{"id":56773,"date":"2026-10-22T10:43:55","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T17:43:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/?p=56773"},"modified":"2026-10-22T10:43:55","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T17:43:55","slug":"ccma-vs-cma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/clinical-medical-assistant\/ccma-vs-cma\/","title":{"rendered":"CCMA vs CMA"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

CCMA and CMA (AAMA) are different national medical assistant credentials. The National Healthcareer Association awards the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant credential, or CCMA. The Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants awards CMA (AAMA). Their eligibility requirements, exam formats, and renewal rules differ.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The most useful choice depends on two things: which credential your intended employers accept and which exam you are eligible to take. The initials alone do not determine your job duties or pay, but you’ll want to research the differences in order to make sure you can start your medical assistant career with the certification that fits you best.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

CCMA vs CMA at a glance<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In this guide, \u201cCMA\u201d means CMA (AAMA). Using the full designation helps avoid confusion with other credentials and job titles that share the same initials.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Feature<\/strong><\/th>\r\nCCMA<\/strong><\/th>\r\nCMA (AAMA)<\/strong><\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n
Issuing organization<\/td>\r\nNational Healthcareer Association<\/td>\r\nAAMA Certifying Board<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Credential name<\/td>\r\nCertified Clinical Medical Assistant<\/td>\r\nCertified Medical Assistant (AAMA)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Eligibility<\/td>\r\nQualifying training or supervised work experience, with education requirements<\/td>\r\nAn eligible accredited program or another approved AAMA pathway<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Exam<\/td>\r\n180 questions: 150 scored and 30 unscored<\/td>\r\n200 multiple-choice questions noteable- 180 are scored, 20 unscored.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Answering time<\/td>\r\nThree hours<\/td>\r\n160 minutes across four segments; optional breaks add time<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Current exam fee<\/td>\r\n$169 individual application<\/td>\r\n$125 or $250, depending on eligibility category and membership<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Recertification cycle<\/td>\r\nEvery two years<\/td>\r\nEvery 60 months<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
Continuing education route<\/td>\r\n10 credits plus the renewal fee every 2 years<\/td>\r\n60 points meeting AAMA\u2019s category and approval rules, plus the fee<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sources: NHA exam information<\/a>, NHA exam application<\/a>, AAMA certification<\/a>, AAMA eligibility<\/a>, and the issuers\u2019 NHA<\/a> and AAMA<\/a> renewal policies. Fees were checked September 11, 2026.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What is CCMA certification?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

CCMA stands for Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. NHA\u2019s exam emphasizes clinical patient care and also tests administrative work, communication, patient education, and medical law and ethics.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The word \u201cclinical\u201d does not mean a CCMA works only with patients. A medical assistant may also update records, coordinate appointments, and support office workflows.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

NHA\u2019s CCMA certification program is NCCA-accredited<\/a>. The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) has certified that the CCMA program meets industry standards. NCCA accreditation of a certification program does not automatically mean every school preparing students for the CCMA exam has NCCA accreditation.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What is CMA certification?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The CMA (AAMA) credential documents certification through AAMA\u2019s Certifying Board. Its exam covers clinical, general, and administrative responsibilities, and the certification program is also NCCA-accredited.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A common path to eligibility is a medical assisting program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES. AAMA also has pathways for previously certified applicants, qualifying educators, and graduates who meet its alternative-pathway requirements.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How the eligibility rules differ<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

NHA offers training and experience pathways<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

NHA generally requires a high school diploma or equivalent plus recent qualifying training or supervised work experience within the last five years. Its eligibility guidance<\/a> describes a relevant training-program route and an experience route of one year of experience in the past three years or two years of experience in the past five years. The current handbook governs additional conditions and exceptions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Before enrolling, ask which NHA pathway the program supports and what documentation proves completion. A course marketed as \u201cexam preparation\u201d may assume you already satisfy the eligibility requirements when it comes to work experience.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

AAMA evaluates the program and applicant category<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For CMA (AAMA), determine whether you qualify through a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited medical assisting program or another listed category. If you are considering the AAMA alternative pathway<\/a>, review the required program criteria and documentation directly with AAMA.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A useful enrollment question is: \u201cWhich exact exam will I be eligible to apply for when I finish, and where can I verify that?\u201d Keep the written answer with your program information.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Are CCMA and CMA job duties different?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The certifications test overlapping knowledge. In practice, your duties depend on your training, the employer\u2019s policies, the supervising professional\u2019s delegation, and applicable state rules.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A job might combine patient intake, vital signs, examination support, specimen handling, and administrative tasks. Another might concentrate on front-office responsibilities. Neither credential automatically grants independent authority to diagnose, prescribe, or interpret a test for a patient.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For California-specific context, review Springboard\u2019s medical assistant requirements guide<\/a> alongside the Medical Board of California\u2019s medical assistant FAQs<\/a>. If you work elsewhere, use the rules for that jurisdiction rather than carrying California\u2019s requirements into another state.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Clinical experience is another part of the comparison. Ask how each program teaches practical skills and prepares you for a placement. Springboard\u2019s medical assistant externship guide<\/a> can help you come up with the questions to ask.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Which certification is better for you?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

There is no single answer that fits every job market. Start with the employers you could realistically work for.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    \r\n
  1. Collect a small sample of relevant openings.<\/strong> Search within your commuting area and for the schedule you can work.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  2. Record the exact certification language.<\/strong> \u201cNational certification required\u201d and \u201cCMA (AAMA) required\u201d are different requirements. If the listing is unclear, ask the employer which credentials it accepts.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  3. Check your eligibility.<\/strong> Compare the issuer\u2019s requirements with your existing education and the program you are considering.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  4. Compare the complete training experience.<\/strong> Include practical instruction, externship arrangements, exam preparation, support, and total cost.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
  5. Choose the pathway that fits those jobs and your circumstances.<\/strong> Revisit your decision if your location or employer targets change.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    For example, suppose two nearby clinics explicitly accept CCMA, while the program you prefer prepares students for NHA\u2019s exam. CCMA may be a sensible fit. If the employer you most want to join specifies CMA (AAMA), establish AAMA eligibility before committing to a course. These are examples, not findings about a particular local market.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Does CMA pay more than CCMA?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    You should not assume a fixed salary difference from the credential name. The BLS medical assistant occupation data do not separate wages into a CCMA-versus-CMA comparison. Geography, experience, specialty, employer, schedule, and responsibilities all affect offers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Use salary ranges in relevant job postings to compare actual opportunities. Springboard\u2019s California medical assistant salary guide<\/a> provides regional context for readers considering that market. Avoid treating a national median or a different state\u2019s pay as an expected starting salary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Compare renewal requirements before choosing<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    CCMA currently renews every two years with 10 continuing education credits and a $195 single-certification renewal fee. CMA (AAMA) is current for 60 months and can be renewed through the exam or an eligible 60-point continuing education pathway. AAMA currently lists CE recertification fees of $80 for members and $160 for nonmembers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Those fees cover different periods and processes. Membership dues, purchased CE courses, and late or reinstatement charges can affect your own costs. Keep a reminder tied to the actual expiration date in your credentialing account to make sure you’re on top of renewal fees.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    How Springboard fits the comparison<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Springboard\u2019s Certified Medical Assistant Program<\/a> prepares students for NHA\u2019s CCMA exam and includes one exam voucher. Its program name should not be read as a promise of eligibility for the separate CMA (AAMA) exam.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    If CCMA fits your employer targets, review the curriculum and clinical arrangements. If CMA (AAMA) is your intended credential, establish the applicable AAMA pathway before selecting a program.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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    Springboard\u2019s Certified Medical Assistant Program offers a 4 month online curriculum with CCMA exam preparation, externship support, and career coaching. It’s the most affordable, flexible and shortest path to the CCMA and clinical experience you need to get a job.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n


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    Learn More<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Frequently asked questions<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Is CCMA the same as CMA?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    No. CCMA is awarded by NHA, while CMA (AAMA) is awarded by AAMA\u2019s Certifying Board. Each has its own application and certification requirements.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Is a CCMA a higher qualification than a CMA?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    They are separate certifications, not sequential levels in a shared credential ladder. An employer may accept both or prefer one. That preference does not create a universal ranking.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Which exam is harder?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Difficulty depends on your training and preparation. The exams have different content outlines, timing, scoring, and candidate populations. A pass-rate comparison alone would not establish which one is harder for you.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Can you hold both certifications?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Yes, if you independently meet each issuer\u2019s requirements and pass the necessary exams. Before pursuing both, determine whether a second credential solves an employment need that justifies the additional preparation and renewal obligations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Is CMAA another name for CCMA?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    No. NHA\u2019s Certified Medical Administrative Assistant credential<\/a>, or CMAA, focuses on administrative medical office work. It is a separate credential from CCMA and CMA (AAMA).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Can a CCMA draw blood?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    The credential alone does not decide that. Phlebotomy duties depend on applicable state rules, training, supervision, and employer requirements. Confirm what is permitted for the specific role.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Sources<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Sources and fees checked September 11, 2026.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n