National Healthcareer Association
National Healthcareer Association, founded in 1989 and a brand of Ascend Learning, LLC, is the largest US allied health certification agency, delivering eight NCCA-accredited certifications, exam preparation, and learning solutions to educational institutions, healthcare employers, and individual certification candidates.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersLeawood, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What National Healthcareer Association does
National Healthcareer Association (NHA), founded in 1989 and operating as a brand within Ascend Learning, LLC, is the largest allied health certification agency in the United States. NHA has issued more than 1 million NCCA-accredited certifications across eight credentials — CCMA, CPhT, CPT, CMAA, CET, CEHRS, CBCS, and CPCT/A — targeting allied health professionals including medical assistants, pharmacy technicians, phlebotomy technicians, medical administrative assistants, EKG technicians, EHR specialists, billing and coding specialists, and patient care technicians.
The company's product platform spans NHA-developed certification exams delivered through PSI's testing center network and live remote proctoring; study materials, SkillsBuilder simulation tools (MA SkillsBuilder Clinical/Administrative, PCT SkillsBuilder Plus), PharmaSeer, Medical Terminology, Anatomy & Physiology, and PersonAbility soft-skills modules; subscription NHA Membership tiers (Standard and Plus); and continuing education courses. Recent technology investments include Claire AI, a generative AI learning assistant grounded exclusively in NHA's proprietary content, and Vitals Engagement & Remediation Analytics for institutional cohort monitoring. The CertPortal serves as the operational backbone for inventory management, exam scheduling, and digital credentialing, with digital badges now issued through Accredible.
NHA generates revenue through a hybrid B2B/B2C model. Institutional sales — to post-secondary educators, secondary CTE programs, healthcare employers, and military programs — drive bulk exam inventory and learning solution purchases through dedicated account specialists. Direct-to-consumer revenue comes from one-time exam fees, individual study material purchases through the NHA online store, recurring membership subscriptions, and continuing education course sales. NHA is privately held under Ascend Learning, LLC, operates exclusively in the United States, and reports a workforce in the 1,001–5,000 employee range.
National Healthcareer Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Healthcareer Association
- Legal name
- Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC
- Website
- https://nhanow.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- National Healthcareer Association, founded in 1989 and a brand of Ascend Learning, LLC, is the largest US allied health certification agency, delivering eight NCCA-accredited certifications, exam preparation, and learning solutions to educational institutions, healthcare employers, and individual certification candidates.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Healthcareer Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Allied Health Certification
- NAICS
- Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Healthcare & Clinical Professional Certifications (EDAAANAI)
Keywords
Where National Healthcareer Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leawood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
National Healthcareer Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Certification Exams: Candidates pay fees to take NHA certification exams. Exams are administered on-site at institutions, at PSI testing centers, or via live remote proctoring. Revenue generated per exam attempt with candidates purchasing exam access keys or inventory from institutions.
- Study Materials and Exam Prep: Sale of online study guides, practice tests, and preparation materials. Materials are sold individually, bundled in career packages, or provided through institutional inventory. Products include both digital and enhanced learning experiences.
- NHA Membership: Subscription-based membership programs (Standard and Membership Plus) offering continuing education discounts, exam renewal discounts, and exclusive member resources. Available in annual or monthly billing options.
- Continuing Education (CE) Courses: Sale of continuing education courses for certification renewal. Members receive discounts on CE course purchases.
- Learning Solutions and SkillsBuilder Products: Specialized training tools such as MA SkillsBuilder (Clinical and Administrative), PCT SkillsBuilder Plus, PharmaSeer, PersonAbility, and other profession-specific learning solutions sold to institutions and individuals.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard Membership - for single certification holders |
| Subscription | Monthly | Membership Plus - for multiple certification holders |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
National Healthcareer Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
National Healthcareer Association (NHA) issues NCCA-accredited certifications and provides exam preparation and continuing education for allied health professionals across eight specialties, including medical assistant, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy technician, medical administrative assistant, EKG technician, electronic health records specialist, billing and coding specialist, and patient care technician/assistant. The company sells study materials, learning solutions, and a self-service Cert Portal, and delivers proctored certification exams through its own platform and the PSI testing center network.
Product overview
National Healthcareer Association (NHA) is a certification and exam preparation platform offering NCCA-accredited certifications for allied health professionals. The portfolio consists of 8 core certification exams (CCMA, CPhT, CPT, CMAA, CET, CEHRS, CBCS, CPCT/A), complemented by a comprehensive suite of exam preparation and learning resources including MA SkillsBuilder (Clinical and Administrative), PCT SkillsBuilder Plus, PharmaSeer, Medical Terminology, Anatomy & Physiology, PersonAbility, and TEAM Based Care. AI-powered features include Claire AI for personalized learning assistance and Vitals Analytics for learner engagement tracking. NHA provides a technology platform combining the Cert Portal for credential management, Live Remote Proctoring for exams, Learning Insights Center for educators, and mobile applications for on-the-go studying.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NHA Mobile: Mobile application providing study-on-the-go flashcards aligned to enrolled NHA courses
- Claire AI
- MA SkillsBuilder
- PCT SkillsBuilder Plus
- PersonAbility
- PharmaSeer
- Focused Review
- Learning Insights Center
- Vitals
Products and services
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
- Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1 million nationally recognized certifications awarded
Companies that use National Healthcareer Association
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
National Healthcareer Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability5 records
Feature6 records
National Healthcareer Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
National Healthcareer Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB): National certifying body for pharmacy technicians, directly competing with NHA's CPhT credential. PTCB is the dominant specialty certification in pharmacy tech, comparable to NHA as a profession-specific certification agency.
- American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC): Leading provider of medical coding and billing certifications, directly competing with NHA's CBCS credential. AAPC is a comparable B2B/B2C certification body serving allied health professionals and healthcare employers.
- American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA): Health information management credentialing organization competing with NHA's CEHRS offering. AHIMA serves similar institutional and individual customers with accredited health information certifications.
- American Medical Certification Association (AMCA): Certification provider for multiple allied health roles including medical assistants, phlebotomists, and EKG technicians, overlapping with several of NHA's 8 certification categories.
- National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT): Multi-disciplinary allied health certification agency offering credentials for medical assistants, phlebotomists, and technicians, directly competing with NHA's CCMA, CPT, and other core certifications.
Broad incumbents
- Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI): Sister brand within Ascend Learning providing nursing and allied health assessment and remediation. Closely related via shared parent and overlapping customer base in healthcare education.
- National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM): Ascend Learning sister brand providing personal trainer and fitness certifications. Comparable as a certification-focused education business under the same parent operating model.
- BoardVitals: Ascend Learning sister brand offering healthcare board exam prep. Comparable as a continuing education and certification prep platform under the same parent company.
Regional players
- National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC): Specialty credentialing body for respiratory therapists, comparable in mission and structure to NHA as a profession-specific certification agency in U.S. allied health, though in an adjacent vertical.
Emerging players
- MedCerts: Online allied health training and certification preparation provider. Comparable as a newer entrant in allied health education partnering with employers and institutions, with overlapping certification content.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
National Healthcareer Association social profiles
Digital presenceNational Healthcareer Association compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
National Healthcareer Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Healthcareer Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
National Healthcareer Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
National Healthcareer Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about National Healthcareer Association
What does National Healthcareer Association do?
National Healthcareer Association (NHA) issues NCCA-accredited certifications and provides exam preparation and continuing education for allied health professionals across eight specialties, including medical assistant, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy technician, medical administrative assistant, EKG technician, electronic health records specialist, billing and coding specialist, and patient care technician/assistant. The company sells study materials, learning solutions, and a self-service Cert Portal, and delivers proctored certification exams through its own platform and the PSI testing center network.
Is National Healthcareer Association a public or private company?
National Healthcareer Association is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was National Healthcareer Association founded?
National Healthcareer Association was founded in 1989. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is National Healthcareer Association based?
National Healthcareer Association is headquartered in Leawood, United States, in the North America region.
How does National Healthcareer Association make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Certification Exams are the primary driver. The others are study Materials and Exam Prep, NHA Membership, continuing Education (CE) Courses and learning Solutions and SkillsBuilder Products.
Who are National Healthcareer Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) and National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). Broad incumbents are Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and BoardVitals. National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) is listed as a regional player. MedCerts is listed as an emerging player.
Does National Healthcareer Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Healthcareer Association.
What industry is National Healthcareer Association in?
National Healthcareer Association's product category is Allied Health Certification. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAANAI, Healthcare & Clinical Professional Certifications. Its NAICS code is 611519 and its SIC code is 8200.