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CMA vs RMA vs CCMA: which medical assistant certification fits you?

Three medical assistant credentials come up again and again in job postings: the CMA (AAMA), the RMA from American Medical Technologists and the CCMA from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). All three are national certifications, and all three show employers that you have the clinical and administrative knowledge the job needs.

We want to be upfront: we offer prep for the CMA (AAMA) and the RMA, as well as the NCMA and CMAC, but we do not offer CCMA prep today. We still think it is worth comparing all three honestly, because the right choice depends on your program, your experience and the employers near you.

Try it free first

Every exam below has a free 25-question diagnostic with an explanation for every answer, created by a registered nurse.

The three exams at a glance

  • CMA (AAMA), from the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants: 200 multiple-choice questions, given in four 40-minute segments, for 160 minutes of testing time.
  • RMA, from American Medical Technologists (AMT): 210 questions, with two hours allowed.
  • CCMA, from NHA: 150 scored questions plus 30 unscored pretest questions, with three hours of exam time. You can test at your school, at a PSI testing center or through live remote proctoring.

Who can take each exam

CMA (AAMA): you can sit for the exam as a student or graduate of a medical assisting program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES, as a previously certified CMA (AAMA), as a medical assisting educator who meets the AAMA's teaching requirement, or through the AAMA's Alternative Pathway.

RMA (AMT): AMT offers several routes, including an education route for graduates of accredited medical assisting programs within the past four years, a competency and work-based learning route, a work experience route, a military route and an instructor route.

CCMA (NHA): you need a high school diploma or equivalency (or be scheduled to earn one within 18 months, through NHA's pathway for high school health science students), plus either a medical assistant training program completed within the last five years, or supervised medical assisting work experience of one year within the last three years or two years within the last five.

How to choose

Start with your school. Many programs prepare students for one specific exam, and some even include the exam fee. If your program is CAAHEP or ABHES accredited, the CMA (AAMA) is often the natural fit. If you trained on the job or in a shorter program, the RMA and CCMA both offer routes that may work for you.

Next, look at local job postings and notice which credentials employers ask for by name, and check your state's rules for medical assistants. If more than one exam fits, compare the length and timing above and pick the format that suits the way you test best.

If the CMA (AAMA) or RMA is your exam, start with a free diagnostic below. If you are deciding between the NCMA and CMAC as well, our guide comparing the CMA, RMA, NCMA and CMAC walks through those two exams too.

How we can help

Our CMA (AAMA) and RMA 6-Month Passes include a full-length practice exam that matches the real exam's length and timing, practice by topic and an explanation for every answer, created by a registered nurse. Every question is original and written to the official content outline.

Ready to see where you stand?

The free CMA (AAMA) diagnostic takes about 30 minutes, and you will see an explanation for every answer when you finish.

Start the free CMA (AAMA) diagnostic

Common questions

Is the CCMA the same as the CMA?

No. The CCMA comes from the National Healthcareer Association, and the CMA (AAMA) comes from the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants. They have different eligibility rules and different exams.

Do you offer CCMA prep?

Not today. We offer prep for the CMA (AAMA), RMA, NCMA and CMAC, each with a free 25-question diagnostic. Many of the same skills appear across medical assistant exams, but the CCMA has its own test plan, so use NHA's official materials for that exam.

Which medical assistant exam is the longest?

By testing time, the CCMA allows three hours, the CMA (AAMA) gives 160 minutes of testing time, and the RMA allows two hours. The RMA has the most questions, with 210.

Can I qualify with work experience instead of school?

AMT and NHA both list work experience routes for the RMA and CCMA. The CMA (AAMA) is mainly for students and graduates of CAAHEP or ABHES accredited programs, and the AAMA also describes an Alternative Pathway. Check each official eligibility page for the details.

Sources

We checked these official pages on October 21, 2026. Exam details can change, so always confirm with the exam owner before you register.

More study guides

CMA (AAMA) is a registered trademark of the American Association of Medical Assistants. TPM Exam Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by the American Association of Medical Assistants.

RMA is a trademark of American Medical Technologists. TPM Exam Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by American Medical Technologists.