Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) Exam: Full Comparison
The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) certifies broad clinical and administrative competency for medical assistants working in physician offices and outpatient settings. If you're weighing it against coding- and billing-focused credentials like the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) from AAPC, or against the NHA's Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS), the right choice depends on whether you want to work hands-on with patients, with codes and claims, or a mix of both. This page breaks down scope, difficulty, audience, and prerequisites so you can pick the exam that matches your career path.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take the CMA or a coding exam like the CPC or CBCS?
Choose based on the work you want to do. If you want to be hands-on with patients — taking vitals, giving injections, assisting with procedures, and handling front-office duties — the CMA (or the clinically similar CCMA) fits. If you'd rather work with documentation, code books, and insurance claims and don't want a patient-care role, the CPC (deep coding) or CBCS (entry-level billing and coding) is the better path.
How long is the CMA (AAMA) exam and how many questions does it have?
The CMA (AAMA) exam has 200 multiple-choice questions and gives you 160 minutes to complete it. That works out to roughly under a minute per question on average, so pacing is important. The minimum passing score is 405 on the exam's scaled scale.
Is the CMA harder than the CCMA, CPC, or CBCS?
Difficulty is subjective and depends on your background. The CMA is demanding because of its wide clinical-plus-administrative breadth and its 200-question, 160-minute format. The CCMA covers similar ground from a different certifying body. The CPC is deep in coding rules rather than broad, and the CBCS is generally the most entry-level in scope. Match the exam to your strengths and target role rather than chasing the 'easiest' one.