Get Aama Certification

The Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA)®—or CMA (AAMA)®—credential represents a medical assistant who has been credentialed through the Certifying Board (CB) of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The credential is awarded to candidates who pass the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam.

However, some employers preferentially hire or even require certification. So, which should a new MA choose? The bottom line is that both the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) and Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) are essentially the same things. The difference is in the certifying organization and exam.

Average CMA study time for most candidates On average, Part 1 requires 170 study hours, which you can cover in 10-13 weeks, and Part 2 takes 130 hours and 8-11 weeks. We recommend that candidates study a minimum of 12 hours each week. You can use these estimates to build a study plan that works with your schedule.

The CMA exam is very difficult and it will test your intellectual limits. The industry average CMA pass rate for both sections is only 45%, meaning less than half of the people taking the test will pass. The CMA exam is notorious for its rigor and difficulty, and if you want to pass, you need to prepare.

Test scores range from 200-800, with a minimum passing score of 430. AAMA analyzes exam results about every three years to determine if the passing score should change.

The primary difference is a CMA is certified by the American Association of Medical Assistants, while a CCMA pursues certification through the National Healthcare Association. A CMA may perform more administrative work than a certified clinical medical assistant.

CMA Exam scoring To pass the CMA Exam, you must earn at least a 360 out of 500. All scores on the CMA Exam parts are expressed as scaled scores to maintain consistency and fairness across candidates.

The CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam is a rigorous exam that requires a thorough, broad, and current understanding of healthcare delivery. The CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam Content Outline provides an overview of the necessary general, clinical, and administrative knowledge.