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100+ Free CMAC Practice Questions

Pass your AMCA Clinical Medical Assistant Certification exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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A Pap smear (cervical cytology) specimen collected using a liquid-based cytology method should be placed in which type of container?

A
B
C
D
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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CMAC Exam

175

Total Questions

160 scored + 15 unscored

2.5 hrs

Exam Time

AMCA

70%

Passing Score

~112/160 scored questions

60%

Clinical Domain

Largest blueprint section

$139

Exam Fee

AMCA 2026

2 years

Recertification Cycle

10 CE credits required

The AMCA CMAC contains 175 questions (160 scored) in 2.5 hours. Clinical assisting is the largest domain at 60%, covering infection control, phlebotomy/specimen collection, medication administration, ECG, and patient intake. Pass requires 70%. Eligibility accepts CTE/career-school graduates or 1 year of work experience. The $139 exam fee is among the most affordable medical assistant certifications available.

Sample CMAC Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CMAC exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which of the following is the correct order of draw for venipuncture using evacuated tubes?
A.Light blue, red, gold, green, lavender, gray
B.Red, light blue, gold, green, lavender, gray
C.Lavender, light blue, red, gold, green, gray
D.Gold, green, lavender, light blue, red, gray
Explanation: The CLSI-recommended order of draw begins with light blue (sodium citrate) to prevent contamination of coagulation studies, followed by red (no additive or clot activator), gold (SST with gel), green (heparin), lavender (EDTA), then gray (oxalate/fluoride). Following this order prevents additive carryover between tubes.
2A patient's blood pressure reading is 148/92 mmHg. How should the medical assistant document and report this finding?
A.Document as normal and file the chart
B.Document the reading and notify the provider of elevated blood pressure
C.Retake the reading in 5 minutes without documentation
D.Instruct the patient to rest and recheck in 30 minutes without notifying the provider
Explanation: A blood pressure of 148/92 mmHg falls in the Stage 2 hypertension range (≥140/90 mmHg). The medical assistant must document the accurate reading and promptly notify the provider so appropriate clinical decisions can be made. Delaying notification or failing to document is a patient safety error.
3Which type of isolation precaution requires the use of an N95 respirator for healthcare workers?
A.Contact precautions
B.Droplet precautions
C.Airborne precautions
D.Standard precautions
Explanation: Airborne precautions are required for pathogens that travel on small particles (≤5 µm) that remain suspended in air, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, measles, and varicella. An N95 or higher-level respirator is required because standard surgical masks do not filter these small particles effectively.
4What is the correct anatomical term for the front surface of the body?
A.Posterior
B.Lateral
C.Anterior
D.Medial
Explanation: Anterior (ventral) refers to the front surface of the body. This directional term is essential in describing patient symptoms, documenting physical examination findings, and communicating with clinical staff about the location of conditions or injuries.
5A medical assistant is preparing to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection to an adult. Which is the preferred IM injection site for large-volume injections?
A.Deltoid muscle
B.Dorsogluteal site
C.Ventrogluteal site
D.Vastus lateralis
Explanation: The ventrogluteal site is the preferred site for IM injections, especially for large volumes (up to 3 mL), because it is free of major nerves and blood vessels, has a thick muscle mass, and carries lower risk of nerve injury than the dorsogluteal site. Current clinical guidelines recommend it over the dorsogluteal site.
6Under HIPAA, which of the following is an example of a permissible disclosure of protected health information (PHI) without patient authorization?
A.Sharing the patient's diagnosis with their employer
B.Disclosing treatment information to the patient's insurance company for payment
C.Telling a neighbor that the patient visited the clinic
D.Emailing the patient's chart to a friend who is also a physician
Explanation: HIPAA permits disclosure of PHI without patient authorization for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations (TPO). Sharing information with an insurance company for payment processing is a TPO use and does not require separate authorization. All other options involve impermissible disclosures unrelated to TPO.
7Which lead placement records the electrical activity between the right arm and the left leg in a standard 12-lead ECG?
A.Lead I
B.Lead II
C.Lead III
D.aVR
Explanation: Lead II records electrical activity between the right arm (negative electrode) and the left leg (positive electrode). It runs parallel to the heart's electrical axis and produces an upright P wave and QRS complex in most patients, making it the most commonly used rhythm monitoring lead.
8When performing a urine dipstick test, a result showing 2+ glucose and 1+ ketones most likely indicates which condition?
A.Urinary tract infection
B.Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
C.Chronic kidney disease
D.Dehydration only
Explanation: Glucose in the urine (glucosuria) combined with ketones suggests that blood glucose exceeds the renal threshold (~180 mg/dL) and the body is catabolizing fat for energy — hallmark findings of poorly controlled or undiagnosed diabetes mellitus. The medical assistant should report these findings to the provider immediately.
9What is the correct technique for performing hand hygiene using an alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR)?
A.Apply ABHR and rinse with water after 10 seconds
B.Apply ABHR to dry hands and rub until completely dry, covering all surfaces
C.Apply ABHR only to the palms, then rinse after 5 seconds
D.Use ABHR after every other patient contact to preserve skin integrity
Explanation: CDC and WHO guidelines require applying a sufficient amount of ABHR to dry hands and rubbing all surfaces (palms, backs, between fingers, thumbs, fingertips, wrists) until completely dry — approximately 20–30 seconds. No rinsing is needed; ABHR is effective when allowed to fully evaporate.
10Which medical terminology suffix means 'surgical removal of'?
A.-itis
B.-ectomy
C.-ostomy
D.-plasty
Explanation: The suffix -ectomy means surgical excision or removal of a body part or organ. Examples include appendectomy (removal of the appendix) and cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder). Understanding surgical suffixes helps medical assistants interpret operative reports and provider orders.

About the CMAC Exam

The CMAC (Clinical Medical Assistant Certification) is offered by the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) and validates entry-level clinical and administrative competencies for medical assistants. The exam contains 175 questions (160 scored, 15 unscored pretest) administered over 2.5 hours at AMCA-approved test sites or via live remote proctoring. Content covers four domains: Clinical Medical Assisting (60%), Administrative Medical Assisting (26%), Professionalism (10%), and Medical Law and Ethics (4%). The passing score is 70%. Certification is valid for 2 years with 10 CE credits required for renewal.

Questions

175 scored questions

Time Limit

2 hours 30 minutes

Passing Score

70% (approximately 112/160 scored questions)

Exam Fee

$139 (+ $35 for live remote proctoring) (American Medical Certification Association (AMCA))

CMAC Exam Content Outline

60%

Clinical Medical Assisting

Infection control and OSHA standards, specimen collection and diagnostic testing (phlebotomy, order of draw, urinalysis, capillary puncture), patient intake (vital signs, chief complaint), assisting with physical examinations, medication administration (routes, five rights, injection techniques), electrocardiography (lead placement, rhythm recognition)

26%

Administrative Medical Assisting

Office reception and scheduling (wave, stream scheduling), medical record management (EHR documentation, SOAP notes, corrections), billing and insurance (ICD-10-CM, CPT, superbill, EOB, Medicare/Medicaid), patient care coordination, office management

10%

Professionalism

Professional appearance and behavior, communication skills (verbal, non-verbal, active listening, telephone), cultural competency, scope of practice, professional boundaries, teamwork, continuing education

4%

Medical Law and Ethics

HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, PHI and minimum necessary standard, informed consent and advance directives, patient rights, workplace legislation (OSHA, ADA), ethical principles and the AMCA Code of Ethics

How to Pass the CMAC Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70% (approximately 112/160 scored questions)
  • Exam length: 175 questions
  • Time limit: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Exam fee: $139 (+ $35 for live remote proctoring)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CMAC Study Tips from Top Performers

1Focus heavily on the clinical domain (60%) — phlebotomy order of draw, injection techniques, ECG lead placement, and infection control are frequently tested
2Memorize the CLSI order of draw: light blue, red, gold, green, lavender, gray
3Know precaution types and their required PPE: airborne (N95), droplet (surgical mask), contact (gown + gloves)
4Study the five rights of medication administration: right drug, right patient, right dose, right route, right time
5Understand HIPAA's TPO framework and minimum necessary standard for daily practice scenarios
6Know ICD-10-CM vs. CPT differences: diagnosis codes (ICD-10) vs. procedure codes (CPT)
7Review the SOAP note format and understand what goes in each section
8Practice ECG lead placement — especially precordial leads V1 through V6 and limb lead polarity
9Understand Medicare Part A vs. Part B vs. Part D coverage differences
10Study autoclave sterilization conditions: 121°C (250°F) at 15 psi for 15-30 minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the AMCA CMAC exam?

The CMAC (Clinical Medical Assistant Certification) is an entry-level credential offered by the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA). It validates clinical and administrative competencies required for medical assistants working in physician offices, clinics, and outpatient settings. As of January 2025, AMCA directs all medical assistant candidates to the CMAC exam.

How many questions are on the CMAC exam?

The CMAC exam contains 175 total questions — 160 scored questions and 15 unscored pretest questions. Candidates have 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete the exam. The unscored pretest questions are randomly distributed throughout the exam and cannot be identified.

What is the passing score for the CMAC exam?

The CMAC passing score is 70%, which corresponds to approximately 112 correct answers out of 160 scored questions. AMCA does not use scaled scoring for the CMAC — the 70% threshold is applied directly to the scored questions.

What are the eligibility requirements for the CMAC exam?

To sit for the CMAC, candidates must be at least 17 years old, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and meet one eligibility pathway: (1) graduate of an AMCA-approved test-site training program within the past year, (2) graduate of a non-AMCA-approved training program within the past year ($25 application fee), or (3) at least 1 year of full-time work experience in a directly related field with employer verification ($25 fee). All candidates must agree to the AMCA Code of Ethics.

What does the CMAC exam cover?

The CMAC covers four domains: Clinical Medical Assisting (60% — infection control, phlebotomy, specimen collection, medication administration, ECG, patient intake), Administrative Medical Assisting (26% — scheduling, EHR, billing, ICD-10/CPT coding), Professionalism (10% — communication, ethics, scope of practice), and Medical Law and Ethics (4% — HIPAA, informed consent, patient rights).

How much does the CMAC exam cost?

The CMAC exam fee is $139. An additional $35 Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) fee applies for candidates who prefer to test online via remote proctoring rather than at an in-person AMCA-approved test site. The recertification renewal fee is $15 every 2 years.

How long is CMAC certification valid and how do I renew it?

CMAC certification is valid for 2 years. To renew, credential holders must complete 10 continuing education (CE) credits and pay the $15 renewal fee. CE credits can be earned through AMCA ($158 for a full CE package) or approved outside providers ($11 per credit hour through AMCA's outside-credit pathway).