How to Become a Certified Medical Assistant in New Jersey (2026 Guide)

How to Become a CMA in New Jersey: Step by Step

The CMA exam and AAMA eligibility rules are the same nationwide. New Jersey's only state-specific layer is that there isn't one — most states regulate medical assistant duties only through physician delegation, not a separate license.

1. 1
   Graduate from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program

   Unlike some certifications, CMA has only one eligibility pathway — there is no work-experience alternative. You must graduate from (or be in your final semester of) a Medical Assistant program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES, which includes a required supervised practicum/externship.
2. 2
   Pass the national CMA exam

   Register with the AAMA and pay the exam fee ($125 for members, $250 for non-members — this never varies by state). The exam is 200 multiple-choice questions (180 scored, 20 unscored pretest) over 3 hours split into 4 segments, at a PSI test center or via remote proctoring. A scaled score of 405 is required to pass.
3. 3
   No separate state step — New Jersey has none

   New Jersey does not require medical assistants to hold any state-issued license or registration. Your supervising physician determines which clinical tasks you're delegated to perform, based on your training. No separate state MA license or registration. However, the NJ State Board of Medical Examiners restricts who may administer injections: only medical assistants holding a national certification (CMA explicitly named by the Board) may give subcutaneous or intramuscular injections. This is a scope-of-practice gate tied to national certification, not a state-issued credential of its own.
4. 4
   Apply for your first medical assistant position

   With CMA certification in hand, you can apply to physician offices, outpatient clinics, and specialty practices. Average pay in New Jersey is $21.01/hr.

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