The CMA (AAMA) is the medical-assistant credential physician practices, large healthcare systems, and ambulatory clinics most commonly require by name. It's not the only MA credential, the RMA (AMT) and CCMA (NHA) are also widely recognized, but it's the one that opens the most doors and the one with the strictest eligibility: you must graduate from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited medical assisting program. Work experience alone won't qualify you. Pass the exam and you can perform both clinical and front-office duties in an outpatient setting; you'll also typically command a higher starting wage than non-credentialed MAs.
CMA
CMA
Certified Medical Assistant Exam
Pass your CMA exam on the first try with expert guidance.
Free forever. No credit card. Aligned to the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) blueprint.
At a glance
CMA (AAMA) exam facts
- Questions
- 200 (180 scored + 20 unscored pretest)
- Duration
- 3 hours (four 40-minute segments)
- Passing score
- Scaled score of 430 or above on a 200-800 scale
- Cost
- $125 for AAMA members; $250 for non-members
- Format
- Multiple choice
- When offered
- Year-round at Prometric testing centers
Clinical is ~40% of the exam. Administrative is ~25%. General is ~25%. Spend your study time in those exact proportions and you stop guessing at where points are hiding.
Live practice bank
1,500
CMA (AAMA) questions in our database right now, with full rationales on every choice.
Exam blueprint
What the CMA (AAMA) tests
The categories below come from the current American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) test plan. Weights are the published ranges; the actual percentage varies slightly between exam forms.
General
~25% (50 scored questions)Psychology, communication, professionalism, medical law, ethics, risk management, and medical terminology. Highly memorizable, terminology root words and HIPAA basics are gift points.
Administrative
~25% (50 scored questions)Medical reception, patient navigation, scheduling, EHR/EMR, billing, **coding (ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS)**, and insurance. Coding is the section most candidates underestimate.
Clinical
~40% (80 scored questions)The biggest single bucket. Patient intake, vital signs, infection control, **pharmacology**, phlebotomy, ECG, point-of-care testing, minor surgical assisting, and emergency response. Pediatric vital sign ranges and the top 50 medications return again and again.
Ready to practice?
Start practicing free, 1,000+ CMA (AAMA)-style questions
Full rationales on every question. Adaptive practice that mirrors the real exam. No credit card required.
Free forever. No credit card.
Eligibility, who can take the CMA
To sit for the CMA (AAMA) exam you must have completed (or be about to complete) a medical assisting program accredited by either:
- CAAHEP, Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
- ABHES, Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
Work experience alone does not qualify you. This is the single biggest difference from the RMA (AMT), which has a work-experience pathway. Confirm accreditation status on AAMA's website before enrolling in any program, unaccredited program hours won't unlock the CMA exam, no matter how much they cost.
How the CMA is scored
The CMA uses a scaled score between 200 and 800. The passing score is 430. Scaled scoring means the raw percentage of correct answers needed to pass varies slightly across exam forms to keep difficulty fair, you're not measured against a fixed 70% line.
Your score report includes performance feedback by content category (General, Administrative, Clinical) so you can target remediation if you retake. Most candidates who fail miss it in Clinical or in Administrative coding, those are the two areas to overstudy on a first attempt.
Test-day mechanics: four 40-minute segments
The CMA is delivered in four 40-minute segments with optional short breaks between. You can't go back to a previous segment once it ends. That structure rewards a clean pacing plan:
- ~50 questions per segment, ~48 seconds per question.
- Flag, don't agonize. If you're spending more than 90 seconds, mark and move on.
- Use the break to reset focus, not to second-guess prior answers.
Most candidates feel the time pressure in segment 3 (deep into clinical content). Build endurance with at least one full-length 200-question practice run.
A focused study plan
Most successful candidates study 6 to 10 weeks:
- Weeks 1-3: Comprehensive content review across General, Administrative, and Clinical, with the heaviest time on Clinical (40% of exam). Use AAMA's published content outline as your map.
- Weeks 4-7: 50-75 practice questions per day with full rationales. Target weak areas, commonly pharmacology, ICD-10-CM and CPT coding, and pediatric vital sign ranges.
- Final 2 weeks: Two full-length timed practice exams plus light review.
Don't skip the administrative coding drills. They're memorizable, they're heavily tested, and they're the section that drags many otherwise-strong clinical candidates below 430.
Recertification and keeping your credential
The CMA must be recertified every 60 months (5 years) one of two ways:
- Retake the exam. Free for AAMA members in good standing; non-member fee applies.
- Earn 60 CEU points distributed across the General, Administrative, and Clinical categories. AAMA's online CE Center and approved providers list out which courses count.
Let your CMA lapse and you'll need to retake the exam to reinstate it, there's no 'late renewal.' Set a calendar reminder at year 4. The 12-month cushion is enough to spread CEUs without panic.
Sample questions
Practice CMA (AAMA) questions
Reveal each answer and rationale to see how Precision Nursing teaches the reasoning behind every question.
Question 1
ClinicalA medical assistant is preparing to administer a 1 mL intramuscular injection to an adult patient. Which needle gauge and length is most appropriate?
- A.25 gauge, 5/8 inch
- B.22 gauge, 1 to 1.5 inch
- C.27 gauge, 1/2 inch
- D.18 gauge, 2 inch
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer: B
IM injections for adults typically use a 22-25 gauge needle, 1 to 1.5 inches long, depending on the patient's body habitus. A 25 gauge 5/8 inch is too short for IM in most adults; 27 gauge 1/2 inch is subcutaneous; 18 gauge 2 inch is far too large.
Question 2
AdministrativeWhich CPT code category is used for routine office visits?
- A.Evaluation and Management (E/M)
- B.Anesthesia
- C.Radiology
- D.Pathology and Laboratory
Show answer & rationale
Correct answer: A
Evaluation and Management codes (99202-99499) capture office visits, hospital encounters, and consultations. The other categories cover specific procedural areas.
Study tips
What works for CMA (AAMA) prep
Memorize the most common medical abbreviations and terminology root words, these are easy points.
Drill pharmacology drug classes and the top 50 commonly prescribed medications until they're reflex.
Practice ICD-10-CM and CPT coding daily. Coding is heavily tested and most candidates underprepare.
Learn pediatric vital sign ranges by age group; they show up on virtually every form.
Sit at least two timed full-length practice exams to build 3-hour endurance.
Use AAMA's own content outline as your study roadmap. Don't outsource the blueprint.
Use the 40-minute segment structure during practice. Re-create the pacing pressure.
FAQ
Common questions about CMA (AAMA)
What is the difference between CMA, RMA, and CCMA?
All three are medical assistant credentials. CMA (AAMA) is issued by the American Association of Medical Assistants and requires graduation from a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited program. RMA (AMT) is from American Medical Technologists and accepts work-experience pathways. CCMA is from the National Healthcareer Association. Employers vary in which credential they require.
How much does the CMA exam cost?
$125 for AAMA members; $250 for non-members. Membership is included with most accredited program enrollments.
How long is the CMA exam?
3 hours total, delivered in four 40-minute segments with optional breaks between.
What is the passing score on the CMA?
A scaled score of 430 on a 200-800 scale.
How do I keep my CMA certification?
Recertify every 60 months by either retaking the exam or earning 60 continuing-education points distributed across the General, Administrative, and Clinical categories.
Can I take the CMA if I do not have a medical assistant degree?
No. The CMA (AAMA) specifically requires graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited medical assisting program. Other credentials, like the RMA, allow work-experience pathways.
Can I retake the CMA if I fail?
Yes. You can retake up to three times total, with at least 90 days between attempts and a new application/fee for each retake.
Honest answers
Before you sign up, three things you're probably wondering
“Is the free tier actually useful, or just a teaser?”
1,000+ full-rationale questions across every CMA (AAMA) blueprint category. No time limit. No paywall after the first five.
“Is it like the real exam?”
Same format, same difficulty curve, same item types, built directly against the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) published test plan. We're not the test-makers, but we follow their blueprint.
“Why not use the official free samples?”
Use both. The official samples are small and authoritative. We give you the volume, the rationales, and the weak-area analytics on top.
Your CMA (AAMA) prep starts here
Drill CMA (AAMA)-style questions until passing is the obvious outcome
Thousands of CMA (AAMA)-aligned questions. Full rationales on every answer, right and wrong. Adaptive practice that mirrors the real exam. No credit card required to start.
Free forever. No credit card. Aligned to the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) published test plan.