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By: Maddie Cohen
Updated: February 10, 2026
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
Medical assistants do everything from drawing blood and administering injections to recording vital signs and assisting physicians during exams. If you’re looking for hands-on clinical work, the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) can help you prove your skills and stand out to healthcare employers.
What is the CCMA certification?
The CCMA certification is a nationally recognized credential that shows your ability to complete clinical tasks in medical offices, clinics and hospitals. The NHA, the largest allied health certification agency in the U.S., awards this certification to candidates who pass the CCMA exam.
The credential is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, which is part of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence.
This certification focuses on the clinical side of healthcare. CCMAs work directly with patients, with an emphasis on taking vital signs, drawing blood, administering medications and helping during exams. While they mainly perform clinical tasks, some take on the occasional administrative duty.
Eligibility requirements
To qualify for the CCMA exam, you need to meet the requirements of one of two pathways:
- Complete a medical assistant training or education program approved by the NHA within the past five years. These programs are available through community colleges, technical schools and online training providers.
- Have one year of supervised work experience in a medical assisting field within the last three years, or two years of experience within the last five years.
For both pathways, you’ll need a high school diploma or equivalent. High school health science students may have other options available as well. These flexible requirements make the CCMA accessible whether you’re fresh out of training or already working in the field.
What does the CCMA exam cover?
The CCMA exam contains 150 scored multiple-choice questions, plus 30 pretest items that don’t count toward your score. You have three hours to complete the exam.
The questions cover:
- Clinical patient care
- Infection control
- Phlebotomy
- Electrocardiography (ECG/EKG)
- Patient safety
These areas focus on the key skills you’ll use in your daily work. To pass, you need a scaled score of 390 out of 500, which means correctly answering approximately 78% of the scored questions. The pass rate for the CCMA exam was 81.38% in 2024.
Cost and registration process
In 2025, the CCMA exam costs $165. Some training programs include this fee in tuition expenses. After creating a free NHA account, you can submit your exam application through the online portal.
You get to choose how to take the exam: at your school (if you attend an NHA-affiliated institution), at a nationwide PSI testing center or through live remote proctoring. Results for online exams are typically posted to your NHA account within two days of completing the test. Your certification will then be valid for two years.
Study materials and preparation
The NHA offers several resources to help you prepare for the CCMA exam. These include interactive study guides, practice tests and flashcards that align with exam content. The organization’s mobile app lets you study with flashcards matched to your enrolled course.
Training programs typically range from four months to 18 months, depending on whether you pursue a certificate or associate degree. Many programs include both classroom instruction and hands-on clinical experience through externships or practicums.
How the CCMA compares to other medical assisting certifications
There are several medical assistant certifications which can lead to some confusion about which credential best fits your career goals. The CCMA differs from other common certifications in focus and requirements.
The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) covers both clinical and administrative tasks. This certification has stricter requirements, since you have to graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The CMA is often considered the most comprehensive medical assistant certification. CMAs must recertify every five years, compared to every two years for CCMAs.
The Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification from American Medical Technologists (AMT) also encompasses both administrative and clinical responsibilities. It includes 200 multiple-choice questions covering general medical assistant knowledge, administrative tasks and clinical skills. RMAs need to recertify every three years.
The CCMA differs from the CMA and RMA in its emphasis on clinical responsibilities over administrative duties. It has less stringent educational requirements, since you don’t need to graduate from a program with specific accreditation. If you prefer clinical work and want a faster path to certification, the CCMA may be a great fit.
Why get certified?
While Washington is the only state that legally requires medical assistant certification, the credential offers real advantages. Research from the NHA shows that 89% of organizations encourage or require their medical assistants to be certified.
“My NHA certification has helped me financially advance my career,” said Jessica Aponte, a CCMA, on the NHA website. “Most importantly it has given me opportunity to get a job that allows me to be a better mom by being home in the evenings and on the weekends.”
For you, certification validates your knowledge and shows potential employers you’re committed to the profession. For healthcare facilities, certified medical assistants may be less likely to be involved in legal challenges, and certification provides verification that employees have the skills they need to excel.
Employment for medical assistants is projected to grow 12.5% through 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Certified CCMAs may have an advantage when they compete for roles.
Salary and career outlook
According to the BLS, medical assistants earn a median annual wage of $44,200. The lowest 10% earned less than $35,020, while the highest 10% earned more than $57,830.
The BLS does not track salary differences between certified and non-certified medical assistants specifically. That said, certification holders are generally viewed more favorably by employers and may have access to higher-paying positions.
Work setting also impacts salary. For instance, medical assistants in outpatient care centers earned a higher median annual wage compared those working in physicians’ offices. Geographic location plays a key role too, with states like California, Alaska and Washington offering higher compensation.
How to maintain your certification
Every two years, you need to complete 10 continuing education credits to maintain your CCMA certification. The NHA offers free continuing education courses to current certification holders.
The renewal fee is just $7.50 per month per certification (or a lump sum biennial payment). There’s no penalty for renewing early, so you can plan your continuing education throughout the two-year cycle. If your certification expires, you have one year to reinstate it before you’ll have to retake the exam. The continuing education requirement helps you stay current with any changes in healthcare practices.
Career opportunities with a CCMA certification
With a CCMA certification, you can work in a range of healthcare settings. CCMAs work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, outpatient clinics, specialty care centers and urgent care facilities. Your responsibilities often include:
- Taking vital signs
- Assisting with examinations and procedures
- Administering injections
- Performing electrocardiograms
- Drawing blood
- Maintaining electronic health records
- Educating patients
This variety makes medical assistants valuable team members in a full range of healthcare environments.
But the role’s appeal doesn’t end there. We’re also seeing a spike in demand in this field, in part because the population is aging (and therefore needs more comprehensive healthcare services).
Closing thoughts
For many, the CCMA certification is an engaging way to work on the clinical side of healthcare. The credential shows your competence to potential employers and may help you land positions that require or at least prefer certification.
Training programs typically take several months to a year to complete, although some accelerated online programs offer faster timelines. This relatively short preparation period makes the CCMA ideal for career changers and candidates who want to work in healthcare. For anyone who wants meaningful clinical work without years of schooling, the CCMA is a solid way to dive right in.