The Nationally Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) exam is given by the National Center for Competency Testing to people who work or are training as medical assistants. This page summarizes the verified exam facts, such as the $119 fee, the 3 hour time limit and the 575 passing score. It also links to free practice sets by topic and a study plan.
The NCMA takes about 3 hours and costs $119[1] (National Center for Competency Testing, verified Oct 27, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Time limit | 3 hours[1] | National Center for Competency Testing · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Passing score | 575 on a 200–720 scale[2] | National Center for Competency Testing · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $119[1] | National Center for Competency Testing · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Validity | Active for 1 year; remains valid for 5 years[1] | National Center for Competency Testing · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Eligibility | Current student or graduate (within 5 years) of an NCCT-authorized MA program, 1 year full-time MA work experience, military training, or instructor pathway[1] | National Center for Competency Testing · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Score release | Immediately following the examination[1] | National Center for Competency Testing · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | At least 14 days prior to requested test date[1] | National Center for Competency Testing · Oct 27, 2026 |
According to National Center for Competency Testing, “The scale ranges from 200 to 720. If you achieve a 575 or higher on the scale, you will pass.”[2]
The NCMA is a certification exam from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). It is meant for medical assistants who want a nationally recognized credential that shows their knowledge of clinical, administrative and legal topics.
Eligibility. The NCCT lists multiple pathways. You can be a current student or a graduate (within 5 years) of an NCCT-authorized medical assistant program. You can have 1 year of full-time medical assistant work experience, military training, or take the instructor pathway. Work experience must be obtained within the United States or its territories. Check the Candidate Handbook for the exact documents each pathway needs.
Fee and registration. The exam fee is $119. NCCT must receive your application at least 14 days before the test date you request, so do not leave registration until the last moment.
Format and scoring. The time limit is 3 hours. Scores are reported on a scale of 200 to 720, and 575 or higher is a pass. Results are provided immediately after the examination.
After you pass. The credential is active for 1 year from the issue date and remains valid for 5 years. Recertification is required, so read the handbook for the current renewal rules.
Rules and procedures can change. Always confirm details with NCCT's Candidate Handbook before you apply.
The content areas below are copied from the official NCMA content outline published by National Center for Competency Testing. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Clinical Medical Procedures[3] | NCMA Clinical & Patient Care Practise the order of steps in routine patient care and be able to say why each step is done. |
| Law and Ethics[3] | NCMA Medical Ethics & Legal Considerations Practise telling apart patient rights, confidentiality duties and the limits of what a medical assistant may do. |
| Medical Administrative Duties[3] | NCMA Medical Office & Administration Practise scheduling, records, front-office communication and the daily running of a medical office. |
| Pharmacology and General Medical Knowledge[3] | NCMA Pharmacology & Medication Management Practise medication names, routes, safe handling and the anatomy and terminology that support them. |
Prepare for the NCMA - Nationally Certified Medical Assistant exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What role does customer service play in a medical office setting?
Answer: B. It ensures positive patient experiences and effective communication
Explanation:
The correct answer is that customer service ensures positive patient experiences and effective communication. A medical office depends on trust. Patients who feel heard are more likely to share symptoms honestly, follow instructions and come back for care.
The option saying it is not important is wrong because the front desk shapes how patients feel about the whole practice. The option saying it increases complaints is backwards, since good service tends to reduce misunderstandings. The option saying it limits patient interaction with the medical team is wrong because good service connects patients to the team rather than blocking them.
The rule to remember: in healthcare, courtesy and clear communication are part of patient care itself, not an extra. When an answer choice treats service as unimportant or as a barrier, it is almost always the distractor.
Question: Why is it important for medical assistants to understand medical terminology?
Answer: B. It improves communication and patient care
Explanation:
The correct answer is that medical terminology improves communication and patient care. Staff, providers and patients all rely on exact words. A precise term in a chart tells the next reader what was found or done without guessing.
The option saying it is unnecessary for patient care is wrong because records, orders and referrals are written in this language. The option saying it increases the complexity of procedures is wrong because terminology describes procedures; it does not make them harder. The option saying it reduces the quality of care is wrong because misread or vague terms are what cause errors, and learning the terms prevents them.
The rule to remember: shared, accurate language supports safety and clear teamwork. Be wary of any option that frames core professional knowledge as pointless or harmful.
Question: What does the concept of patient autonomy refer to?
Answer: B. The patient's right to make their own healthcare decisions
Explanation:
The correct answer is that patient autonomy is the patient's right to make their own healthcare decisions. An informed adult may accept or refuse treatment, even when the care team would choose differently. The role of the team is to explain options clearly so the choice is informed.
The option about the physician's control over treatment decisions is wrong because the physician advises and the patient decides. The option about the provider's control over patient care is wrong for the same reason. The option about the patient's responsibility to follow all protocols is wrong because autonomy includes the right to decline; it is not a duty to comply.
The rule to remember: autonomy means informed choice belongs to the patient. If an option gives the final say to the provider, it does not describe autonomy.
Start with the official material. Read the NCCT Candidate Handbook and note the content areas: Clinical Medical Procedures, Law and Ethics, Medical Administrative Duties, and Pharmacology and General Medical Knowledge. Use that list as your checklist.
Next, take one practice set from each area, untimed, and read every explanation, including those for questions you got right. Write down the topics you missed and group them by area. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so treat them as a way to find gaps rather than a prediction of your score.
Then spend most of your time on your weakest area. Use the focused sets on pharmacology, infection control, emergency procedures, anatomy and physiology, and communication to fill gaps, and go back to the textbook or course notes for anything you keep missing.
Start with the main NCMA practice test when you want a mixed set.
The exam fee listed in the NCCT Candidate Handbook is $119. NCCT lists the same fee for several of its other exams. Fees can change, so confirm the current amount with NCCT before you register.
You need 575 or higher on a scale of 200 to 720. NCCT's scoring document states that a 575 or higher is a pass. The scale is not a simple percentage of questions answered correctly.
The time limit is 3 hours, according to the NCCT Candidate Handbook. Practise working through questions at a steady pace so you can finish the whole exam within that time.
Examination results are provided immediately following the examination, according to the NCCT Candidate Handbook. Your application must be received by NCCT at least 14 days before the test date you request.
NCCT lists multiple pathways: a current student or recent graduate (within 5 years) of an NCCT-authorized program, 1 year of full-time medical assistant work, military training, or the instructor pathway. Work experience must be in the United States or its territories.
The credential is active for 1 year from the certification issue date and remains valid for 5 years from that date. Recertification is required, so read the Candidate Handbook for the current renewal steps.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.