Certified Medication Aide (CMA) Practice Test
Frequently asked questions
How many Certified Medication Aide (CMA) practice questions are here?+
A full bank of original Certified Medication Aide (CMA) practice questions across the official content areas, weighted like the real exam, with explanations. Free, no signup.
What is the Certified Medication Aide (CMA) exam like?+
About 100 questions, 120 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.
Is there a study guide for the Certified Medication Aide (CMA)?+
Yes. PrepPass sells Medication Aide Exam — Complete Study Guide (2026), a PDF + EPUB download, $14.99 one-time; the practice on this page stays free without it. See the study guide →
Sample practice questions
A few real questions from this free bank, with full explanations. Use the practice tool above for the whole set.
- 1. Medication Administration
A medication aide is about to give a scheduled tablet. Which action correctly verifies the 'right patient'?
- a.Ask the resident's roommate to confirm the name, since roommates know each other well
- b.Give the medication to whoever is sitting in the resident's usual chair at the dining table
- c.Check two identifiers such as the name and date of birth on the wristband against the MAR
- d.Match the room number and bed letter on the door to the label on the medication cart drawer
Answer: c
Explanation: The right patient is confirmed using at least two identifiers (for example name and date of birth) matched to the MAR, never the room number or bed location alone. Relying on location, chairs, or roommates can lead to giving medication to the wrong person.
- 2. Medication Administration
A resident on the medication cart is not wearing an ID band and the aide is new and does not recognize the resident. The aide should:
- a.Guess who the resident is from their apparent age, then give the medication if it seems close
- b.Verify identity with a licensed staff member and a facility-approved identifier before giving
- c.Ask another resident at the table to identify them, then give the medication right away
- d.Give the medication based on the room number and bed letter listed on the cart drawer label
Answer: b
Explanation: Without a reliable identifier, the aide must not administer and should confirm identity through an approved method such as a staff verification or resident photo per policy. Two identifiers protect against wrong-patient errors.
- 3. Pharmacology
Insulin is classified as a hormone and is used to:
- a.Lower blood glucose in diabetes
- b.Relieve pain and reduce inflammation
- c.Raise blood glucose during fasting
- d.Treat high blood pressure in older adults
Answer: a
Explanation: Insulin lowers blood glucose by moving sugar into cells and is essential in type 1 and some type 2 diabetes. Too much insulin or a missed meal can cause dangerous hypoglycemia, which the aide must recognize.
- 4. Safety & Legal
An antihypertensive order says 'hold for systolic BP less than 100.' The resident's BP is 92/58. The aide should:
- a.Hold the dose and notify the nurse
- b.Give the medication anyway
- c.Give a double dose to raise the pressure
- d.Recheck in four hours and give then
Answer: a
Explanation: A systolic pressure of 92 is below the hold parameter of 100, so the medication is withheld to avoid dangerously low blood pressure and the nurse is notified. Hold parameters protect residents from harmful drops in vital signs.
- 5. Medication Administration
Before giving a PRN laxative, the medication aide confirms that the resident is constipated, the condition the order names. Which right does this check most directly support?
- a.Right dose
- b.Right reason
- c.Right route
- d.Right response
Answer: b
Explanation: The right reason means the medication is being given for the condition it was ordered for. Right response is the follow-up observation of what the medication did, and route and dose concern how and how much.
- 6. Medication Administration
Which abbreviation means "drops"?
- a.supp
- b.gtt
- c.tab
- d.susp
Answer: b
Explanation: gtt means drop(s). tab means tablet, supp means suppository and susp means suspension.
- 7. Pharmacology
A resident who takes iron tablets has black stools that are not tarry and not streaked with red. What does MedlinePlus say about this?
- a.Black stools are normal with iron tablets; tarry or red-streaked stools are reported
- b.It is a sign of an allergic reaction to the iron tablets
- c.It is a sure sign of bleeding in the stomach and is an emergency
- d.It means the iron is not being absorbed and should be doubled
Answer: a
Explanation: MedlinePlus says black stools are normal with iron tablets, but stools that are tarry or streaked with red are reported. Iron can also cause constipation, diarrhea or stomach upset.
- 8. Safety & Legal
Which statement about medication aide permissions across states is correct?
- a.Each state sets its own rules, so permissions in one state do not carry over to another
- b.An aide certified in any state may do the same tasks in any other state
- c.The testing company decides which routes aides may use in each state
- d.One national scope of practice applies the same way across the country
Answer: a
Explanation: Medication aides are certified by states, and states differ on routes, controlled substances, PRN rules, vital signs and calculations. An aide who moves assumes nothing carries over until the new state's board says so.
- 9. Dosage Math
The order is 40 mg of a liquid. The label reads 20 mg per 5 mL. Which volume matches the order?
- a.2 mL
- b.0.5 mL
- c.10 mL
- d.20 mL
Answer: c
Explanation: (40 ÷ 20) × 5 mL = 10 mL. Because the amount differs from the label's 5 mL, it is confirmed with the nurse and state rules before giving.
- 10. Medication Administration
Which sequence of steps at the bedside is correct?
- a.Explain the medication, give it, document it, then identify the resident
- b.Document the dose, identify the resident, give it, then explain it
- c.Give the medication first, identify the resident, document it, then explain it
- d.Identify the resident, explain the medication, give it, then document it
Answer: d
Explanation: The resident is identified first, the medication is explained, it is given and swallowed, and only then is it documented. Charting before giving or identifying after giving defeats the purpose of each step.