CMA (AAMA) vs CCMA (NHA): Which Medical Assistant Certification Should You Choose?
CMA (AAMA) and CCMA (NHA) are both nationally recognized medical assistant certifications, issued by two different certifying bodies with different eligibility rules, exam structures, and renewal cycles. CMA (AAMA) is administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants and generally requires graduation from a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited medical assisting program. CCMA is administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), a division of Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI), and offers a broader set of eligibility paths, including a work experience route with no formal program requirement beyond a high school diploma or equivalent. Neither certification is objectively “better”: which one fits you depends on how you trained, what your target employer or state asks for, and how you want your renewal cycle to work. This article lays out the verified differences side by side so you can decide with your own situation in mind, current as of September 2026.
Who Certifies Each Credential
CMA (AAMA) is issued by the American Association of Medical Assistants Certifying Board. CCMA is issued by the National Healthcareer Association, which operates as part of Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC. Both are established, long-running certifying bodies for medical assistants, and both credentials are used as hiring criteria by clinics, hospital systems, and physician practices across the country. Neither AAMA nor NHA endorses, is affiliated with, or sponsors Med Preps or any other prep provider.
CMA (AAMA) vs CCMA (NHA): Full Comparison
| Feature | CMA (AAMA) | CCMA (NHA) |
|---|---|---|
| Certifying body | American Association of Medical Assistants | National Healthcareer Association (an ATI company) |
| Total questions | 200 (180 scored, 20 unscored pretest) | 180 (150 scored, 30 unscored pretest) |
| Time limit | 160 minutes (four 40 minute segments) | 180 minutes |
| Delivery | Computer based, PSI test center or live remote proctoring | PSI testing centers, at a partner school, or live remote proctoring |
| Passing standard | Minimum score of 405 on a 200 to 800 scale | Minimum scaled score of 390 on a 200 to 500 scale |
| Primary eligibility path | Graduate (or current student) of a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited medical assisting program | Completion of a medical assisting training program from an accredited or state recognized institution within the last 5 years |
| Work experience only path | No; AAMA’s alternative pathway covers certain non-accredited postsecondary programs and apprenticeships, not work experience alone | Yes: 1 year of supervised MA work experience within the last 3 years, or 2 years within the last 5 years |
| Exam fee | $125 (completing students, recent graduates, and AAMA members) / $250 (nonmembers) | Set by NHA; shown at registration on nhanow.com |
| Retake policy | Up to 6 attempts within a 12 month period, no mandatory waiting period, new application and fee each attempt | 3 attempts, with a minimum 30 day wait between attempts; each failure after the third requires a 1 year wait |
| Recertification cycle | Every 60 months (5 years) | Every 24 months (2 years) |
| Recertification requirement | 60 continuing education units, or retake the exam (max 3 attempts) | 10 continuing education credits |
Eligibility Is the Biggest Practical Difference
The clearest structural difference between the two credentials is how you qualify to sit for the exam in the first place.
| CMA (AAMA) eligibility routes | CCMA (NHA) eligibility routes |
|---|---|
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In practice, this means CMA (AAMA) is built around graduates of programmatically accredited MA programs, while CCMA (NHA) accommodates a wider range of training backgrounds, including candidates who qualify primarily through supervised work experience. If your training program is not CAAHEP or ABHES accredited, CCMA’s eligibility rules may be the more direct path; if you graduated from an accredited program, either credential is available to you.
Exam Structure and Renewal Differ Too
Beyond eligibility, the two exams differ in length, timing, and how you keep the credential current. CMA (AAMA) runs longer in question count (200 vs 180) but shorter in time (160 minutes vs 180 minutes), and recertifies on a 5 year cycle against a 60 CEU requirement. CCMA (NHA) is shorter in question count but allows more time per question on average, and recertifies every 2 years against a lighter 10 CE credit requirement. Neither renewal structure is inherently harder; a 5 year cycle with more CEUs and a 2 year cycle with fewer CEUs tend to average out to a similar ongoing education load over time.
Which Certification Should You Choose
Start with what your target employer or state actually asks for. Many job postings list either credential as acceptable, but some specify one by name, and some state regulations for tasks like medication administration reference a specific certification. If your posting or program does not specify, base the decision on your own training background: a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited graduate can pursue either, while a candidate qualifying through work experience alone will generally find CCMA’s eligibility path more direct. Both credentials are actively used and recognized in clinical hiring, and Med Preps prepares candidates for both.
Whichever path fits your background, practicing against the real exam structure matters more than which logo is on the certificate. Try a CMA (AAMA) practice test or try a CCMA practice test, both built to match the current content outline and test plan for each exam. Not sure yet? Start with a free CMA practice test or a free CCMA practice test to see each format firsthand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CMA or CCMA better recognized by employers?
Both are established, widely recognized medical assistant certifications. Recognition varies by employer and region rather than by one credential being universally preferred, so check the specific job postings or state requirements you are targeting.
Can I take the CCMA exam without graduating from a formal MA program?
Yes. NHA offers a work experience eligibility path: 1 year of supervised medical assisting work experience within the last 3 years, or 2 years within the last 5 years, with no formal training program required. A high school diploma or equivalent is still required, as it is for every NHA eligibility path.
Can I take the CMA (AAMA) exam without a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited program?
Only through a narrow alternative pathway for certain postsecondary programs or apprenticeships, which requires an official transcript and an attestation form. The standard route requires graduation from a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited program.
How often do I need to renew each certification?
CMA (AAMA) recertifies every 60 months (5 years) with 60 continuing education units or a retake exam. CCMA (NHA) recertifies every 24 months (2 years) with 10 continuing education credits.
Sources
- aama-ntl.org, Certification
- aama-ntl.org, Eligibility Routes
- aama-ntl.org, Recertification
- aama-ntl.org, CMA (AAMA) Exam Content Outline
- nhanow.com, CCMA Certification
- nhanow.com, CCMA Detailed Test Plan (2022)
- nhanow.com, Certification Renewal
Med Preps is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), or Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI). CMA (AAMA) is a registered trademark of the American Association of Medical Assistants. CCMA is a trademark of Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
For educational and exam preparation purposes only. Not a substitute for formal clinical training.