Certified Medical Assistant Test: Questions You Need to Know

A certified medical assistant test is a requirement for many who wish to pursue a career in this field. This article provides an overview of what to expect on the exam.

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Introduction

The Certified medical assistant (CMA) credential is nationally recognized and provides a way for employers to know that you have the skills and knowledge needed to perform the duties of a medical assistant The CMA credential is granted by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical assistants (AAMA). In order to become certified, you must pass the Certification Exam administered by the AAMA.

This study guide will provide you with an overview of what to expect on the Certification Exam, as well as strategies and tips for success. The guide is organized into four major sections:
-Introduction
-Activities
-Content Review
-Practice Questions

Each section contains several subtopics. You can use this study guide in whatever way works best for you, but we recommend that you start with the Introduction and then move on to Content Review. After working through all of the sections in this guide, try your hand at the Practice Questions.

What is a Certified Medical Assistant?

A certified medical assistant (CMA) is a medical professional who has completed an accredited training program and passed a certifying exam. Certified Medical Assistants are qualified to perform certain clinical tasks, such as taking patient histories and blood pressure, as well as administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments and coding insurance forms. Certified medical assistants typically work in doctors’ offices, clinics, and hospitals.

The CMA credential is administered by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To become certified, candidates must graduate from an accredited medical assisting program and pass the CMA Certification/Recertification Exam.

Duties of a Certified Medical Assistant

The Certified Medical Assistant test is taken by those who want to become certified medical assistants. The CMA test is administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and covers a variety of topics related to the medical assistant profession.

To become a certified medical assistant, you must first complete an accredited medical assisting program. Once you have completed your training, you will then be eligible to take the CMA exam.

The CMA exam consists of two parts: a written exam and a skills exam. The written exam covers topics such as medical ethics, patient confidentiality, and Medical Terminology The skills exam tests your knowledge and ability to perform various medical assisting tasks, such as taking vital signs and administering injections.

You must pass both the written and skills exams in order to become a certified medical assistant. Once you have passed the exams, you will be required to complete a certain number of continuing education credits every year in order to maintain your certification.

If you are interested in becoming a certified medical assistant, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the duties of this position. Medical assistants are responsible for performing a variety of tasks in doctor’s offices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities.

Some of the duties of a certified medical assistant include:
-Greeting patients and scheduling appointments
-Taking patient histories and vital signs
-Assisting with exams and procedures
-Administering injections and medications
-Instructing patients on home care activities

Education and Training Requirements

In order to become a certified medical assistant, you must first complete an accredited educational program. Once you have completed your studies, you will then need to pass a certification exam in order to earn your credential.

The education and training requirements for medical assistants vary by state, but most programs take between nine and twelve months to complete. Some states require that you have a high school diploma or equivalent before beginning a medical assistant program, while others have no formal education requirements.

Medical assistant programs typically include courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, computer applications, insurance billing and coding, and administrative office procedures. Most programs also include a clinical externship component, which gives students the opportunity to get real-world experience in outpatient care settings such as doctor’s offices and clinics.

Once you have completed an accredited medical assistant program, you will then need to pass a certification exam in order to earn your credential. The two main certifying bodies for medical assistants are the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the National Healthcare Association (NHA). Both organizations offer certification exams that test your knowledge of medical assisting concepts and procedures.

The Certification Process

To work as a certified medical assistant, you must pass the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam, which is administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants. In order to be eligible to take the exam, you must have completed an accredited medical assisting program and have graduated from high school or have earned a GED.

The certification process begins when you submit an application to the AAMA. Once your application has been reviewed and approved, you will be sent an eligibility notice with instructions on how to register for the exam. The eligibility notice is valid for one year from the date of issue.

You will register for the exam with Prometric, which is the company that administers the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam. Once you have registered, you will be able to schedule your exam at a Prometric test center on a date and time that is convenient for you.

The CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam is a computer-based exam that consists of 200 multiple-choice questions. The topics covered on the exam include general knowledge, administrative skills, and clinical skills. You will have three hours to complete the exam, and you will receive your score immediately upon completion.

To pass the exam, you must achieve a score of at least 75%. If you do not pass the exam, you may retake it up to three times within one year of your original registration date.

Once you have passed the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam, you will receive your official certification certificate in the mail. You will then need to maintain your certification by completing continuing education requirements and renewing your certification every 60 months.

Renewing Your Certification

To renew your certification as a medical assistant, you will need to retake the exam. The Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) administers the CMA (AAMA) Exam. The AAMA offers recertification every 60 months from the date of your initial certification.

The Exam

The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential denotes that an individual has successfully completed a credentialing exam and met specific educational and work experience requirements. The CMA credential is awarded by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

The CMA examination is a computer-based, multiple-choice test that consists of 200 questions, divided into 20 blocks of 10 questions each. 190 of the 200 questions are scored; the other 10 are unscored, pretest questions that do not affect your score. Of the 190 scored questions, 150 are operational (used to determine your score), and 40 are experimental (used to generate new versions of the exam). You will have 2 hours and 50 minutes to complete the examination.

The examination covers five main content areas:
-Administrative Procedures
-Medical Record Procedures
-Medical Law and Ethics
-Patient Relations
-Basic Clinical Procedures
Each content area is further divided into specific knowledge domains. The percentages next to each content area represent the approximate percentage of test items related to that content area.

Study Tips

Whether you are just starting your certification process or are taking your recertification exam, we have study tips to help make sure you are ready for test day. Check out our tips below and be on your way to becoming a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)!

– Become familiar with the format of the exam. The CMA (AAMA) examination is administered in a multiple-choice format. There are 200 questions on the exam, which are divided into two sections. The first section covers medical knowledge and the second section focuses on medical skills.
– Make a study schedule and stick to it. In order to properly prepare for the exam, we recommend studying for at least 10 weeks prior to your test date. However, everyone learns differently, so tailor your schedule accordingly.
– Understand how you learn best and adjust your studying methods accordingly. Some students prefer visual aids while others prefer hands-on learning. Understand how you learn best and use study methods that work for you.
– Get plenty of rest the night before the exam and eat a healthy breakfast on the day of the test. You want to be well rested and have energy in order to do your best on test day!

FAQs

While most medical assistant programs will include a course or unit on preparing for the certified medical assistant exam, you may still have questions about what to expect. Below are some frequently asked questions about the medical assistant certification test.

What is the format of the certified medical assistant exam?
The certified medical assistant exam is a computer-based test consisting of multiple-choice questions. The test is divided into two sections, administrative and clinical, each of which contains 50 questions. You will have one hour to complete each section.

How do I register for the certified medical assistant exam?
You can register for the certified medical assistant exam through the American Association of Medical Assistants website. The registration fee is $125 for members of the AAMA and $200 for non-members. You will need to create an account and log in to register.

What is the passing score for the certified medical assistant exam?
The passing score for the certified medical assistant exam is 315 out of 400 possible points, or 79%. This means that you must answer at least 79% of the questions correctly to pass.

How many times can I take the certified medical assistant exam?
You can take the certified medical assistant exam up to three times in a 12-month period. If you do not pass after three attempts, you will need to wait one year from your most recent attempt before you can take the test again.

Conclusion

We hope this compilation of questions has helped you in your studying for the CMA exam. The best way to ensure success is to be as prepared as possible, and we hope that this guide has given you the tools you need to succeed.