CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam Overview

CMA (AAMA) Certified Medical Assistant Exam Overview

The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential is awarded by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and is the most widely recognized medical assistant certification in the United States. Earning the CMA (AAMA) credential demonstrates that a medical assistant has met the rigorous standards of knowledge and competency required for entry-level practice.

Exam Details at a Glance

About the Exam Format

The CMA (AAMA) exam is a computer-based test (CBT) delivered at PSI test centers or through live remote proctoring. Key details about the format:

• 200 total questions — 180 are scored and 20 are unscored pretest items being evaluated for future exams
• You cannot distinguish pretest items from scored items — treat every question as if it counts
• All questions are four-option multiple-choice (select one best answer)
• You can skip questions and return to them later within the exam time
• You can flag questions for review and navigate freely through the exam
• There is no penalty for guessing — answer every question

Scoring

The CMA exam uses a scaled scoring system:

• Raw scores are converted to a scaled score ranging from 200 to 800
• The minimum passing scaled score is 405
• If you do not pass, your score report shows performance by content area to guide future study
• Scores are measured against a fixed standard

Time Management

The maximum appointment is 3 hours (180 minutes), excluding the optional tutorial and the post-exam survey. The tutorial is five minutes maximum.

You have 160 minutes to answer 200 questions, which averages to 48 seconds per question. Managing your pace is critical — aim to complete the first 100 questions within the first 80 minutes.

Content Domain Breakdown

The CMA (AAMA) exam tests knowledge across three major domains:

Domain I: General Knowledge (21% of exam — 38 scored questions)

• Anatomy and physiology of all body systems
• Medical terminology (prefixes, suffixes, root words)
• Pathophysiology of common diseases
• Pharmacology and medication administration
• Nutrition and dietary guidelines
• Psychology and human development

Domain II: Administrative Knowledge (20% of exam — 36 scored questions)

• Medical business practices (accounting, billing, collections)
• Appointment scheduling and office management
• Medical records management (EHR/EMR)
• Insurance billing (ICD-10, CPT, CMS-1500)
• Managed care and government insurance programs
• HIPAA compliance and privacy regulations

Domain III: Clinical Knowledge (59% of exam — 106 scored questions)

• Vital signs and patient assessment
• Clinical procedures (injections, phlebotomy, wound care)
• Specimen collection and laboratory procedures
• Diagnostic testing (ECG, pulmonary function)
• Infection control and OSHA standards
• Patient education and communication
• Legal and ethical considerations

CMA vs. Other Medical Assistant Certifications

The CMA (AAMA) is generally considered the gold standard certification because its primary route requires graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program, which ensures a standardized educational foundation.