A CMAA candidate has been studying for 6 weeks and has 2 weeks remaining before the exam. She has not yet studied billing and revenue cycle or administrative procedures. Based on the recommended study plan, which statement is most accurate?

She is on track — billing and administrative procedures are recommended for the final phase of study. The recommended 4-phase study plan places Billing and Revenue Cycle (Domain 6) and Medical Practice Administrative Procedures (Domain 7) in the final phase (weeks 7–8), which is exactly where this candidate is. These domains build on insurance and office knowledge from earlier phases.

During the CMAA exam, you encounter a question you are unsure about after spending 45 seconds on it. What is the best test-taking strategy?

Use process of elimination to select the best answer, flag the question, and move on. The best strategy is to use process of elimination to select the best answer, flag the question for review, and move on. There is no penalty for guessing, so you should never leave a question blank. Spending too much time on one question risks running out of time for later questions.

The NHA CMAA exam contains 25 pretest (unscored) items. How can a candidate identify which questions are pretest items?

Pretest items cannot be identified — they are mixed randomly with scored items. Pretest items are randomly distributed throughout the exam and are NOT identified or labeled in any way. Candidates cannot distinguish between scored and unscored items, which is why every question should be answered with full effort.

How often must the CMAA certification be renewed, and what is required for renewal?

Every 2 years with 10 CE credits and a \$185 fee. The CMAA certification must be renewed every 2 years by completing 10 Continuing Education (CE) credits and paying a \$185 renewal fee. NHA offers free CE courses to current certification holders. If the certification lapses, the full exam must be retaken.

CMAA Study Strategy and Test-Taking Tips

A strategic approach to studying for the CMAA exam can dramatically improve your chances of passing on the first attempt. With a 63% pass rate, preparation quality matters significantly.

Recommended 4–8 Week Study Plan

Phase 1: Foundations and Communication (Weeks 1–2)

Focus Area	Study Hours	Why First
Foundational Knowledge (Domain 1)	8 hours	Medical terminology, anatomy basics, and healthcare delivery models provide the vocabulary you need for all other domains
Communication and Professionalism (Domain 2)	10 hours	Highest-weighted domain (21 items) — professional communication principles apply throughout the exam

Week 1–2 Goals:

Master the prefix-root-suffix system for medical terminology
Learn the TJC "Do Not Use" abbreviation list
Understand healthcare delivery models (HMO, PPO, EPO, POS)
Practice professional communication scenarios
Study telephone etiquette and patient interaction techniques

Phase 2: Medical Law, Ethics, and HIPAA (Weeks 3–4)

Focus Area	Study Hours	Why Second
Medical Law, Ethics, and Compliance (Domain 3)	12 hours	Third-heaviest domain (17 items) — HIPAA knowledge is tested both directly and indirectly across other domains

Week 3–4 Goals:

Memorize HIPAA Privacy Rule and Security Rule fundamentals
Understand the difference between TPO and non-TPO disclosures
Learn informed consent requirements
Study advance directives (living will, healthcare power of attorney, DNR)
Review scope of practice limitations for CMAAs

Phase 3: Scheduling and Patient Encounters (Weeks 5–6)

Focus Area	Study Hours	Why Third
Scheduling (Domain 4)	10 hours	Fourth-heaviest domain (16 items) — scheduling methods and referral management are practical, testable skills
Patient Encounter (Domain 5)	10 hours	Co-highest-weighted domain (21 items) — patient check-in/check-out and insurance verification are core daily tasks

Week 5–6 Goals:

Learn the four main scheduling methods (stream, wave, modified wave, open/cluster)
Understand referral and prior authorization processes
Practice patient check-in and check-out workflows
Study insurance verification procedures
Review copay collection and encounter documentation

Phase 4: Billing, Revenue Cycle, and Administrative Procedures (Weeks 7–8)

Focus Area	Study Hours	Why Last
Billing and Revenue Cycle (Domain 6)	8 hours	Builds on insurance knowledge from Phase 3
Medical Practice Administrative Procedures (Domain 7)	8 hours	Practical office procedures that benefit from all prior knowledge

Week 7–8 Goals:

Understand the revenue cycle from patient registration to payment posting
Learn ICD-10-CM and CPT coding basics (purpose, not detailed coding)
Study CMS-1500 claim form basics
Review EHR/EMR systems and medical records management
Practice with full-length timed practice exams

Test-Taking Strategies

Time Management

With 135 questions in 135 minutes, you have approximately 1 minute per question. Use this pacing guide:

Checkpoint	Questions Completed	Time Remaining
30 minutes in	~30 questions	105 minutes
60 minutes in	~60 questions	75 minutes
90 minutes in	~90 questions	45 minutes
120 minutes in	~120 questions	15 minutes
Final 15 minutes	Review flagged items	0 minutes

The Process of Elimination (POE) Method

For every question:

Read the question stem carefully — identify what is actually being asked
Eliminate obviously wrong answers — most questions have 1–2 clearly incorrect options
Compare remaining options — look for the "most correct" or "best" answer
Select and move on — do not spend more than 90 seconds on any single question
Flag uncertain questions — return to them if time permits

Common Question Traps

Trap Type	Example	Strategy
Absolute language	"The CMAA should always..." or "never..."	Absolute statements are usually wrong — look for more nuanced options
"All of the above"	When one option seems wrong	If you can eliminate even one option, "all of the above" is incorrect
Similar options	Two options that seem nearly identical	The answer is usually one of these two — re-read the question stem for the distinguishing detail
Scope of practice	"The CMAA should diagnose..."	CMAAs perform administrative tasks — any option involving clinical judgment or diagnosis is wrong
HIPAA scenarios	"A patient's family member asks for..."	Default to protecting patient privacy unless the scenario describes a valid exception

Day-Before and Test-Day Tips

The Day Before:

Review your notes but do not cram new material
Confirm your testing location, time, and required identification
Prepare two forms of valid ID (at least one government-issued photo ID)
Get a full night's sleep (7–8 hours)

Test Day:

Arrive 15–30 minutes early (or log in early for remote proctoring)
Bring your two forms of ID
Read each question completely before looking at the answer choices
Answer every question — there is no penalty for guessing
Use the full time available — do not rush to finish early

NHA CMAA Certified Medical Administrative Assistant

CMAA Study Strategy and Test-Taking Tips

Key Takeaways

CMAA Study Strategy and Test-Taking Tips

Recommended 4–8 Week Study Plan

Phase 1: Foundations and Communication (Weeks 1–2)

Phase 2: Medical Law, Ethics, and HIPAA (Weeks 3–4)

Phase 3: Scheduling and Patient Encounters (Weeks 5–6)

Phase 4: Billing, Revenue Cycle, and Administrative Procedures (Weeks 7–8)

Test-Taking Strategies

Time Management

The Process of Elimination (POE) Method

Common Question Traps

Day-Before and Test-Day Tips

NHA CMAA Certified Medical Administrative Assistant

1Introduction: NHA CMAA Exam Overview & Study Strategy

2Chapter 1: Foundational Knowledge (10 Items, 9%)

3Chapter 2: Communication and Professionalism (21 Items, 19%)

4Chapter 3: Medical Law, Ethics, and Compliance (17 Items, 15%)

5Chapter 4: Scheduling (16 Items, 15%)

6Chapter 5: Patient Encounter (21 Items, 19%)

7Chapter 6: Billing and Revenue Cycle (11 Items, 10%)

8Chapter 7: Medical Practice Administrative Procedures and Logistics (14 Items, 13%)

CMAA Study Strategy and Test-Taking Tips

Key Takeaways

CMAA Study Strategy and Test-Taking Tips

Recommended 4–8 Week Study Plan

Phase 1: Foundations and Communication (Weeks 1–2)

Phase 2: Medical Law, Ethics, and HIPAA (Weeks 3–4)

Phase 3: Scheduling and Patient Encounters (Weeks 5–6)

Phase 4: Billing, Revenue Cycle, and Administrative Procedures (Weeks 7–8)

Test-Taking Strategies

Time Management

The Process of Elimination (POE) Method

Common Question Traps

Day-Before and Test-Day Tips