Potential clinical medical assistants should have a basic idea of how to pass the NHA-certification exam for clinical medical assistants (CMAs).
Completing the NHA exam comes with advantages that will last your entire career, including:
- Eligibility to work at clinics that require NHA certification.
- Demonstration of your knowledge to employers.
- Increased earning potential.
Here’s what to know about the NHA exam.
The test is three hours long. It consists of 150 scored questions and 30 unscored “pre-test” questions.
You need to score at least 390 out of 500 to pass.
As long as you prepare correctly, your chances are good: According to the NHA, the passing rate in 2024 was over 81%.
Use your training as a foundation.
During your NHA CMA exam, you’ll be asked about:
- Foundational knowledge and basic science
- Anatomy and physiology
- Clinical patient care
- Patient care coordination and education
- Administrative assisting
- Communication and customer service
- Medical law and ethics
If you’ve completed a clinical medical assisting program, such as the one at NTX Training Institute, you’ve already covered these topics. Review your class notes and revisit any areas you found challenging during training.
Practice with sample questions.
First of all, we offer all the necessary test preparation that you need to pass the exam. But what if you want to go above and beyond?
Numerous study guides and practice tests are available online. The NHA offers its own package, which costs $94. It comes from the people who write the official test, so there may be some interest in taking a look—but it’s not going to offer much more than the materials we offer for free.
For other free materials like study guides and practice tests, you can check out sites like smarterma.com and uniontestprep.com.
Taking care of yourself before test day is essential (and by far the most underrated performance tip there is).
A clear head matters just as much as your understanding of the material. Before your exam, you should:
- Avoid cramming
- Get a good night’s sleep
- Eat a balanced meal
On the day of the exam, wake up early and arrive prepared and self-confident.
Be sure to arrive at your exam location early so you aren’t rushed. You’ll also need to bring a valid, government-issued photo ID, like a driver’s license or passport, and two #2 pencils.
No other materials, including study aids, phones, food, or drinks, are allowed in the testing room.
If you don’t pass, you can retake the test.
You will pass (remember that positive self-talk?) But, in the unlikely event that you don’t quite pass, you’re allowed up to three retake attempts.
When is the soonest you can re-take? Well, you’ll have to wait one month before retaking it the first time, and after two unsuccessful attempts, you’re required to wait one full year for another re-test. Again, this is a very, very rare circumstance.
We’re preparing you to be an excellent CMA, and that means you’re prepared to pass the test.
Phlebotomy candidates can expect a similar testing experience.
The phlebotomy NHA exam is structured similarly to the CMA exam, although it’s slightly shorter at two hours long, with 100 scored questions and 20 pre-test questions.
You can find the official NHA study guide and practice test here.
Take the NHA exam on the last day of class at NTX Training Institute.
Our Clinical Medical Assisting program is designed specifically to prepare you to pass the NHA exam, so we give students a chance to sit for the exam on the last day of class and take the test in a comfortable environment.
Contact NTX Training Institute today to learn more about our program and take the first step toward your new career.
