMA — Certified Clinical Medical Assistant

Issuing organization: National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

Eligibility — two paths:

• Path 1: Completion of an accredited medical assistant training program
• Path 2: At least one year of full-time work experience as a medical assistant (no formal training required)

Exam format: 180 questions, 3-hour time limit, multiple-choice. Delivered at PSI testing centers or via remote proctoring.

Content areas: Clinical Patient Care (56%), Pharmacology (12%), Medical Office Administration (8%), Anatomy and Physiology (5%), Medical Law and Ethics (5%), Communication and Customer Service (5%), Health Information Technology (3%).

Exam fee: $155 (NHA member rate). Non-member rate is slightly higher.

Passing score: Scaled score of 390 out of 500.

Recertification: Every 2 years. Earn 10 continuing education units (CEUs) in approved topics, or retake and pass the exam. NHA tracks CEUs through its online portal.

Best for: Graduates of any accredited program, career changers entering through work experience, candidates who want flexible testing options and a lower exam fee.

AAMA CMA (AAMA) — Certified Medical Assistant

Issuing organization: American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)

Eligibility — one path only:

• Must be a graduate (or student within 30 days of graduation) of a medical assisting program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES. Work experience alone does not qualify.

Exam format: 200 questions, 160-minute time limit, multiple-choice. Delivered at Prometric testing centers.

Content areas: General (anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, psychology, professionalism), Administrative, and Clinical. The AAMA does not publish exact percentage weights by category the same way the NHA does.

Exam fee: $250 for non-AAMA members. AAMA student members pay less. The fee is non-refundable.

Passing score: Scaled score of 430 out of 800.

Recertification: Every 60 months (5 years). Earn 60 CEUs (including required categories) or retake and pass the exam. The 5-year cycle is the longest of any major MA credential.

Best for: Graduates of CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited programs who want to work in hospital systems or large health networks that specifically prefer the CMA (AAMA).

AMT RMA — Registered Medical Assistant

Issuing organization: American Medical Technologists (AMT)

Eligibility — three paths:

• Path 1: Graduate of an accredited medical assistant program (CAAHEP, ABHES, or other regionally accredited institutions)
• Path 2: Graduate of a formal medical services training program of the US Armed Forces
• Path 3: At least five years of employment as a medical assistant in the past seven years, with no more than two years in a teaching capacity

Exam format: 210 questions, 2-hour time limit, multiple-choice. Delivered at AMT-approved testing sites.

Content areas: General Medical Assisting (anatomy/physiology, medical terminology, medical law/ethics, human relations), Administrative Medical Assisting (insurance, coding, billing, records management), and Clinical Medical Assisting (asepsis, patient care, pharmacology, clinical procedures).

Exam fee: Approximately $130 for AMT members. Non-member fees are higher. AMT membership has an annual fee.

Passing score: AMT uses a scaled scoring system. Candidates receive a pass/fail result with a score report.

Recertification: Annual renewal required. Submit a Continuing Competency Assessment (CCA) each year, which includes a short self-assessment and CEUs. The annual renewal requirement is more frequent than other credentials.

Best for: Candidates with military healthcare training, experienced MAs who entered through on-the-job training with substantial experience, or those who prefer AMT's broader program acceptance.

NCCT NCMA — National Certified Medical Assistant

Issuing organization: National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)

Eligibility — two paths:

• Path 1: Completion of an accredited or approved medical assistant training program
• Path 2: At least one year of full-time work experience as a medical assistant in the past three years

Exam format: 150 questions, 3-hour time limit, multiple-choice. Delivered at PSI testing centers.

Content areas: Human Body and Disease, Patient Care, Diagnostics, Pharmacology, Medical Office Administration, Behavioral Science, and Medical Law and Ethics.

Exam fee: Approximately $125. NCCT also requires membership in the NCCT testing program.

Passing score: Scaled system; candidates receive a score report indicating pass or fail.

Recertification: Annual renewal required. Submit proof of 14 CEUs per year. NCCT allows a wide range of approved activities to count toward CEU requirements.

Best for: Candidates who want the most affordable option, prefer a shorter exam (150 questions), or are choosing between credentials and want something with flexible eligibility.

All Four Credentials: Side-by-Side Comparison

Which Certification Should You Get?

If you graduated from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program and want to work in a hospital or large health system: consider the CMA (AAMA). Its program requirement aligns with your training, and hospitals often prefer it.

If you graduated from any other accredited program and want broad employer acceptance plus affordable fees: the CCMA (NHA) is the most widely held credential and a strong choice for most graduates.

If you have military healthcare training or came to MA work through an unusual path: the RMA (AMT) has the most flexible eligibility, including a path specifically for military training.

If you have limited funds and want the lowest exam fee: the NCMA (NCCT) at approximately $125 is the most affordable option with flexible eligibility.

If you want to minimize recertification hassle: the CMA (AAMA) requires renewal only every five years — the longest cycle of any credential.

You only need one certification to work as a medical assistant. Most employers accept CCMA and CMA (AAMA) interchangeably, with some hospital preference for the CMA (AAMA). Choose the credential that fits your training background and career goals, then pass it. That is what gets you hired.

Practice Questions