AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants)

CMA (AAMA)

Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA)

The AAMA's nationally recognized medical assistant credential, earned by graduates of accredited programs and required by many employers and physician practices. Validates both clinical and administrative competency.

$125Four 40-minute segments (about 3 hours total)

What's on the exam

CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam Content Outline (current)

Clinical Workflow: Patient Intake and Discharge

part of Clinical (59%)

Patient intake · Vital signs and measurements · Documentation · Discharge instructions · Rooming and triage support

Safety and Infection Control

part of Clinical (59%)

Standard precautions · Asepsis and sterilization · Hazard and exposure control · Emergency preparedness · Medical asepsis

Procedures and Examinations

part of Clinical (59%)

Assisting with examinations · Specimen collection · Point-of-care testing · EKG · Wound and minor surgery assistance

Pharmacology

part of Clinical (59%)

Medication administration · Dosage calculation · Drug classifications · Routes of administration · Vaccine handling

Legal and Ethical Issues

part of General (21%)

Scope of practice · HIPAA and confidentiality · Informed consent · Medical records law · Risk management

Communication

part of General (21%)

Therapeutic communication · Patient education · Professionalism · Cultural competence · Telephone techniques

Billing, Coding, and Insurance

part of Administrative (20%)

CPT and ICD-10-CM basics · Claims processing · Insurance types · Reimbursement · Compliance

Scheduling and Health Information Management

part of Administrative (20%)

Appointment scheduling · Health record management · Electronic health records · Correspondence · Office operations

Frequently asked questions

How much does the CMA (AAMA) cost?

The CMA (AAMA) costs $125. Fee for completing students/recent graduates and AAMA members; $250 for non-members.

How long is the CMA (AAMA) and how many questions does it have?

200 items (180 scored, 20 pretest) — Four 40-minute segments (about 3 hours total).

What do you need to pass the CMA (AAMA)?

Scaled score of 405.

Can you retake the CMA (AAMA)?

Up to six attempts per year; new application and fee required for each attempt.

What is the best way to study for the CMA (AAMA)?

Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Clinical Workflow: Patient Intake and Discharge part of Clinical (59%), Safety and Infection Control part of Clinical (59%), Procedures and Examinations part of Clinical (59%), Pharmacology part of Clinical (59%), Legal and Ethical Issues part of General (21%), Communication part of General (21%), Billing, Coding, and Insurance part of Administrative (20%), Scheduling and Health Information Management part of Administrative (20%)). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.

Program in development

We're building a blueprint-complete program for this exam. Meanwhile, explore live programs across 11 exam.

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