CCMA study guide: what to study, by exam weight
Study in proportion to NHA’s test plan. Clinical Patient Care is 84 of the 150 scored questions (56%), so it deserves about half of your study time; each of the other 6 domains is 7 to 15 questions.
The CCMA exam in one minute
- 180 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours: 150 scored and 30 unscored pretest questions. Pretest items are not identified and do not affect your score.
- Scaled scores from 200 to 500; you pass with 390.
- Content follows NHA’s test plan from the 2022 job analysis: 7 domains, 17 topics in this guide.
- Built-in exam calculator only; personal calculators and the computer's own calculator are not allowed.
Details in the CCMA exam guide and the CCMA test plan.
Step 1: Split your study time by exam weight
The share of scored questions is the simplest guide to where your hours should go. The last column turns it into hours for every 10 hours you study; it is arithmetic from NHA’s question counts, not an NHA recommendation.
| Domain | Scored questions | Share | Of every 10 study hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science | 15 | 10% | 1.0 h |
| Anatomy and Physiology | 8 | 5.3% | 0.5 h |
| Clinical Patient Care | 84 | 56% | 5.6 h |
| Patient Care Coordination and Education | 12 | 8% | 0.8 h |
| Administrative Assisting | 12 | 8% | 0.8 h |
| Communication and Customer Service | 12 | 8% | 0.8 h |
| Medical Law and Ethics | 7 | 4.7% | 0.5 h |
Step 2: Start with the heaviest topics
Where NHA gives a question count for a topic, here is the order by weight, with the free practice questions and cheat sheets for each. General Patient Care alone is 28 questions, more than any domain outside Clinical Patient Care.
Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science (15 questions) and Anatomy and Physiology (8) are counted only as whole domains.
Step 3: Study each domain
Free resources on this site for every part of the test plan:
Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science · 15 scored questions
- Free questions: Health Care Systems and Settings, Medical Terminology, Basic Pharmacology, Nutrition, Psychology.
- Cheat sheets: Medical Math Formulas and Conversions, Medical Abbreviations and the Do-Not-Use List, Medical Terminology: Top 80+ Prefixes, Roots and Suffixes.
- Terms: Health Care Systems and Settings (23), Medical Terminology (343), Basic Pharmacology (75), Nutrition (22), Psychology (38).
Anatomy and Physiology · 8 scored questions
- Free questions: Body Structures and Organ Systems, Pathophysiology and Disease Processes.
- Terms: Body Structures and Organ Systems (68), Pathophysiology and Disease Processes (70).
Clinical Patient Care · 84 scored questions
- Free questions: Patient Intake and Vitals, General Patient Care, Infection Control and Safety, Point of Care Testing and Laboratory Procedures, Phlebotomy, EKG and Cardiovascular Testing.
- Cheat sheets: Order of Draw and Tube Guide, Normal Vital Signs by Age, Adult Blood Pressure Categories (2025 AHA/ACC), 12-Lead EKG Electrode Placement and Artifacts, Injection Routes: Angles, Needles, Volumes and Sites, PPE Donning and Doffing Sequence, Standard vs Transmission-Based Precautions, Hand Hygiene Rules, Sharps Safety and Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure (OSHA), Capillary (Dermal) Puncture Sites and Depth Limits, Specimen Handling: Temperature, Light and Transport, Point-of-Care and CLIA-Waived Tests: Normal Values, Immunization Basics for the Medical Assistant, Vision and Hearing Screening.
- Terms: Patient Intake and Vitals (49), General Patient Care (45), Infection Control and Safety (50), Point of Care Testing and Laboratory Procedures (37), Phlebotomy (38), EKG and Cardiovascular Testing (48).
Patient Care Coordination and Education · 12 scored questions
- Free questions: Patient Care Coordination and Education.
- Terms: Patient Care Coordination and Education (17).
Administrative Assisting · 12 scored questions
- Free questions: Administrative Assisting.
- Cheat sheets: Coding Basics: CPT, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS and Modifiers.
- Terms: Administrative Assisting (50).
Communication and Customer Service · 12 scored questions
- Free questions: Communication and Customer Service.
- Terms: Communication and Customer Service (12).
Medical Law and Ethics · 7 scored questions
- Free questions: Medical Law and Ethics.
- Cheat sheets: HIPAA Key Rules and Permitted Disclosures.
- Terms: Medical Law and Ethics (67).
Step 4: Test yourself
Take the free 25-question CCMA practice test, split across the domains like the exam, then drill your weakest topic. Practice questions, flashcards and lessons were created for CCMA Prep. They are not actual exam questions and do not come from NHA.
Step 5: Exam week
Know the rules before you arrive. From NHA’s Candidate Handbook:
- Bring a current government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver's license or passport) showing your photo, signature and permanent address; remote proctors check ID too.
- If the ID address differs from your registration address, also bring proof of address such as a current utility bill.
- You initial the roster after ID verification. If you cannot be verified you are denied entry.
- Prohibited: phones, computers, tablets, e-readers, cameras, watches, AI glasses, earbuds/earphones, electronic translators, calculators, other electronic devices, reference books and papers (unless approved as an accommodation).
All rules are on the CCMA exam-day rules page; rescheduling and ID rules are under eligibility and registration.
Facts checked against NHA’s test plan and Candidate Handbook on October 21, 2026. Rules can change: confirm with NHA before your exam. CCMA Prep is an independent app, not made by or connected to NHA.
Sources
- NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Test Plan - Based on 2022 Job Analysis · National Healthcareer Association
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification page · National Healthcareer Association
- Now Available: CCMA 3.0 Certification Exam & Study Materials (May 2023) · National Healthcareer Association
- Product & Cert Portal Updates · NHA Help Center
- NHA Candidate Handbook (Updated 10/05/2026) · National Healthcareer Association
- 2024 Pass Rates for NHA Examinations (Revised 1/8/25) · National Healthcareer Association