Compare certifications

CCMA vs CMA: how the two credentials differ

The CCMA (from the NHA) and the CMA (from the AAMA) are both national medical assistant certifications; the difference that decides most cases is eligibility, because the CCMA accepts supervised work experience and the CMA requires a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program or one of AAMA's other set routes.

questions: 180 vs 200
testing time: 3 h vs 160 min
renewal cycle: 2 vs 5 years

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CCMA and CMA side by side

Only the last row matches: both are NCCA-accredited.

	CCMA (NHA)	CMA (AAMA)
Issued by	National Healthcareer Association	American Association of Medical Assistants
Scope	Clinical and administrative MA work	General, administrative and clinical MA work
Questions	180 (150 scored + 30 pretest)	200 (180 scored + 20 pretest)
Testing time	3 hours	160 minutes in 4 segments of 40 (3-hour appointment)
Passing score	390 scaled (200 to 500)	405 scaled
Exam fee	$169	$125 members and recent grads; $250 non-members
Work-experience route	Yes: 1 year in 3, or 2 years in 5	No
Program requirement	Training within 5 years (several program types)	CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program, or AAMA's alternative routes
Where you test	School site, PSI center or remote proctoring	PSI center or remote proctoring
Retakes	30-day wait, 3 attempts, then 1 year	No wait; up to 6 attempts in 12 months
Renewal	Every 2 years: 10 CE credits + $195	Every 60 months: 60 CEUs or retake the exam
NCCA-accredited	Yes	Yes

Data as of 2026-10-05. Source: NHA Candidate Handbook, CCMA test plan and store; AAMA eligibility, exam application and recertification pages (full links below).

Highlighted rows are where the two differ.

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The difference that decides most cases

Start from your route, not from the letters.

The two names differ by one letter and the exams cover similar ground, so start with the question that settles most cases: which one can you actually sit?

The CMA (AAMA) is tied to program accreditation. You qualify as a student or graduate of a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited medical assisting program, as a prior CMA, as an MA educator, or through AAMA's Alternative Pathway for qualifying postsecondary programs and apprenticeships. There's no route based on work experience alone.

The CCMA (NHA) accepts either. Training within the past 5 years from a wider set of providers (accredited or state-recognized programs, apprenticeships, military, employer programs), or supervised MA work of 1 year in the last 3. High-school students can test early for a provisional certification. The details are on CCMA requirements.

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Who each one fits

Facts about the routes. Neither board publishes a ranking.

You graduated from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program: Both are open to you. Compare fees (the CMA is $125 for AAMA members and recent graduates, as of October 2026), renewal cycles and where you can test.
You learned on the job: NHA's Pathway 2 (1 year of supervised MA work in 3, or 2 in 5) is built for you; the CMA has no experience-only route.
You're still in high school: NHA allows testing before graduation with a provisional certification.
Your program isn't on AAMA's accredited list: Check AAMA's Alternative Pathway first; if it doesn't fit, NHA's training route accepts state-recognized programs.

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Pay, and the RMA question

Salary. People often search CCMA vs CMA salary. The BLS reports pay for medical assistants as one group ($45,690 median, May 2025) and doesn't split it by credential, so a reliable CCMA-versus-CMA pay gap doesn't exist in public data. More on the salary page.

The third option. The RMA from American Medical Technologists is a third MA credential: 210 questions in 2 hours, a passing score of 70 on a 0 to 100 scale, and a $150 fee (AMT figures as of October 2026). It has its own comparison on CCMA vs RMA. If you're deciding between clinical and front-office work instead, see CCMA vs CMAA.

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CCMA vs CMA questions

What is the difference between a CCMA and a CMA?

Different boards (NHA vs AAMA), different exams (180 questions in 3 hours vs 200 questions in 160 minutes), and different eligibility: the CCMA accepts work experience, the CMA requires an accredited program or one of AAMA's set routes.

CCMA vs CMA: which is better?

This page doesn't rank them, because there is no verifiable basis for calling either one better. The right one for you is the one your training or experience qualifies you for, and that your employer accepts.

Is there a pay difference between CCMA and CMA?

No public data splits medical assistant pay by credential.

How often do you renew each?

CCMA: every 2 years with 10 CE credits and $195 (as of October 2026). CMA: every 60 months with 60 CEUs, or by retaking the exam.

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Sources

NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 06/01/2026) https://www.nhanow.com/docs/default-source/test-plans/candidate_handbook.pdf · as of 2026-10-05
NHA CCMA Test Plan (2022 job analysis) https://www.nhanow.com/docs/default-source/test-plans/nha_ccma_test_plan_2022.pdf · as of 2026-10-05
NHA store, CCMA exam application https://store.nhanow.com/medical-assistant-ccma-exam-application.html · as of 2026-10-05
NHA, Stay Certified (renewal and reinstatement) https://www.nhanow.com/stay-certified · as of 2026-10-05
AAMA, CMA eligibility https://www.aama-ntl.org/certification/eligibility · as of 2026-10-05
AAMA, CMA exam application and policies (modified 2026-03-12) https://www.aama-ntl.org/docs/default-source/about-profession-and-credential/cma-exam/cma-aama-exam-app.pdf · as of 2026-10-05
AAMA, recertification https://www.aama-ntl.org/certification/recertification · as of 2026-10-05
AMT, Medical Assistant (RMA) routes and fee https://americanmedtech.org/medical-assistant · as of 2026-10-05
AMT, RMA content outline https://americanmedtech.org/Portals/0/PDF/Get%20Cert/Prepare%20for%20Exam/RMA-Content.pdf · as of 2026-10-05
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Assistants https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm · as of 2026-10-05