RMA (AMT) Certification Exam Overview
Key Takeaways
The RMA exam consists of 210 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 2 hours (120 minutes)
The passing score is a scaled score of 70 on a 0-100 scale
The exam fee is $150 (includes the application, exam, and first annual fee); each RMA retake costs $150
AMT reports a 71% pass rate for 2025 (8,223 examined), 70% for 2024, and 71% for 2023
Testing is in person at a Pearson VUE test center or a school's Pearson VUE site; AMT is not authorizing new remote-proctored exams
The exam covers 3 work areas: Clinical Medical Assisting (55%, 115 questions), General Medical Assisting (31%, 65), and Administrative Medical Assisting (14%, 30)
AMT offers 5 eligibility routes: education (720+ clock hours), competency and work-based learning, work experience (3+ years), military training, and instructor qualifications
RMA certification must be renewed every 3 years with 30 CCP points and an annual fee of $75
RMA (AMT) Registered Medical Assistant Exam Overview
The Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential is awarded by American Medical Technologists (AMT) and is one of the most respected medical assistant certifications in the United States. The RMA demonstrates that a medical assistant has met the professional standards of knowledge, skills, and competency required for healthcare practice.
Exam Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) Certification Exam |
| Exam Body | American Medical Technologists (AMT) |
| Format | Computer-based, multiple-choice |
| Total Questions | 210 |
| Time Limit | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Passing Score | Scaled score of 70 (0-100 scale) |
| Exam Fee | $150 (includes exam + first annual fee) |
| Retake Fee | $150 |
| Testing Vendor | Pearson VUE (in person at a test center or a school's Pearson VUE site) |
| Testing Availability | Year-round |
| Pass Rate | 71% (2025), 70% (2024), 71% (2023) |
| Results | On screen at the end, plus a paper copy; sent to AMT within 48 hours |
About the Exam Format
The RMA exam is a computer-based test (CBT) taken in person at a Pearson VUE testing center or a school's Pearson VUE site. AMT is not currently authorizing new exams by live remote proctoring. Key details about the format:
- 210 total multiple-choice questions across AMT's three work areas
- All questions are four-option multiple choice (select one best answer)
- Questions follow AMT's published work-area weights (65 general, 30 administrative, 115 clinical)
- You can navigate between questions and change answers within the exam session
- There is no penalty for guessing -- answer every question even if unsure
- You have approximately 34 seconds per question on average
Scoring
The RMA exam uses a scaled scoring system:
- Raw scores are converted to a scaled score ranging from 0 to 100
- The passing scaled score is 70
- Scores are based on a criterion-referenced standard, not a curve
- If you do not pass, your score report indicates performance by content domain to guide future study
- Results appear on screen when you finish, and the test center gives you a paper copy
Content Work Area Breakdown
AMT's current RMA content outline (©2026) divides the 210 questions into three work areas:
Work Area I: General Medical Assisting (31.0% -- 65 questions)
- Body systems: structure, function, disorders, and diseases
- Wellness and nutrition
- Medical terminology (word parts, definitions, abbreviations and symbols, spelling)
- Medical law and ethics (consents, HIPAA, scope of practice, advance directives)
- Human relations (patient and interpersonal communication)
Work Area II: Administrative Medical Assisting (14.0% -- 30 questions)
- Insurance and coding (ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS; EOBs; prior authorizations and referrals)
- Scheduling, telephone, and written communication
- Medical records management and release of information
- Supplies, equipment, and computer applications
- Office safety and OSHA compliance
Work Area III: Clinical Medical Assisting (55% -- 115 questions)
- Infection control, asepsis, and sterilization
- Diagnostic instruments and minor surgical procedures
- Laboratory procedures, CLIA waived testing, and specimen collection
- Vital signs, measurements, and physical examinations
- Electrocardiography (ECG/EKG)
- Clinical pharmacology and medication administration
- Therapeutic modalities and patient instruction
- First aid and emergency response
The chapters of this guide group topics for study: Chapter 1 and Section 2.4 cover General Medical Assisting, the rest of Chapter 2 covers Administrative Medical Assisting, and Chapters 3 and 4 cover Clinical Medical Assisting.
RMA vs. CMA: Key Differences
| Feature | RMA (AMT) | CMA (AAMA) |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Body | American Medical Technologists (AMT) | American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) |
| Total Questions | 210 | 200 (180 scored + 20 pretest) |
| Time Limit | 2 hours (120 minutes) | 2 hours 40 minutes (160 minutes) |
| Passing Score | Scaled 70 / 100 | Scaled 405 (scale 200-800) |
| Exam Fee | $150 | $125 (AAMA member or recent graduate) / $250 (nonmember) |
| Eligibility | 5 routes (education, competency, experience, military, instructor) | CAAHEP/ABHES student or graduate, AAMA alternative pathway, or MA educator (no work-experience route) |
| Recertification | Every 3 years, 30 CCP points | Every 5 years (60 months), 60 CEUs or retake the exam |
| Testing | Pearson VUE (in person) | PSI test center or live remote proctoring |
| Content Areas | 3 work areas | 3 content areas (general, administrative, clinical) |
| Online Testing | No (AMT is not authorizing new remote exams) | Yes (PSI live remote proctoring) |
| Pass Rate | 71% of candidates examined (2025) | 69% of first-time candidates (July 2024 to April 2025) |
The RMA is often preferred by candidates who did not attend a CAAHEP/ABHES-accredited program, as AMT offers multiple eligibility pathways including work experience and military training. Both credentials are widely recognized by employers nationwide.
CMA (AAMA) facts are from the AAMA certification pages and the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam Application and Policies, checked October 22, 2026.
How many total questions are on the RMA (AMT) certification exam?
150 questions
200 questions
210 questions
250 questions
What is the passing scaled score on the RMA exam?
60 out of 100
65 out of 100
70 out of 100
75 out of 100
Which AMT work area has the HIGHEST weight on the RMA exam?
General Medical Assisting
Administrative Medical Assisting
Clinical Medical Assisting
Medical Law and Ethics
How does the RMA exam cost compare to the CMA (AAMA) exam?
RMA $250; CMA $150 for every candidate
Both exams cost $200 for every candidate
RMA $150; CMA $125 or $250, depending on status
RMA $300; CMA $100 or $150, depending on status
The RMA exam allows ___ minutes to complete 210 questions.
Type your answer below
Which of the following are work areas in AMT's RMA content outline? (Select all that apply)
Select all that apply
General Medical Assisting
Pharmacology Calculations
Administrative Medical Assisting
Clinical Procedural Tasks
Clinical Medical Assisting
Medical Ethics & Jurisprudence
Match each RMA exam detail to the correct value.
Match each item on the left with the correct item on the right
Total questions
Time limit
Passing score
Exam fee
Wait before a retake
Largest work area
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.