What Is The Most Favorable Medical Assistant Certification?

Below you can find a comparison table of four major certification agencies. There are more of them and new organizations are coming up all the time but we zeroed in on the most renowned ones to help you get going.

AAMA AMT NHA NCCT
Link www.aama-ntl.org americanmedtech.org www.nhanow.com www.ncctinc.com
Active Since 1956 1939 1989 1989
Currently Certified around 75,000 around 60,000 around 180,000 around 90,000
Credential CMA RMA/CMAS CCMA/CMAA NCMA
Issuer of other credentials
Nationwide Recognition
Eligibility criteria
Accredited training program
No training, only work experience 3 years 1 year 2 years
If guilty of felony [1] n/a
Examination
Exam lifetime attempts [2] 3 4 4
Application fee $125 $135 $160/$125 $119
Computer based
Online examination
Multiple Choice 5 option items 4 option items 4 option items 4 option items
Test Duration 160 min 120 min 180 min 180 min
Number of Questions 200 200 150 150
Avg. Pass Rate 58% 72% 77% 57%
Maintain Certification
Recertification Cycle every 5 years every 3 years every 2 years every year
By examination [3]
By continuing education (CE)
Recertification exam fee $125 $280
Recertification by CE fee $65 $280 $179 $77
  1. Generally, individuals who have been found guilty of a felony or pleaded guilty to a felony are not eligible for certification exam. However, the certification agency may grant a waiver based upon mitigating circumstances.
  2. If not passed within the allowed amount of attempts the examinee is no more eligible for the credential.
  3. Certification holders have the option to keep their certification current by retaking the exam.