Texas CCMA Practice Test and Exam Guide (2026)

Medical assistant certification in Texas is voluntary — the state does not license or require certification to work as an MA. However, all major Texas hospital systems (HCA Healthcare, Baylor Scott & White, Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, Ascension, Texas Health Resources) prefer or require a nationally recognized credential like the NHA's CCMA. State regulator: The Texas Medical Board oversees supervising physicians and delegation rules. There is no dedicated MA regulatory board in Texas. Recognized certifications: CCMA (NHA), CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), and NCMA (NCCT) are all accepted by Texas employers. NHA exam vendor: PSI test centers or PSI live online proctoring. Exam format: 180 questions (150 scored + 30 pretest), 3 hours, computer-based, scaled score 200-500, passing 390. Texas annual mean wage for medical assistants (BLS May 2024, SOC 31-9092): $39,280. Top Texas employers: HCA Healthcare, Baylor Scott & White, Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, Ascension, Texas Health Resources, UT Southwestern, MD Anderson, Christus Health, Concentra, CareNow, Kelsey-Seybold.

Texas does not require MAs to be certified, but the hiring reality is different from the legal reality. Ascension, HCA, and Houston Methodist all list national certification as required or strongly preferred on the majority of their MA postings. If you plan to work at any large hospital system in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, or Austin, get certified. Texas MAs work under the delegated authority of a supervising physician. Scope includes vitals, phlebotomy, injections, EKGs, assisting with minor procedures, wound care, and administering medications by order. Texas Medical Board delegation rules require the supervising physician to document what tasks are delegated. Certification portability matters in Texas because Texas MAs frequently move between metros (DFW to Houston, Austin to San Antonio) or between Texas and border states. The CCMA is valid nationwide with no state-specific reciprocity issues. Renewal: NHA requires recertification every 2 years with 10 CEUs. Texas does not impose additional MA-specific renewal requirements.

The NHA CCMA covers seven content domains. Clinical Patient Care is by far the largest at 54%, meaning more than half your exam is hands-on clinical content — vitals, phlebotomy, EKG, injections, and specimen handling. Focus your study accordingly.

PSI operates test centers across every major Texas metro plus several mid-size cities. Major PSI test center locations include: - Houston (multiple locations: NW Houston, Sugar Land, Pasadena) - Dallas / Fort Worth / Arlington / Irving / Plano / Frisco / Richardson - San Antonio (multiple locations) - Austin / Round Rock / Cedar Park - El Paso - Corpus Christi - McAllen / Harlingen / Brownsville (Rio Grande Valley) - Lubbock - Amarillo - Waco / Killeen / Temple - Beaumont / Port Arthur - Tyler / Longview - Abilene / Midland / Odessa Book at psiexams.com after receiving your ATT from NHA. Texas metros generally have good test slot availability, but Houston and DFW book out 2 weeks in busy season. PSI live online proctoring is available from any Texas address with a webcam and government photo ID.

Step 1: Confirm eligibility. You need a high school diploma or GED plus either (a) completion of a medical assistant program within the last 5 years, or (b) at least 1 year of supervised MA work experience within the last 3 years. Step 2: Create your NHA account at nhanow.com and upload documentation. Step 3: Pay the $165 exam fee. You will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) email within 1-2 business days. Step 4: Choose PSI test center, PSI live remote proctoring, or your school test site if applicable. Step 5: Schedule at psiexams.com. Step 6: Take the exam. Bring two forms of ID, arrive 30 minutes early. Preliminary results at the test center; official results within 2 business days in your NHA account.

Texas is a huge MA employment market — second only to California in total MA jobs. Per BLS OES May 2024 data: - Annual mean wage: $39,280 - Hourly mean: $18.88 - Employment: approximately 76,000 medical assistants Metro pay differs meaningfully. Austin and Houston average $41,000-$45,000. DFW is close behind. San Antonio and mid-size metros (Waco, Tyler, Amarillo) average $36,000-$40,000. Rural Texas MAs earn less but face lower cost of living. Top employers by hiring volume: HCA (largest single MA employer in Texas via its many hospital brands), Baylor Scott & White, Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, Ascension, Texas Health Resources, UT Southwestern, Christus Health, and Kelsey-Seybold. Job outlook is strong. Texas is projected to add 12,000+ MA jobs between 2024 and 2034, driven by population growth and expanding hospital and urgent care networks.

**Do I need to be certified to work as an MA in Texas?** No, Texas does not legally require certification. But most large employers require or prefer a national credential. **Which certification is best in Texas?** CCMA, CMA, and RMA are all widely accepted. Choose based on your program's prep focus. **How much does the CCMA cost in Texas?** $165 through NHA. Same nationwide fee, no additional Texas fee. **Where can I take the CCMA in Texas?** At any PSI test center statewide (Houston, DFW, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, and many mid-size cities) or via PSI live online proctoring. **Can I work as an MA in Texas without certification?** Yes, Texas allows uncertified MAs to work under physician delegation. Many candidates use this work experience to qualify for CCMA eligibility. **What is the average MA salary in Texas?** About $39,280 annual mean (BLS May 2024). Metro pay ranges from $36,000 (mid-size cities) to $45,000+ (Houston, Austin). **How long does it take to become a CCMA in Texas?** Community college MA programs run 9-12 months. Self-study candidates with work experience can prepare in 2-3 months.