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100+ Free CDPMA Practice Questions

Pass your DANB Certified Dental Practice Management Administrator exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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When a dental insurance claim is rejected with a 'duplicate claim' error, what should the practice administrator do?

A
B
C
D
to track
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CDPMA Exam

CAT

Exam Format

DANB computer-adaptive testing

400

Passing Scaled Score

DANB scoring standard (100-900 scale)

$345

Total Exam Cost

DANB ($75 application + $270 exam fee)

12 CDE

Annual Renewal

DANB recertification requirement

NCCA

Accreditation

National Commission for Certifying Agencies

DANB's CDPMA is an NCCA-accredited certification for dental office managers and practice administrators. The computer-adaptive exam covers financial management, HR, HIPAA, OSHA compliance, and patient management. DANB exams use a passing scaled score of 400 on a 100-900 scale. The exam fee is $270 plus a $75 application fee. Annual recertification requires 12 CDE credits and current CPR.

Sample CDPMA Practice Questions

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

1A dental office receives an insurance Explanation of Benefits (EOB) showing a disallowed charge. What should the practice management administrator do first?
A.Write off the disallowed amount immediately
B.Review the EOB to determine the reason for the denial
C.Bill the patient for the full disallowed amount
D.Resubmit the same claim without changes
Explanation: The first step when receiving a denied or disallowed charge is to review the EOB and determine the specific reason code for the denial. Understanding the reason allows the administrator to decide whether to appeal, correct and resubmit, adjust the claim, or bill the patient appropriately. Acting without understanding the denial reason can lead to lost revenue or improper patient billing.
2Which accounting report shows the total amounts owed to a dental practice by patients and insurance companies, organized by the length of time the balance has been outstanding?
A.Profit and loss statement
B.Accounts receivable aging report
C.Day sheet
D.Balance sheet
Explanation: An accounts receivable aging report categorizes outstanding balances by how long they have been unpaid, typically in 30-day increments (current, 30, 60, 90, and 120+ days). This report helps the practice identify overdue accounts that need collection follow-up and is a critical financial management tool in dental offices.
3Under HIPAA, which of the following is considered protected health information (PHI)?
A.A dental office's tax identification number
B.A patient's treatment record linked to their name and date of birth
C.The number of patients seen in a month without identifying details
D.A dental supply catalog
Explanation: Protected health information (PHI) under HIPAA includes any individually identifiable health information, such as treatment records linked to a patient's name, date of birth, Social Security number, or other identifying data. PHI can be in any form — electronic, paper, or oral — and must be safeguarded by covered entities.
4A dental practice administrator is scheduling a new patient appointment. Which document should be completed before the patient receives treatment?
A.Insurance predetermination form
B.Patient registration and medical history form
C.Referral letter from another dentist
D.Laboratory prescription form
Explanation: Before any dental treatment, a new patient must complete a registration form with demographic information and a comprehensive medical history form. The medical history is essential for identifying conditions, allergies, and medications that could affect treatment safety. This is both a standard of care and a legal requirement for informed treatment.
5An employee in a dental office sustains a needlestick injury. According to OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, what must be done immediately?
A.File an incident report within 30 days
B.Wash the wound, report the incident, and initiate the post-exposure protocol
C.Continue working and report the injury at the end of the day
D.Apply a bandage and document the incident in the employee's personnel file only
Explanation: Under OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), a needlestick injury requires immediate wound cleansing, prompt reporting to the employer, and initiation of a post-exposure evaluation and follow-up protocol. This includes offering the employee a confidential medical evaluation, baseline blood testing, and appropriate prophylaxis if indicated.
6What does the acronym CDT stand for in the context of dental insurance billing?
A.Current Dental Technology
B.Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature
C.Certified Dental Terminology
D.Comprehensive Dental Treatment
Explanation: In dental insurance billing, CDT stands for the Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature, maintained by the American Dental Association (ADA). The CDT code set is the standard coding system used for reporting dental services and procedures on insurance claims. It is updated annually to reflect current dental practices.
7A dental practice wants to measure how effectively it collects the fees it produces. Which metric should the administrator calculate?
A.Overhead percentage
B.Collection ratio
C.Case acceptance rate
D.Net profit margin
Explanation: The collection ratio (also called collection rate or collection percentage) compares the total amount collected to the total amount produced (or adjusted production). A healthy dental practice typically targets a collection ratio of 95% or higher. This metric directly measures how effectively the practice converts billed services into actual revenue.
8When hiring a new dental assistant, which form must be completed to verify the employee's identity and authorization to work in the United States?
A.W-4
B.I-9
C.W-2
D.1099
Explanation: Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) is required by federal law for every new employee hired in the United States. The employer must verify the employee's identity and work authorization by examining acceptable documents within three business days of the employee's start date. Failure to complete and retain I-9 forms can result in substantial fines.
9A dental office receives a subpoena requesting a patient's dental records. What should the practice management administrator do?
A.Immediately release the records to the requesting party
B.Destroy the records to protect patient confidentiality
C.Consult with the practice's attorney before releasing any records
D.Ignore the subpoena since dental records are protected by HIPAA
Explanation: When a dental office receives a subpoena for patient records, the administrator should consult with the practice's attorney to ensure the subpoena is valid, determine if a court order is required, and verify that proper HIPAA procedures are followed before releasing any information. HIPAA permits disclosure pursuant to a valid legal process but requires specific conditions to be met.
10Which scheduling method allows a dental office to see the most patients by grouping similar procedures together in designated time blocks?
A.Wave scheduling
B.Modified wave scheduling
C.Block scheduling
D.Double booking
Explanation: Block scheduling (also called categorized or cluster scheduling) designates specific time blocks for similar types of procedures, such as grouping all crown preparations in the morning and hygiene appointments in the afternoon. This approach improves efficiency by reducing operatory changeover time and allowing staff to focus on similar tasks consecutively.

About the CDPMA Exam

The CDPMA certification from DANB validates competency in dental practice management including financial management, human resources, regulatory compliance (HIPAA/OSHA), patient management, and office operations. It is NCCA-accredited and recognized across the dental industry.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Timed (CAT format)

Passing Score

Scaled score 400

Exam Fee

$345 ($75 app + $270 exam) (DANB)

CDPMA Exam Content Outline

~30%

Financial Management

Insurance billing, CDT coding, accounts receivable, collections, overhead analysis, payroll, and budgeting

~25%

Regulatory Compliance

HIPAA privacy and security, OSHA bloodborne pathogens and hazard communication, dental practice act, and records management

~20%

Human Resources

Hiring, onboarding, employment law (FMLA, FLSA, ADA, COBRA), performance management, and termination procedures

~15%

Patient Management

Scheduling, patient communication, case presentation, recall systems, and patient retention strategies

~10%

Office Management

Inventory management, marketing, practice technology, leadership, and process improvement

How to Pass the CDPMA Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Scaled score 400
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: Timed (CAT format)
  • Exam fee: $345 ($75 app + $270 exam)

Keys to Passing

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

CDPMA Study Tips from Top Performers

1Focus heavily on HIPAA and OSHA regulations — compliance questions are a significant portion of the exam
2Master dental insurance terminology: UCR, LEAT, COB, predetermination, deductibles, and annual maximums
3Study employment law basics: FMLA, FLSA overtime rules, ADA accommodations, and COBRA continuation
4Practice calculating financial metrics: collection ratio, overhead percentage, net production, and accounts receivable aging
5Review the DANB exam outline and study with at least one recommended dental office management textbook

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CDPMA certification?

The Certified Dental Practice Management Administrator (CDPMA) is an NCCA-accredited credential offered by DANB for dental office managers and practice administrators. It validates competency in financial management, HR, compliance, and patient management.

How much does the CDPMA exam cost?

The CDPMA exam fee is $270, plus a $75 non-refundable application fee, for a total of $345. Active military personnel receive a small discount on the exam fee.

What score do I need to pass the CDPMA exam?

DANB uses a scaled scoring system with scores ranging from 100 to 900. A minimum scaled score of 400 is required to pass. Because DANB uses computer-adaptive testing, the passing standard reflects the difficulty of questions answered correctly.

How do I maintain CDPMA certification?

CDPMA certification must be renewed annually. You need 12 hours of approved continuing dental education (CDE) credits and must maintain current CPR certification. The annual renewal fee is $75.

Can I take the CDPMA exam remotely?

Yes. DANB offers the CDPMA exam through both in-person testing at Pearson VUE test centers and via remote online proctoring. You can choose the method you prefer when scheduling.

How should I prepare for the CDPMA exam in 2026?

Start by reviewing the DANB exam outline for the CDPMA. Focus on dental insurance billing, HIPAA/OSHA regulations, HR law, and financial management. Use DALE Foundation courses and practice tests, plus a dental office management textbook.