Certification path
Is the CCMA a license?
No. The CCMA is a national certification issued by the National Healthcareer Association, not a license granted by a state, and NHA's handbook says its certification is separate from any state requirement to practice.
- not a license
- Certification
- accredited
- NCCA
- per renewal cycle
- 2 years
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What the credential is, in six answers
Each line comes from NHA or the BLS, dated 2026-10-05.
| Question | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who issues it? | The National Healthcareer Association (Leawood, Kansas) | NHA Candidate Handbook |
| Who accredits it? | NCCA, the accrediting arm of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence | NHA Candidate Handbook |
| Is it permission to practice? | No; NHA certification is separate from any state requirement | NHA Candidate Handbook, State Licensing |
| Do states require MA certification? | Most states do not | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
| Do employers look for it? | Employers may prefer certified medical assistants | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook |
| How long is it valid? | 2 years, then renewal | NHA Candidate Handbook |
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Certification and licensure are different things
The word matters on a job application.
A license is issued by a state and is the legal permission to perform a profession there. A certification is issued by a private body after you show competence, usually by passing an exam. The CCMA is the second kind: you earn it by passing NHA's 180-question exam, and it's valid nationally rather than in one state.
So on a résumé, write Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), National Healthcareer Association, with the expiry date, rather than "licensed medical assistant". The two words get mixed up in job postings too, so it's worth getting right on your own paperwork.
The certificate shows what you proved on the exam. State law and your supervising provider decide which tasks you perform.
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Why state rules still apply to you
Same credential, different rules depending on where you work.
A medical assistant works under a provider's delegation and doesn't diagnose or prescribe. Which delegated tasks are allowed, and under what supervision, is set by state law, and it varies. Holding the certification doesn't widen that scope.
NHA's own list of typical tasks shows how much of the work is delegated: vital signs, assisting with exams and procedures, injections and medications, EKG, phlebotomy and lab procedures, plus check-in and check-out, phones and EHR upkeep. Each of those happens under a provider's direction.
The practical step: ask your employer which tasks your role includes in your state, and keep the answer in writing. The exam tests this boundary too; the scope of practice page walks through what an MA can and can't do in exam scenarios.
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How an employer checks your credential
You print the certificate
After a pass it's available in your NHA account under "My Achievements".
They look you up
Your name is listed in NHA's public Verification Tool. Failed attempts and scores aren't shown.
They check the date
The credential lasts 2 years from the date on your certificate, so renew before that date to keep it current.
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Questions about the credential
What does CCMA stand for?
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, the clinical medical assistant credential of the National Healthcareer Association.
Is a CCMA a license or a certificate?
A certification. NHA issues it nationally; it's separate from any state requirement to practice.
Can I work as a medical assistant without a CCMA?
According to the BLS, most states don't require medical assistants to be certified, though employers may prefer certified candidates.
Do I need a new CCMA if I move to another state?
No. The certification is national and isn't issued by a state. Your new state's rules on MA tasks may differ, so check them with your employer.
Is the CCMA accredited?
Yes. All NHA certification programs are accredited by the NCCA.
Does certification change my pay?
The BLS doesn't publish pay by credential; it reports a median of $45,690 a year for all medical assistants (May 2025). Details on CCMA salary.
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If you're not certified yet
The route is five steps, starting with eligibility: training within the past 5 years or supervised MA work experience. They are laid out on how to become a CCMA.
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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 certification page https://www.nhanow.com/certification/nha-certifications/certified-clinical-medical-assistant-(ccma) · as of 2026-10-05
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Medical Assistants https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm · as of 2026-10-05
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