The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam is administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) to determine credentialing for medical assistants. It is meant to test candidates on their knowledge of the medical assistant profession and to ensure that medical assistants meet rigorous and necessary standards of excellence in their field.
Who Is Eligible for The CMA Exam?
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There are three eligibility categories for taking the CMA exam, each with different criteria.
- Recent graduate or completing student of an accredited Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) medical assisting programs:
- Completing students can take the CMA exam within 30 days or less of completing their education
- Recent graduates can take the CMA exam within 12 months of graduating
- Non-recent graduates of a ABHES or CAAHEP accredited medical assisting program
- Non-recent graduates can take the CMA exam more than 12 months after graduating
- CMA recertificant
- CMA recertificant candidates must have previous passed the CMA exam
How Can I Apply for The CMA Exam?
Depending upon which eligibility category they satisfy, candidates will have to take slightly different approaches to applying for the CMA exam.
For category one, candidates won’t need to provide any documentation, but their program directors will have to verify their program completion before official test scores or certification is provided. The nonrefundable exam fee is $125.
For category two, candidates must provide an official transcript. The nonrefundable exam fee is $125 for AAMA members and $250 for non-members.
For category three, candidates must provide their previous CMA certificate number and most recent certification/recertification date. The nonrefundable exam fee is $125 for AAMA members and $250 for non-members.
Candidates should then determine a start date for their 90-day period in which to take the exam. Candidates can apply online or through the mail.
Where and How Is the CMA Exam Administered?
The CMA exam is given through the testing services provider Prometric at testing centers around the country. It is a computerized exam that includes 200 multiple-choice questions. The exam is administered in four sections of 40 minutes each. There is an optional 20-minute break between sections. A total of 160 minutes is given to answer all questions. The final score is based on the number of correct responses accrued throughout the entire exam.
AAMA provides a computer-based testing tutorial so that candidates can become familiar with the technology before taking their exams. Immediately before the exam begins, candidates can opt-in to a 15-minute tutorial that shows them how to navigate the exam.
What Content Is on The CMA Exam?
According to AAMA, the CMA exam is broken into three main categories, each with multiple subcategories of content, including:
- General Content:
- Psychology
- Communication
- Professionalism
- Medical Laws and Regulatory Guidelines
- Medical Ethics
- Risk Management, Quality Assurance and Safety
- Medical Terminology
- Administrative Content
- Medical Reception
- Patient Advocacy and Navigation
- Medical Business Practices
- Patient Medical Records
- Scheduling Appointments
- Practice Finances
- Clinical Content
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Infection Control
- Patient Intake and Documentation of Care
- Patient Preparation and Assisting the Provider
- Nutrition
- Collecting and Processing Specimens
- Diagnostic Testing
- Pharmacology
- Emergency Management and Basic First Aid
How Should I Study for The CMA Exam?
Because the CMA exam consists of multiple-choice questions focused on a broad range of industry knowledge, drilling with tailor-made study tools is highly recommended for securing a passing score. Mometrix offers both a proprietary study guide and a set of flashcards that are designed to provide success to those preparing to take the CMA exam.
Online CMA Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online Certified Medical Assistant Prep Course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The CMA Course includes:
- Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
- 1,400+ CMA Practice Questions
- More than 300 Digital Flashcards
- Over 30 Instructional Videos
- Money-back Guarantee
- Free Mobile Access
- and More!
The CMA Prep Course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their Certified Medical Assistant exam. Click below to check it out!
