Compare certifications
CCMA vs CMAA: clinical or administrative?
Both come from the NHA, but the CCMA covers clinical work and front-office tasks, while the CMAA (Certified Medical Administrative Assistant) covers front-office and administrative work only; the CCMA exam is 180 questions in 3 hours, the CMAA 135 questions in 2 hours 15 minutes.
- questions
- 180 / 135
- time
- 3 h / 2 h 15
- exam fee
- $169 / $134
§01
Same board, different scope
If you want to draw blood or run an EKG, it's the left box.
§02
The numbers
| CCMA | CMAA | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Clinical and administrative MA work | Front office and administrative only |
| Questions | 180 (150 scored + 30 pretest) | 135 (110 scored + 25 pretest) |
| Time | 3 hours | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Passing score | 390 (scale 200 to 500) | 390 (scale 200 to 500) |
| Exam fee | $169 | $134 |
| Eligibility | NHA rules: HS diploma + training or experience | NHA rules: HS diploma + training or experience |
| Where you test | School, PSI center or remote proctoring | School, PSI center or remote proctoring |
| Retakes | 30-day wait, 3 attempts, then 1 year | 30-day wait, 3 attempts, then 1 year |
| Renewal | 2 years, 10 CE credits, $195 | 2 years, 10 CE credits, $195 |
| NCCA-accredited | Yes | Yes |
Data as of 2026-10-05. Source: NHA Candidate Handbook; CCMA and CMAA test plans; NHA store exam-application prices.
Highlighted rows are where the two differ.
§03
Where the CCMA's scored items sit
Clinical care is 56%. The rest is science, office and people work.
§04
Where the two overlap
The clinical exam has an office half too.
Despite the name, the clinical exam isn't clinical-only. Administrative Assisting alone is 12 of its 150 scored items: scheduling types, records, insurance, and the code sets, where the classic mix-up is ICD-10-CM vs CPT vs HCPCS. Add Communication and Customer Service (12) and Patient Care Coordination (12), and much of what a CMAA candidate studies shows up here as well.
The deciding question is whether you want hands-on patient care. The CMAA doesn't test the clinical half: no vital signs, injections, phlebotomy or EKG. If you want those, it's the CCMA; see how to become a CCMA. The Administrative Assisting page shows the front-office side of the CCMA in detail.
§05
Which one matches what you want to do
Pick by the job, then check the eligibility rules, which are the same.
- Hands-on patient care
Vitals, injections, blood draws, EKGs: the clinical credential. Clinical Patient Care is 56% of its scored items.
- Front desk and records only
The CMAA: a shorter exam (135 questions, 2 hours 15 minutes) and a $134 fee (as of October 2026), with the same renewal rules.
- Blood draws only
The CPT (phlebotomy technician), described below.
- Not sure yet
Since eligibility and renewal are identical, the choice is only about scope. If you can't decide, look at the tasks in job postings near you and match them to the figure above.
§06
CCMA vs CMAA questions
What is the difference between a CCMA and a CMAA?
Scope. The CCMA covers clinical and front-office work; the CMAA covers front-office and administrative work only. Both are NHA certifications with the same eligibility and renewal rules.
Which exam is shorter?
The CMAA: 135 questions in 2 hours 15 minutes, versus 180 questions in 3 hours for the CCMA.
Do both use the same passing score?
Yes, 390 on NHA's 200 to 500 scaled score.
Does the CMAA cover clinical skills?
No. The CMAA doesn't cover clinical work; injections, phlebotomy and EKG are part of the CCMA's scope.
§07
Sources
- NHA CCMA certification page https://www.nhanow.com/certification/nha-certifications/certified-clinical-medical-assistant-(ccma) · 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 Candidate Handbook (updated 06/01/2026) https://www.nhanow.com/docs/default-source/test-plans/candidate_handbook.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 CMAA Test Plan (2021 job analysis) https://info.nhanow.com/hubfs/Test%20Plans/NHA_CMAA_Test_Plan_2021.pdf · as of 2026-10-05
- NHA CPT Test Plan (2024 job analysis) https://info.nhanow.com/hubfs/Test%20Plans/nha-2025-cpt-test-plan.pdf · as of 2026-10-05
- NHA store, exam application search (CMAA and CPT prices) https://store.nhanow.com/search.html?query=exam%20application · as of 2026-10-05