The Short Answer
The NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam has 150 scored questions plus 30 unscored pretest questions, and you get 3 hours to finish. The test plan is based on a job analysis NHA completed in 2022. Clinical Patient Care is 84 of the 150 scored items (56%), so it decides most results. You can test at your school, at a PSI testing center or through live remote proctoring.
To sit the exam you need a high school diploma or GED, plus either a medical assistant training program completed within the last five years or supervised work experience in the field. Our free CCMA practice test follows these weights. You pass with a scaled score of 390 or higher on NHA's 200 to 500 scale.
What the Exam Covers
NHA's published test plan splits the 150 scored items across seven domains:
| Domain | Items | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science | 15 | 10% |
| Anatomy and Physiology | 8 | 5.3% |
| Clinical Patient Care | 84 | 56% |
| Patient Care Coordination and Education | 12 | 8% |
| Administrative Assisting | 12 | 8% |
| Communication and Customer Service | 12 | 8% |
| Medical Law and Ethics | 7 | 4.7% |
Inside Clinical Patient Care (84 items)
| Subdomain | Items |
|---|---|
| General Patient Care | 28 |
| Infection Control and Safety | 15 |
| Patient Intake and Vitals | 14 |
| Phlebotomy | 12 |
| Point of Care Testing and Laboratory Procedures | 9 |
| EKG and Cardiovascular Testing | 6 |
General Patient Care alone is 28 items, about 19% of the whole exam, and it is bigger than any other domain except Clinical Patient Care as a whole. Phlebotomy is 12 items and EKG is 6.
Who Can Take the CCMA Exam
NHA gives two routes. You need one of them:
- Route 1: a high school diploma or GED (or you are scheduled to earn one within 18 months), plus completion of a medical assistant training or education program within the last 5 years.
- Route 2: a high school diploma or GED, plus 1 year of supervised work experience in a medical assisting field within the last 3 years, or 2 years within the last 5 years.
California residents applying through the work-experience route need at least 2 years as a medical assistant within the last 5 years. The NHA Candidate Handbook has the full rules, including employer-training and pre-externship routes.
How the Exam Day Works
- Apply. Create a free NHA account and submit your exam application.
- Pick a date and place. Online or in person. An exam fee payment is part of this step.
- Take the exam at your school, a PSI testing center, or through live remote proctoring.
- Get your results. NHA posts online exam results to your account page.
The 30 pretest questions do not affect your score, but you are not told which ones they are, so answer every question carefully.
How to Prepare
- Study by weight. Start with General Patient Care, Infection Control and Safety, and Patient Intake and Vitals: together they are 57 items, 38% of the exam.
- Use the free test plan. NHA's CCMA test plan lists the tasks and knowledge statements behind each domain; tick off the ones you cannot explain.
- Practice under time. 180 questions in 3 hours leaves about one minute each. A CCMA practice test sets that pace.
- Review every explanation, including the ones you got right, then retry the missed topics.
- Cover the small domains last, but do cover them: Medical Law and Ethics and Anatomy and Physiology are 15 items together.
If your goal is the phlebotomy credential instead, see the phlebotomy practice test.
Scoring, Results and Retakes
- Scaled score. NHA scores every exam on a 200 to 500 scale and requires 390 or higher to pass. Scaling keeps the pass mark the same across different exam forms.
- Your score report shows your score, pass or fail, and for each major content area whether you were Above, Near or Below the passing standard. Use it to decide what to study before a retake.
- When you get it. Exams taken at PSI or by live remote proctoring report within 48 hours; exams taken at your institution give a preliminary report right away.
- Retakes. You can retake after a 30-day wait. You have three attempts with at least 30 days between them; after the third attempt, each further failure means waiting one year. Every retake needs a new registration and the full exam fee.
- Rescheduling. You can move your date without repaying within 6 months of the original date. For PSI or remote proctoring, change it at least 24 hours before or the fee is forfeited.
The exam is given in English only. It is one continuous session, so remote proctoring allows no breaks, and in-person breaks count against your time. Bring a government-issued photo ID, and use the exam's built-in calculator.
Renewing Your CCMA
A certification is valid for two years. Before it expires you submit 10 continuing education credits (2 hours of CE equals 1 credit) and the recertification fee. NHA allows a one-month grace period, and extra credits do not carry into the next cycle. If it expires, you can reinstate within one year with 15 credits plus the recertification and reinstatement fees; after one year you must retake the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the NHA CCMA exam?
180 in total: 150 scored questions and 30 unscored pretest questions.
How long is the CCMA exam?
3 hours.
What is the biggest part of the CCMA exam?
Clinical Patient Care, with 84 of 150 scored items (56%). Within it, General Patient Care is the largest block at 28 items.
Who is eligible to take the CCMA exam?
You need a high school diploma or GED, plus either a medical assistant training program completed in the last 5 years, or 1 year of supervised work experience within the last 3 years (or 2 years within the last 5).
Where can I take the CCMA exam?
At your school, at a PSI testing center, or online through live remote proctoring.
What score do I need to pass the CCMA exam?
A scaled score of 390 or higher on NHA's 200 to 500 scale.
How long must I wait to retake the CCMA exam?
30 days after a failed attempt. You get three attempts with at least 30 days between them, then a one-year wait for each further failure, and every retake needs the full exam fee.
How often must I renew a CCMA?
Every two years, with 10 continuing education credits and the recertification fee. An expired certification can be reinstated within one year.
Sources
- NHA — CCMA Test Plan (2022 job analysis) — 150 scored and 30 pretest items, 3 hours, the seven domains and the six Clinical Patient Care subdomains with their item counts.
- NHA — Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) — eligibility routes, how to apply and where to test, and the two-year renewal with 10 continuing education credits.
- NHA — Candidate Handbook — scaled score of 390 (200 to 500 scale), the retake and rescheduling rules, eligibility pathways, recertification and reinstatement (edition updated 5 October 2026).
