Compare certifications
CCMA vs RMA: NHA and AMT compared
The CCMA comes from the NHA and the RMA from American Medical Technologists (AMT): the CCMA is 180 questions in 3 hours with a 390 scaled passing score, the RMA 210 questions in 2 hours with a passing score of 70, and they renew on 2-year and 3-year cycles.
- questions
- 180 / 210
- time
- 3 h / 2 h
- exam fee
- $169 / $150
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Three MA credentials, one table
NCMA added because it comes up in the same searches.
| CCMA (NHA) | RMA (AMT) | NCMA (NCCT) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questions | 180 (150 scored + 30 pretest) | 210 (content outline) | 150 (125 scored + 25 pretest) |
| Question types | Multiple choice | — | Includes multi-select, hotspot, drag-and-drop |
| Time | 3 hours | 2 hours | 3 hours |
| Passing score | 390 (scale 200 to 500) | 70 (scale 0 to 100) | 575 (scale 200 to 720) |
| Exam fee | $169 | $150 | $119 |
| Where you test | School, PSI center or remote proctoring | School or Pearson VUE center | School or remote testing |
| Retake rule | 30-day wait; 3 attempts, then 1 year | 45-day wait; up to 4 attempts in total | Waits of 30, 30, 90, then 180 days |
| Renewal | Every 2 years: 10 CE credits + $195 | 3-year cycle: 30 points + $75 a year | Every year: 12 CE hours + $89 |
| NCCA-accredited | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Data as of 2026-10-05. Source: NHA Candidate Handbook, test plan, store and renewal page; AMT medical assistant page, RMA content outline, candidate handbook and maintain-certification page; NCCT medical assistant page, candidate handbook and recertification guide.
Highlighted rows are where they differ.
§02
Who can sit which exam
Eligibility is usually what decides it.
The experience windows decide many cases: the CCMA asks for 1 year of MA work in the last 3, the RMA for 3 years in the last 7. The full entry routes are listed below; the cost of keeping each credential comes after.
- CCMA: high school diploma plus MA training within 5 years, or supervised MA work of 1 year in the last 3 (2 years in 5 also counts).
- RMA: graduation from an accredited MA program within 4 years (720 hours including a 160-hour externship), a hybrid or competency route, 3 years of MA work in the last 7, military training, or MA instruction.
- NCMA: a student or graduate of an NCCT-authorized program, 1 year of full-time MA experience (2,080 hours) in the last 5 years, military training, or instruction.
§03
Keeping it: the renewal rhythm
Shortest cycle first.
Every year
NCMA
12 CE hours and $89, annually.
Every 2 years
CCMA
10 CE credits and $195. One-month grace period. Details on CCMA renewal.
Every 3 years
RMA
30 points in AMT's Certification Continuation Program, plus a $75 annual fee.
§04
CCMA vs RMA questions
What is the difference between the RMA and the CCMA?
Different boards (AMT vs NHA), exam length (210 questions in 2 hours vs 180 in 3), score scales, retake rules and renewal cycles (3 years vs 2).
How long is each exam?
The CCMA allows 3 hours for 180 questions; the RMA 2 hours for 210 questions; the NCMA 3 hours for 150.
Is the NCMA the same as the CCMA?
No. The NCMA is the National Certified Medical Assistant credential from NCCT, a different board with its own exam, a $119 fee (as of October 2026) and annual renewal.
Which costs less to sit?
As of 2026-10-05 the RMA fee is $150 and the CCMA fee is $169.
Can I take the RMA with work experience only?
AMT lists 3 years of MA work in the last 7 as a route. The CCMA's experience route is 1 year in the last 3.
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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
- 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
- AMT Candidate Handbook https://americanmedtech.org/Portals/0/PDF/ResourceCenter/ApplicationProcess/AMTCandidateHandbook.pdf · as of 2026-10-05
- AMT, maintain certification https://americanmedtech.org/maintain-certification · as of 2026-10-05
- NCCT, Medical Assistant (NCMA) https://www.ncctinc.com/certifications/medical-assistant · as of 2026-10-05
- NCCT Candidate Handbook https://www.ncctinc.com/Documents/CandidateHandbook.pdf · as of 2026-10-05
- NCCT, Guide to the Recertification Process https://www.ncctinc.com/Documents/Guide%20to%20the%20Recertification%20Process.pdf · as of 2026-10-05