How to Prepare for the CMA Exam

Becoming a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) can be a significant boost in your medical career in healthcare, especially if you’re pursuing a CMA in NY or NJ. By earning this certification, it opens doors for various opportunities for growth. For those pursuing to become a certified medical assistant, it isn’t easy. Passing the CMA exam requires thorough preparation. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to prepare for the CMA exam.

What is the CMA Exam?

The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Exam is the certification exam for medical assistants who want to be credentialed as a certified medical assistant. This credential represents a MA who has been credentialed through the Certifying Board (CB) of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). This exam assesses the candidate’s knowledge and skills needed to be a Certified Medical Assistant. CMAs need to be proficient in a wide scope of knowledge required in clinical, general, and administrative categories. The exam consists of 200 questions split into four 40-minute segments and covers multiple subjects. Some of the subjects covered in the exam include safety and infection control, procedures/examinations, pharmacology, billing, coding, and insurance.

What Are the Requirements to Take the CMA Exam?

In order to take the AAMA Certified Medical Assistant Exam the candidate must meet the requirements for one of the four categories. The CMA candidate eligibility categories are as follows:

• Category 1 – Recent graduate or completing student
  • The candidate must have been enrolled in an accredited program by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The individual must also be a recent graduate of the accredited program or must be close to graduating the program. If the candidate hasn’t graduated yet, they must be within 30 days of their graduation date. For recent graduates, the candidate must apply for the exam within 12 months of their graduation date.
• Category 2 – Nonrecent graduate of a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited medical assistant program
  • A candidate that has applied for the exam more than 12 months after graduation is considered a nonrecent graduate. A student that has attended a program that was accredited at any point during enrollment or a candidate that graduated within 36 months prior to the program becoming accredited are eligible to apply under category 1 or 2.
• Category 3 – CMA Recertified
  • This category is for individuals who have previously passed the CMA certification exam and are applying for recertification.
• Category 4 – Alternative Pathway
  • This category is for individuals who are graduates of a qualified postsecondary medical assisting program or postsecondary medical assisting apprenticeship program. These programs must meet certain requirements. These candidates that have attended a postsecondary program or apprenticeship program must meet the following criteria:
    • The program is equivalent to two semesters and includes a minimum of 560 academic contact hours. The contact hours do not include practicum/externship.
    • The program included a minimum of 160-hour practicum/externship completed in an outpatient setting or 1,000 hours of medical assisting experience following the program completion
    • Awards an associate degree, certificate, or diploma
    • The program attended must have been offered by an institution accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
    • The curriculum of the program attended must have included the following:
      • Basic anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, infection control, and applied mathematics
      • Theory and techniques of intradermal, intramuscular, and subcutaneous injection administration
      • Theory and techniques of phlebotomy

How to Prepare for the CMA Exam

• Understand the Exam Structure
  • It’s important to be aware of the subjects the CMA exam is testing you on. The CMA exam is designed to test your knowledge and skills on multiple subjects critical to medical assisting. The exam is divided into three sections:
    • General studies: This section of the exam consists of 38 questions which is about 21% of the entire exam. The subjects covered in this section include communication and legal and ethical issues.
    • Clinical Competency: This portion of the exam includes topics such as pharmacology, procedures/examinations, safety and infection control, and patient’s intake and discharge. The clinical competency portion includes 106 questions and makes up 59% of the exam.
    • Administrative: You should expect to be questioned on subjects such as billing, coding, insurance, scheduling appointments, and health information management. This section of the exam is 36 questions and makes up 20% of the entire test.

Familiarize yourself with these subject areas to be prepared to pass the CMA exam. This preparation is crucial whether you are seeking a CMA job in NY or any other state!

• Gather Study Materials and Develop a Study Plan
  • Allocate enough time to gather study materials and develop a study plan. Consistency is key, so be sure to set aside enough time to study and build a solid foundation. Invest in reputable CMA study guides, review books, study cards, and practice tests. Be sure to use the AAMA CMA Certification exam content outline, take the AAMA CMA practice exam, and research other available study guide materials online from reputable test preparation companies.
• Manage Stress and Maintain Self-Care
  • Preparing for an important exam can be stressful, therefore it’s important to manage stress and maintain self-care. Before the exam make sure to get enough rest, eat nutritious meals, and incorporate exercise into your routine. Consider taking daily walks and practicing relaxation techniques to stay energized and focused.
• Prepare for Exam Day
  • Set yourself up for success the day of the exam. Arrive early, double check that you have the required identification, and any documentation needed. When you are taking the exam read each question carefully and manage your time wisely. By taking the time to thoroughly prepare for the exam, your confidence will grow and help you succeed as a CMA in NY.

Conclusion

Being a certified medical assistant opens the doors for more professional opportunities and advancements. Becoming a CMA isn’t easy by any means, it takes dedication and hard work. However, by following our guide on how to prepare for the CMA exam you will be setting yourself up for success and be well-prepared. With dedication and strategic preparation, you can achieve this important certification and become a Certified Medical Assistant. After you have passed your exam and earn your certification, Horizon Healthcare Staffing can help you land your dream CMA job in NY or NJ. Simply check out our current hot jobs or send in your resume!