CMA (AAMA) Certified Medical Assistant Practice Test
Frequently asked questions
How many CMA (AAMA) Certified Medical Assistant practice questions are here?+
A full bank of original CMA (AAMA) Certified Medical Assistant practice questions across the official content areas, weighted like the real exam, with explanations. Free, no signup.
What is the CMA (AAMA) Certified Medical Assistant exam like?+
About 200 questions, 160 minutes. Practice by topic here, then take the full timed mock exam to gauge readiness.
Are these the real exam questions?+
No. Every question is 100% original, written from public primary sources with explanations. We never copy real exam questions or paid prep material.
Can I study in Chinese or Spanish?+
PrepPass practice is in English, 中文 and Español. The official exam is in English — switch the question language to English any time to rehearse the exact terminology you'll see on test day.
Sample practice questions
A few real questions from this free bank, with full explanations. Use the practice tool above for the whole set.
- 1. Clinical Competency
What is the normal resting adult pulse rate?
- a.40 to 60 beats per minute
- b.50 to 90 beats per minute
- c.60 to 100 beats per minute
- d.100 to 120 beats per minute
Answer: c
Explanation: The normal resting adult heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. A rate below 60 is bradycardia and a rate above 100 is tachycardia. Athletes may normally run lower, but the standard reference range tested on the exam is 60-100.
- 2. Clinical Competency
At what angle should an intramuscular (IM) injection be administered?
- a.90 degrees
- b.45 degrees
- c.15 degrees
- d.10 degrees
Answer: a
Explanation: Intramuscular injections are given at a 90 degree angle so the needle reaches the muscle below the subcutaneous layer. Subcutaneous injections use 45 degrees (or 90 with a short needle), and intradermal injections use a shallow 10-15 degree angle.
- 3. Clinical Competency
Which of the following is the single most effective way to prevent the transmission of infection in the medical office?
- a.Wearing sterile gloves for all patient contact
- b.Performing proper hand hygiene
- c.Autoclaving all instruments twice
- d.Using a face shield at every visit
Answer: b
Explanation: Hand hygiene is universally identified as the most effective single measure to prevent the spread of infection. Gloves and other PPE supplement but do not replace handwashing, and they are removed and hands washed between patients.
- 4. Clinical Competency
When taking a manual blood pressure, using a cuff that is too small for the patient's arm will most likely produce a reading that is:
- a.Falsely high
- b.Falsely low
- c.Unchanged
- d.Impossible to obtain
Answer: a
Explanation: A cuff that is too small requires more pressure to occlude the artery, producing a falsely high reading. A cuff that is too large gives a falsely low reading. The bladder should encircle about 80 percent of the arm circumference.
- 5. Clinical Competency
The physician orders 500 mg of a medication. The stock supply is 250 mg per tablet. How many tablets should the medical assistant prepare?
- a.1/2 tablet
- b.1 tablet
- c.2 tablets
- d.4 tablets
Answer: c
Explanation: Using desired over have: 500 mg ordered divided by 250 mg per tablet = 2 tablets. Always double-check dosage calculations before administration, and question any order that would require an unusually large or small number of units.
- 6. Clinical Competency
The 'six rights' of medication administration include right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time, and right:
- a.Refusal
- b.Reason
- c.Documentation
- d.Reimbursement
Answer: c
Explanation: The sixth right is right documentation — recording the medication given, dose, route, site, time, and the administering person immediately after giving it. Never chart a medication before it is actually administered.
- 7. Administrative
Which code set is used to report the DIAGNOSIS or reason for a patient's visit?
- a.CPT
- b.HCPCS Level II
- c.ICD-10-CM
- d.NDC
Answer: c
Explanation: ICD-10-CM codes describe diagnoses — the why of the encounter. CPT codes describe procedures and services performed, and HCPCS Level II covers supplies, equipment, and certain drugs. Linking the correct ICD-10-CM code to the CPT code establishes medical necessity.
- 8. Administrative
Which standard claim form is used to bill physician and outpatient professional services?
- a.UB-04 (CMS-1450)
- b.CMS-1500
- c.ABN form
- d.Advance Beneficiary Notice
Answer: b
Explanation: The CMS-1500 is the standard claim form for physician and other outpatient professional services. The UB-04 (CMS-1450) is used by hospitals and facilities for institutional/inpatient billing.
- 9. Administrative
A child is covered under both parents' health plans. Under the 'birthday rule,' which plan is primary?
- a.The plan of the parent whose birthday falls earlier in the calendar year
- b.The plan of the older parent
- c.The mother's plan in all cases
- d.The plan with the lower deductible
Answer: a
Explanation: The birthday rule makes the plan of the parent whose birthday (month and day, not year) comes first in the calendar year the primary payer for a dependent child. The year of birth is not considered.
- 10. General
Under HIPAA, protected health information may be disclosed WITHOUT the patient's specific written authorization for:
- a.Marketing the practice to the patient's neighbors
- b.Treatment, payment, and health care operations
- c.Sharing test results with any family member who calls
- d.Posting anonymized photos on social media
Answer: b
Explanation: HIPAA permits use and disclosure of protected health information for treatment, payment, and health care operations without separate authorization. Sharing information with family members, marketing, and most other uses require the patient's written authorization.