CCMA Exam Day Checklist: What to Bring and What to Expect

Know your format before exam day

Per NHA's CCMA test plan, the exam has 150 scored items and 30 unscored pretest items, and you have 3 hours. It is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam. You will not know which items are pretest; NHA uses them to decide whether a question can count on future exams, and they do not affect your score.

You take the exam at your school, at a PSI testing center, or through live remote proctoring, depending on how you registered. NHA's candidate handbook says the exam must be completed in a single, continuous session.

What to bring

A current government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport. The handbook says proctors, including remote proctors, must verify your identity, and if the address on your ID differs from your registration you may need proof of address, such as a current utility bill.
Your NHA appointment details (confirmation email) so you know where and when to test.

Your testing site may add its own instructions. Read the emails from NHA and from PSI or your school, and follow them.

What not to bring

NHA's handbook says no reference books or papers may be brought into the exam room, and it lists items such as phones, personal computers, tablets, cameras, watches, earbuds and similar devices as not allowed. Your proctor will explain where to store your belongings. At school sites you receive scratch paper; at PSI centers you receive a whiteboard, marker and eraser; remote candidates use a digital whiteboard.

Scoring

NHA reports a scaled score from 200 to 500, and a scaled score of 390 or higher passes. Scaling accounts for differences in difficulty between exam forms, so a scaled score does not map to a fixed percentage of questions correct. Do not rely on any online "percent needed" figure.

Per the handbook, score reports for exams taken through PSI (testing center or remote) are available in your NHA account within 48 hours; exams taken at your institution can show a preliminary report immediately. The report shows pass or fail and how you did in each major content area. Preliminary results are not final.

If you do not pass

The handbook sets a 30-day wait after a failed attempt. You are allowed three attempts with at least 30 days between them, and after that a one-year wait applies. Each retake requires re-registering and paying the full exam price. Use the domain-level feedback on your score report to focus your study.

Test-plan domains

The test plan divides the 150 scored items as follows: Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science (15), Anatomy and Physiology (8), Clinical Patient Care (84), Patient Care Coordination and Education (12), Administrative Assisting (12), Communication and Customer Service (12), and Medical Law and Ethics (7).

The day before

Keep it light: review weak areas, do not start new topics, and get a full night of sleep. If you are testing at a site, confirm the location and your start time; if you are testing remotely, check your computer and internet connection against NHA's requirements ahead of time. If you need to reschedule, the handbook says to do so at least 24 hours before your appointment or the fee is forfeited.