Passing the Medical Assistant exam is the first step towards becoming a certified Medical Assistant. Because there are several different providers of the Medical Assistance exam, it can be confusing what to expect.
Summary: Learn about the medical assistant exam and the different types. For help studying, consider using a medical assistant prep course.
What are the Different Medical Assistant Exams?
There are several agencies offering different Medical Assistant Exams. The four main exams are:
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA): Offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA): Offered by the American Medical Technologists
- National Certified Medical Assistant (NCCT-NCMA): Offered by the National Center for Competency Testing
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA): Offered by the National Healthcareer Association
CMA Exam Breakdown
The CMA exam is computerized, and consists of 200 multiple-choice questions. There are four 40-minute segments, for a total of three hours and fifteen minutes.
These are the topics you can expect to encounter:
| Topic | Number of Questions | Percent of Exam |
| Clinical Competency | 106 | 59% |
| Clinical Workflow: Patient Intake and Discharge | ||
| Safety and Infection Control | ||
| Procedures/Examinations | ||
| Pharmacology | ||
| General | 38 | 21% |
| Legal and Ethical Issues | ||
| Communication | ||
| Administrative | 36 | 20% |
| Billing, Coding, and Insurance | ||
| Schedule Appointments and Health Information Management |
There are 20 unscored questions on the exam, to make a total of 200 questions. You can practice for this exam by taking our CMA practice test.
RMA Exam Breakdown
The RMA exam consists of 210 total questions. These questions are split between 4 different topics. Those 4 topics include:
| Topic | Number of Questions | Percent of Exam |
| Anatomy and Physiology | 44 | 20.9% |
| Administrative Medical Assisting | 56 | 26.7% |
| Clinical Procedural Tasks | 39 | 18.6% |
| Clinical Patient Interaction | 71 | 33.8% |
You can practice for this exam by taking our RMA practice test.
NCCT-NCMA Exam Breakdown
The NCCT-NCMA exam consists of 165 total questions. The topics tested include:
| Topic | Number of Questions | Percent of Exam |
| Pharmacology | 21 | 14% |
| Clinical Medical Procedures | 28 | 19% |
| Phlebotomy | 21 | 14% |
| ECG and Other Diagnostic Tests | 18 | 12% |
| General Office Procedures | 21 | 14% |
| Medical Office Management | 25 | 17% |
| Law and Ethics | 16 | 11% |
Of the 165 questions, 15 will be unscored. You can practice for this exam by taking our NCCT practice test.
CCMA Exam Breakdown
The CCMA exam consists of 180 total questions. The topics tested include:
| Topic | Number of Questions | Percent of Exam |
| Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science | 15 | 10% |
| Anatomy and Physiology | 12 | 8% |
| Clinical Patient Care | 81 | 54% |
| Patient Care Coordination and Education | 7 or 8 | 5% |
| Administrative Assisting | 19 or 21 | 13% |
| Communication and Customer Service | 7 or 8 | 5% |
| Medical Law and Ethics | 7 or 8 | 5% |
Preparing for the Medical Assistant Exam
No matter which Medical Assistant exam you take or what you’ll be tested on, your study methods should remain consistent.
The best way to build your skills is by taking practice exams, which will help you get used to the structure and depth of the exams, and is a great way to understand your weak spots.
Medical Assistant Exam FAQs
What are the different types of medical assistant exams?
There are four medical assistant exams, which are administered by different providers. They are: CMA, RMA, NCMA, and CCMA.
What is the most common medical assistant exam?
The most common and popular medical assistant exam is the CMA, as it is accepted by a large number of employers and regulatory bodies.
Can you retake the medical assistant exam?
You do have the option to retake the medical assistant exam, but the “fine print” will differ depending on which provider you used.
For example, one provider may allow you to retake certain portions of the exam, while others require that you retake the entire thing.
