About the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Examination
The CMA examination is administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). For more information regarding the CMA examination, visit the AAMA’s web site,
Examination Format and Content
The CMA exam is a 300-question, multiple-choice test, covering three broad areas: general medical knowledge, administrative knowledge, and clinical knowledge. The subject material includes the following:
I. General (Transdisciplinary) 33.3%(100 questions)
A. Medical Terminology
B. Anatomy and Physiology
C. Psychology
D. Professionalism
E. Communication
F. Medicolegal Guidelines and Requirements
II. Administrative 33.3% (100 questions)
G. Data Entry
H. Equipment
I. Computer Concepts
J. Records Management
K. Screening and Processing Mail
L. Scheduling and Monitoring Appointments
M. Resource Information and Community Services
N. Managing Physicians’ Professional Schedule and
Travel
O. Managing the Office
P. Office Policies and Procedures
Q. Managing Practice Finances
III. Clinical 33.3% (100 questions)
R. Principles of Infection Control
S. Treatment Area
T. Patient Preparation and Assisting the Physician
U. Patient History Interview
V. Collecting and Processing Specimens; Diagnostic
Testing
W. Preparing and Administering Medications
X. Emergencies
Y. First Aid
Z. Nutrition
Application Process
Candidates should read all instructions carefully before completing the application form. Incomplete or incorrect applications will not be processed and will be returned to the candidate. Postmark deadlines for applications, cancellations, and examination location changes are strictly enforced.
The examination is offered at more than 260 test sites nationwide and in Guam. A complete listing of the locations is included in the application. Applications are available from the AAMA Certification Department, 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 1575, Chicago, IL 60606-2903; telephone: 312-424-3100; or e-mail: . The application may also be downloaded from the AAMA Web site,
The appropriate application form must be completed and postmarked by October 1 for the January examination and by March 1 for the June examination. The certification examination is scheduled from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM the last Friday of January and the last Saturday in June. An admission card will be mailed to the applicant on verification of information and approval by the AAMA approximately one to two weeks before the examination date. Photo identification is required for admission to the examination and candidates are not permitted to use any supplies other than #2 soft-leaded pencils and erasers. No electronic devices (e.g., cellular phones, pagers, and calculators) are allowed in the examination area.
A guide for the certification examination titled A Candidate’s Guide to the AAMA Certification Examination provides explanations of how to approach the types of questions used on the examination and tips on how to study for the content that will be tested. A sample 120-question examination is included to help assess your knowledge of the categories tested and the format used to formulate the questions.
Eligibility Categories and Requirements
To qualify for the exam, you must belong to one of two enrollment categories as seen below. Required documentation depends on the category. Members of the AAMA and CAAHEP and ABHES graduating students and recent graduates pay a $95 fee. All others pay $170.
Category 1: Graduating student or recent graduate of a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited medical assisting program.
- Graduating students must have completed their formal training by January 31 for the January exam, June 30 for the June exam, and October 31 for the October exam, including an externship, in a medical assisting program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health (CAAHEP) or by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
- Recent graduates must take the exam within 12 months of graduation to qualify for the discounted fee.
Required documentation:
- Graduating students must furnish their transcript-to-date bearing the institution's seal or registrar's signature.
- Recent graduates must furnish their official transcript and verification of their graduation date.
Category 2: Nonrecent graduate of a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited medical assisting program. Candidates must verify graduation from a medical assisting program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES.
Required documentation:
- Candidates must furnish their official transcript and verification of their graduation date.
How to Stay Current
The AAMA requires current CMA status for MAs to use the CMA registered trademarked credentials after their name in their place of employment. CEU requirements must be satisfied to qualify and apply for recertification. Individuals not having current status as a CMA can be charged with fraudulent use and be denied access to recertification.
Effective January 2005, all newly certified and recertifying CMAs will be current through the last day of their birth month in the 6th calendar year following their last certification/recertification. In other words, if you were born on August 6th and certified in June 2000, you would be due to recertify by the end of August 2006.
This process may be achieved by either reexamination or by the continuing education method. Recertification credits are evaluated on supportive documentation and on their relevancy to medical assisting as defined by the AAMA Medical Assistant Role Delineation Study or the Content Outline for the Certification/Recertification Examination. A total of 60 points is necessary to recertify theCMA credential. A minimum of 15 points is required in each category: general, administrative, and clinical. The remaining 15 points may be accumulated in any of the three content areas or from any combination of the three categories. At least 20 of the required 60 recertification points must be accumulated from AAMA-approved continuing education units (CEUs). If desired, all 60 points may be AAMA CEUs.