A Guide to Taking the Medical Assistant Certification Exam

Medical assisting is one of the most promising fields in healthcare today. You can prepare for this amazing career by taking a medical assisting program through a traditional or online school. This is the first step to becoming an important member of a healthcare team.

In order to be eligible for the best jobs and the highest pay, you will need to become certified by taking the Certified Medical Assistant exam offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants. Taking the certification exam may be one of the most stressful aspects of entering this career, but there are steps you can take to ensure success.

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Examination Eligibility Requirements

Before you can sit for the certification exam, you must meet certain eligibility requirements. This includes successfully passing a medical assisting program that is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Only graduates of properly accredited medical assisting programs, either in a traditional setting or online, are eligible to become certified medical assistants.

How to Take the Certification Test

If you are eligible to take the exam, you must apply through the AAMA website at https://www.aama-ntl.org/. The application fee is $125 and is nonrefundable and nontransferable. Personal checks are not accepted, but you may pay by credit or debit card, money order, certified cashier’s check, or institution check. After you mail your application, you will receive a status update by email from the Certification Department within 30 days.

After the AAMA Certification Department processes and approves your application request, you will be required to log in to the website and print a Scheduling Permit, which you must have with you to make an appointment and take the test.

What Is on the Exam?

The most important thing you can do is to study for the exam. Generally, the Medical Assistant Certification Exam consists of:

  • 11% anatomy and physiology questions
  • 10% medical office management and general office procedures questions
  • 4% bookkeeping questions
  • 4% insurance processing questions
  • 12% medical procedures questions
  • 12% patient examination questions
  • 11% phlebotomy questions
  • 12% diagnostic testing
  • 12% medical terminology questions
  • 12% pharmacology questions

You can get a detailed outline of topics and subtopics at the AAMA website by following this link: https://www.aama-ntl.org/becomeCMA/exam_outline.aspx. The outline is a powerful study tool that lists all subject matter that will be covered on the examination.

Prepare With Certification Practice Tests

During your studies, you can use free or paid certification practice tests to measure and focus your learning. There are many such practice tests available. Some consist simply of questions and answer keys that you can use to check your performance. Others use a format very similar to that used on the official exam, and are designed to keep track of your progress and create focus reports to define your areas of weakness.


Here you’ll find some good practice tests to help get you started:

The certification test does not have to be scary if you are properly prepared. While it may seem easier to skip certification altogether, remember that it will help you to prove your professional value and knowledge. It will also qualify you for the best employment opportunities while allowing you to negotiate higher salaries.

Taking the certification exam is one of the most important steps you can take toward making the most of this fantastic career.