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When you decide you want to become a certified medical assistant, one of the first decisions you face is which certification to pursue.
Two of the most widely recognized options are the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certifications.
Both credentials show employers that you have the training and knowledge needed to work safely with patients and support healthcare teams. And although they overlap in many ways, they have slightly different focuses.
The CCMA certification, offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), emphasizes clinical skills such as taking vital signs, preparing patients for procedures, and assisting with treatments. It covers administrative skills as well, but there’s a reason “clinical” is in the name.
The CMA certification, offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), covers clinical and administrative responsibilities more equally, including more focus on tasks like scheduling and medical office management.
Because of these differences, the best certification for you often depends on your career goals.
This guide explains the key differences between CCMA and CMA certifications, and everything you need to know about the exams, including eligibility requirements, topics covered, fees, and more. It also explains how your career goals can help you decide which credential is right for you.
CCMA vs. CMA Overview
Both the CCMA and CMA certifications are respected by employers across the healthcare industry, and both prepare you for medical assistant work.
However, each organization has its own exam, eligibility rules, and renewal requirements, and each exam has a particular focus.
Understanding these differences can help you compare the two credentials. Here’s a quick overview:
CCMA Certification & Exam Overview
The CCMA certification is one of the most common credentials for medical assistants in the United States. It is designed to show employers that you are prepared to support patient care in clinical settings such as doctors’ offices, clinics, and outpatient centers.
The credential is offered by the National Healthcareer Association. The exam focuses heavily on the clinical tasks medical assistants perform every day, including patient preparation, vital signs, and basic procedures.
If you’re interested in this certification, check our Online Medical Assistant Certification Program which specifically prepares you for that exam and the responsibilities of clinical medical assistants.
Who It’s Best For
- Students who want a strong clinical focus. The CCMA certification emphasizes hands-on patient care skills. This makes it a good choice for people who want to work closely with patients and assist with exams, procedures, and treatments.
- People who want to work in outpatient clinical settings. Doctors’ offices and outpatient centers rely heavily on clinical medical assistants who can prepare patients, record vital signs, and support procedures. Having a certification with a clinical emphasis can make you a more attractive applicant for jobs in these settings.
- Career changers looking for a fast path into healthcare. Many training programs designed to prepare students for the CCMA exam can be completed in a few months. This makes the certification a popular choice for those who want to enter healthcare quickly.
Eligibility Requirements
- Complete a medical assistant training program. Most candidates qualify by graduating from a CCMA training program that prepares students specifically for that exam. Programs usually cover topics such as anatomy, infection control, healthcare systems, and clinical and lab procedures.
- OR qualify through work experience. Candidates may also be eligible if they have at least one year of supervised work experience as a medical assistant within the last three years. This pathway is designed for people who have gained skills on the job.
Exam Information
- Exam format. The CCMA exam includes 150 scored questions plus 30 additional pretest questions that do not count toward your score.
- Topics covered. The exam tests students on key areas from most medical assistant training program curricula. These include patient intake, vital signs, phlebotomy, EKG procedures, infection control, medical law, and patient care coordination. Many questions focus on tasks.
- Passing score and cost. The exam uses a scaled scoring system from 200 to 500. A score of 390 is required to pass, and the exam fee is $165.
Recertification Requirements
- Recertification timeline. The CCMA certification must be renewed every two years to stay active.
- Continuing education requirements. To renew the certification, you must complete 10 continuing education credits approved by the National Healthcareer Association. These courses help medical assistants stay current with clinical practices and patient safety standards.
- Recertification fee. The recertification fee is $185.
Preparing for the CCMA Exam
Training programs can make a big difference when preparing for certification. Stepful’s Medical Assistant Training Program is designed to prepare students specifically for the CCMA exam.
Students participate in live, instructor-led classes and practice clinical procedures using an at-home clinical kit. This hands-on practice helps students build confidence with tasks such as measuring vital signs and performing basic patient care skills.
Stepful students may also complete an externship that typically includes 80 to 160 hours of real clinical experience. This opportunity allows students to work in a healthcare setting and apply the skills they learned during training.
Because the program focuses on the topics covered on the CCMA exam, Stepful students consistently achieve about a 78% pass rate, which is above the national pass rate for the exam.
CMA Certification & Exam Overview
The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential is another well-known certification in the medical assisting field. It is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants.
The CMA exam covers general, clinical, and administrative topics. This reflects the fact that many medical assistants perform a mix of duties, including patient care, scheduling, medical records management, and insurance processing.
Who It’s Best For
- Students who want broad administrative and clinical training. The CMA exam includes both clinical procedures and office management topics. This can appeal to students who are interested in electronic health records, medical coding and billing, and insurance processing. This may make them attractive candidates for jobs in settings where administrative tasks are as important as clinical tasks.
- Graduates of college-level apprenticeship programs. If you have done a post-secondary program or apprenticeship, you are eligible for the CMA exam using their alternative pathway. This could potentially save you both money and time in preparing for the certification.
Eligibility Requirements
- Graduate from an accredited program. Most candidates qualify by graduating from a medical assisting program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES.
- OR use the alternative pathway. The AAMA provides another path to eligibility for students who have graduated from a post-secondary medical assisting or postsecondary medical assisting apprenticeship program that meets certain criteria.
- Timeline for applying. Be aware that the AAMA has different procedures for applying for the exam depending on how long ago you graduated from your qualifying program. Check their eligibility information to find out which procedure to follow.
Exam Information
- Exam format. The CMA exam includes 200 multiple-choice questions.
- Topics covered. The exam covers three main topic areas. Clinical competency covers clinical workflow, safety and infection control, procedures and exams, and pharmacology. The general section covers legal and ethical issues and communication. The administrative section covers billing, coding, insurance, and health information management.
- Passing score and cost. The exam uses a scaled score ranging from 0 to 800. A score of 430 is required to pass. The national pass rate is 69%. The exam costs about $125 for recent graduates. In some instances, such as non-recent graduates, there is a cost of $125 for members and $250 for nonmembers.
Recertification Requirements
- Recertification timeline. The CMA credential must be renewed every five years to remain active. Medical assistants can maintain certification with continuing education credits or by retaking the exam.
- Continuing education requirements. To recertify through continuing education, candidates must complete 60 approved credits across several topic areas, including administrative, clinical, and general healthcare knowledge.
- Recertification fee. The renewal fee is typically about $80 for AAMA members and $160 for nonmembers.
Deciding Whether CCMA or CMA Is Best For You
Both certifications can help you start a medical assistant career. The best choice usually depends on what kind of work you prefer doing and the way you prefer to be trained.
Choose CCMA If…
- You are more interested in clinical care. The CCMA exam focuses heavily on patient care skills such as taking vital signs, preparing patients for exams, and assisting with procedures. If you want a role centered on hands-on care, this certification fits well with those goals.
- You want a faster pathway into the workforce. Many CCMA-focused programs can be completed in several months online. This allows students to gain clinical skills and begin working in healthcare more quickly.
- You want to work in an outpatient clinical setting. The CCMA certification may help you find a job in an outpatient setting where clinical skills are a priority. These include outpatient clinics, urgent care centers, doctors’ offices, and even hospital departments.
Choose CMA If…
- You are interested in both administrative and clinical tasks. The CMA certification covers both patient care and office management tasks. This can be helpful if you like the idea of moving between patient interaction and office or desk-based work.
- You plan to attend a college-based medical assistant program. Many community colleges offer programs accredited specifically to prepare students for the CMA exam.
Both certifications can open the door to a rewarding healthcare career. By understanding the differences between CCMA and CMA, you can choose the path that best matches your interests and career goals.
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