How Much Does the CMA (AAMA) Exam Cost? Fees Explained (2026)
The CMA (AAMA) exam application fee is $125 for completing students, recent graduates, and AAMA members, and $250 for nonmembers, as of September 2026. AAMA requires a full new application and a full new fee for every exam attempt, including retakes: there is no discounted retake rate. Recertification comes due every 60 months and can be satisfied either with 60 continuing education units or by retaking the certification exam at the same $125/$250 fee schedule. A credential left to lapse more than three months past its expiration date loses the continuing education renewal option entirely and requires retesting, plus a $50 reactivation fee on top of the exam fee. All figures below come directly from AAMA’s own CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam Application and Policies document (revision dated January 2026) and the AAMA website, not from third-party fee estimates.
The Full CMA (AAMA) Fee Schedule
AAMA publishes a single fee table that covers every eligibility category, so the amount you owe depends on your candidate category, not on whether you are applying for the first time or retaking the exam. As of September 2026, here is the complete published schedule:
| Situation | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Completing student or recent graduate | $125 | Applying within 12 months of your CAAHEP or ABHES program completion date |
| AAMA member (nonrecent graduate) | $125 | Requires an official transcript |
| Nonmember (nonrecent graduate) | $250 | Same documentation requirement as above |
| CMA (AAMA) recertificant retaking the exam | $125 members / $250 nonmembers | No documentation needed if you provide your certificate number and most recent certification date |
| Alternative Pathway candidate | $125 members or recent grads / $250 nonmembers | Postsecondary program or apprenticeship route |
| Medical Assisting Educator | $125 members / $250 nonmembers | Requires 1,000+ verified teaching hours and a signed attestation |
| Every retake attempt | Same as above, by category | A fee is required for each exam attempt; no reduced retake rate exists |
| Expired credential reactivation | $50, plus the exam or CEU application fee | Applies once a credential has lapsed past its expiration date |
| Optional testing period transfer | $65 | Moves your 90-day testing window; only one transfer is allowed |
Two policies apply across every category. First, all candidate fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable between candidates or testing periods; if you miss your testing window or fail to schedule in time, you generally forfeit that fee and must reapply and pay again. Second, a $25 service charge applies to any returned check, declined credit or debit card, or credit card chargeback, on top of the original fee owed.
Retakes Cost the Same as Your First Attempt
If you do not pass on your first try, AAMA does not offer a discounted or waived fee for retaking the exam. Every attempt, first or sixth, requires its own completed application and its own payment at the fee amount tied to your candidate category. Candidates are allowed up to six exam attempts within a 12-month period that begins with the date of the first attempt, and AAMA does not require candidates to wait a set number of days between attempts. That means the schedule and cost of a retake come down almost entirely to how quickly you can complete a new application, gather any required documentation, and select a new 90-day testing period, since the fee itself never changes based on attempt number.
What Recertification Costs Every 60 Months
The CMA (AAMA) credential must be renewed every 60 months from the date of initial certification or most recent recertification. AAMA gives certified medical assistants two paths to keep the credential current, and each has a different cost structure. The continuing education path requires 60 total recertification points, with at least 30 coming from AAMA-approved CEUs split across administrative, clinical, and general categories (10 each), and up to 30 more from non-AAMA continuing education; Per AAMA’s recertification page, the recertification by continuing education application fee is $80 for AAMA members and $160 for nonmembers, as of September 2026, plus whatever the CEU courses themselves cost; an expedited review of non-AAMA CEUs carries an additional $30 fee. The exam retake path costs the same $125 (AAMA members) or $250 (nonmembers) fee as a first-time exam attempt, filed under the CMA (AAMA) Recertificant category.
Timing matters for cost here too. A credential that expires without recertification carries a $50 reactivation fee in addition to whichever renewal fee you choose, and once a credential has been expired for more than three months, the continuing education path is no longer available at all: you must sit for the exam again, at the exam fee, to reactivate.
Other Fees to Plan For
A handful of smaller fees can affect your total cost depending on your situation. Moving your 90-day testing period to a new window costs $65 and is allowed only once per application. Missing your scheduled test appointment, starting your exam more than 15 minutes late, or failing to cancel at least two business days before your appointment forfeits your test fee entirely, meaning a fresh application and fee are required to try again. None of these fees are refundable once paid, so confirming your eligibility documentation and testing period dates before you apply is the most direct way to avoid paying twice.
Ready to make sure your study time matches what the exam actually tests before you pay for your seat? Start a CMA (AAMA) practice test or try a free practice test first to see the question format and difficulty firsthand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the CMA (AAMA) exam cost?
$125 for completing students, recent graduates, and AAMA members, and $250 for nonmembers, as of September 2026. The fee is nonrefundable and required for every exam attempt.
Do I have to pay full price to retake the CMA (AAMA) exam?
Yes. AAMA charges the same fee for a retake as for a first attempt, based on your candidate category. There is no reduced-price retake option.
How much does recertification cost?
Recertification is due every 60 months. The continuing education path carries an $80 application fee for AAMA members and $160 for nonmembers, plus the cost of the CEU courses you choose. The exam retake path costs $125 (members) or $250 (nonmembers), the same as a first-time exam fee.
What happens if my CMA (AAMA) credential expires before I recertify?
You owe a $50 reactivation fee in addition to your renewal fee. If the credential has been expired for more than three months, continuing education no longer qualifies as a renewal path, and you must retake and pass the exam to reactivate.
Sources
- aama-ntl.org, Certification
- aama-ntl.org, Recertification
- aama-ntl.org, CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam Application and Policies
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