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Earning your CCMA credentials will help you:
Fulfill employer requirements
According to employers, 89% of organizations encourage or require their medical assistants to be certified.
Access better career opportunities
35% of employers believe that medical assistants have more responsibility this year compared to last.
Maximize earning potential
A medical assistant's salary ranges from $23,830–$45,900, according to the BLS in 2019.
Enhance knowledge
and skills
Professionalism and critical thinking are the most important soft skills employers are looking for, when hiring a clinical medical assistant.
Certified clinical medical assistants make a difference every day
Medical assistants (MAs) are critical members of healthcare teams in a variety of medical settings. As an MA, you are often the first and last person a patient interacts with, making a lasting impact on the patient experience. MAs are flexible, performing a variety of tasks such as:
- Taking patient vital signs
- Assisting providers with exams and procedures
- Administering injections or medications
- Performing EKG, phlebotomy and other essential laboratory procedures
- Checking patients in and out upon arrival and departure
- Answering phone calls and questions
- Updating and maintaining electronic health records (EHR)
NHA partners with educators and employers across the United States to educate, train and certify medical assistants. Find a job opening near you to start your journey toward this rewarding and in-demand career.
Visit our Job Board
87% of employers require or encourage certification for medical assistants.
(Source: 2024 Industry Outlook)
CCMA exam eligibility
Possess a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency; or are scheduled to earn a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency in the next 12 months*
*Click here for more details on the certification pathway for high school health science students.
Completed a medical assistant training
or education program within the last 5 year
OR
Possess a high school diploma
or GED/high school equivalency
1 year of supervised work experience in a medical assisting field within the last 3 years; or 2 years of supervised work experience in a medical assisting field within the last 5 years
See Candidate Handbook for more information about Eligibility Requirements.
My NHA certification has helped me financially advance my career. 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. We are extremely grateful for my career! Jessica Aponte, CCMA
5 steps to becoming a certified clinical medical assistant
Apply for your exam
Create a free NHA account online, anytime, and submit your certified clinical medical assistant exam application through your account portal.
Set a date
Select the date and location–online or in-person–for your exam. (An exam fee payment is required during this step.)
Prepare, prepare, prepare
Time to study! We're here to support you. We have study materials available, including an interactive study guide and practice test.
Take the exam
You'll take the exam either at your school, a PSI testing center near you, or through live remote proctoring at the location of your choice.
Get your results
For online CCMA exams, NHA will officially post your certification results to your account page within two days of scoring your test.
Is your school or employer sponsoring your exam?
When you create your NHA account, be sure to select your organization type, school or training center, or employer in order to:
- Access any pre-purchased materials or exams available to you
- Take advantage of possible discounts
- Share your exam results with your school or employer
Ready to get your certification?
Prepare for your certification exam
Access the NHA clinical medical assistant practice test, clinical medical assistant study guide and other proven exam preparation materials that are designed to help you succeed.
*The purchase of NHA exam preparation materials is not required to sit for any NCCA-accredited certification exam and use does not guarantee a passing score on an exam. All NHA exams are NCCA-accredited.
NHA Mobile —
Empowering learner success with study-on-the-go flashcards aligned to your enrolled NHA course.
Are you an educator or an employer?
Talk to a certification specialist to learn more about our comprehensive digital learning resources designed to supplement your training or education program.
Renew your certification
Keeping your certification current is a small investment (just $8 per month!) that can help you achieve your healthcare career goals .
Continuing Education
- 10 Continuing Education (CE) credits are required every two years to maintain certification
- NHA's continuing education courses are free to current certification holders
- You can complete your 10 CE credits any time prior to your certification expiration and our CE library is available online 24/7
- Our CE library is continuously updated so you can learn the latest protocols and techniques
Learn More About Continuing Education ‣
Ready to renew your certification?