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CMA vs RMA vs NCMA vs CMAC: which medical assistant certification should you take?

If you are finishing a medical assisting program, or you have been working as a medical assistant and want the credential to match your experience, you have probably noticed that there is more than one certification to choose from. The four you will hear about most often are the CMA (AAMA), the RMA from American Medical Technologists, the NCMA from the National Center for Competency Testing and the CMAC from the American Medical Certification Association.

Each one is a national certification, and each one covers the same broad job: clinical work, administrative work and the professional and legal side of patient care. The differences are in who can sit for the exam, how long the test is and how the questions are weighted. This guide walks through all four so you can pick the one that fits your program, your state and the employers you want to work for.

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 four 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. Scores are reported on a 200 to 800 scale, and the published minimum passing score is 405.
  • RMA, from American Medical Technologists (AMT): 210 multiple-choice questions with a two-hour time limit. The AMT specifications weight the exam at about 31% general medical assisting, 14% administrative and 55% clinical.
  • NCMA, from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT): 150 questions in three hours, of which 125 are scored and 25 are unscored pretest items. About 92% are standard four-option multiple choice, and about 8% are alternative formats such as drag and drop, multi-select and hotspot.
  • CMAC, from the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA): 175 questions (160 scored and 15 unscored) in two hours and 30 minutes. AMCA weights the exam at 60% clinical, 26% administrative, 10% professionalism and 4% medical law and ethics.

Who can take each exam

Eligibility is often the deciding factor, so it is worth checking first. The AAMA says students in and graduates of CAAHEP or ABHES accredited medical assisting programs are eligible for the CMA (AAMA) exam, which makes it the natural choice if your program holds one of those accreditations.

The RMA, NCMA and CMAC each offer more than one route. AMT lists routes through accredited education, approved work-based learning, work experience, military training and teaching experience. NCCT accepts recent graduates of NCCT authorized programs, people with a year of verifiable full-time medical assistant experience in the past five years, and qualifying military training. AMCA publishes its own requirements on its CMAC page. Because each organization updates its rules from time to time, always confirm your route on the official site before you apply.

How to choose the right one for you

Start with the exam your program prepares you for or sponsors, because many schools build their review and testing around one specific credential, and some even cover the exam fee. Next, look at job postings in your area and notice which credentials local clinics and health systems ask for by name. Finally, check your state's rules. California's Medical Board, for example, keeps a list of approved medical assistant certifying organizations, and some states have their own requirements for tasks like giving injections.

If more than one exam fits, think about the test itself. If you like a longer window per question, compare the minutes per question on each exam. If clinical work is your strength, the CMAC and RMA put the most weight on clinical topics. And if you are testing for the CMA (AAMA) after July 2027, note that the AAMA has released an updated content outline for exams on or after that date.

How to practice for whichever exam you pick

Whichever certification you choose, the best next step is to find out where you stand. Each of the exam pages below has a free 25-question diagnostic with an explanation for every answer, so you can see which areas need the most attention before you build your study plan. Our full practice exams match the real length and timing of each test, and every question is original and written to the official content outline, created by a registered nurse.

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 CMA better than the RMA?

Both are national, accredited certifications, and many employers accept either one. The CMA (AAMA) is generally for graduates of CAAHEP or ABHES accredited programs, while the RMA offers more eligibility routes, including work experience. The best choice is the one you are eligible for and that employers in your area ask for.

How many questions are on each medical assistant exam?

The CMA (AAMA) has 200 questions in 160 minutes, the RMA has 210 questions in two hours, the NCMA has 150 questions (125 scored) in three hours, and the CMAC has 175 questions (160 scored) in two hours and 30 minutes.

Can I take a medical assistant certification exam without going to school?

Some certifications offer a work experience route. AMT and NCCT both list experience based routes for the RMA and NCMA, with specific hour and time requirements. Check the official eligibility pages for the details that apply to you.

Is there a free way to practice?

Yes. Each of our medical assistant exam pages has a free 25-question diagnostic with explanations, so you can try the questions before you decide on a 6-Month Pass.

Sources

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

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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.

NCMA and NCCT are trademarks of the National Center for Competency Testing. TPM Exam Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Center for Competency Testing.

CMAC is a trademark of the American Medical Certification Association. TPM Exam Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by the American Medical Certification Association.