Dr. Jan Olson By: Dr. Jan Olson
Medical Assistant Exam Overview

Test-Guide is supported by our users. We may earn a commission when you buy through some links on the site. Learn more.


Passing the Medical Assistant exam is the first step towards becoming a certified Medical Assistant. Because there are several different providers of the Medical Assistance exam, it can be confusing what to expect.

Summary: Learn about the medical assistant exam and the different types. For help studying, consider using a medical assistant prep course.

There are several agencies offering different Medical Assistant Exams. The four main exams are:

  • Certified Medical Assistant (CMA): Offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants
  • Registered Medical Assistant (RMA): Offered by the American Medical Technologists
  • National Certified Medical Assistant (NCCT-NCMA): Offered by the National Center for Competency Testing
  • Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA): Offered by the National Healthcareer Association

The CMA exam is computerized, and consists of 200 multiple-choice questions. There are four 40-minute segments, for a total of three hours and fifteen minutes.

These are the topics you can expect to encounter:

Topic Number of Questions Percent of Exam
Clinical Competency 106 59%
Clinical Workflow: Patient Intake and Discharge    
Safety and Infection Control    
Procedures/Examinations    
Pharmacology    
General 38 21%
Legal and Ethical Issues    
Communication    
Administrative 36 20%
Billing, Coding, and Insurance    
Schedule Appointments and Health Information Management    

Source

There are 20 unscored questions on the exam, to make a total of 200 questions. You can practice for this exam by taking our CMA practice test.

The RMA exam consists of 210 total questions. These questions are split between 4 different topics. Those 4 topics include:

Topic Number of Questions Percent of Exam
Anatomy and Physiology 44 20.9%
Administrative Medical Assisting 56 26.7%
Clinical Procedural Tasks 39 18.6%
Clinical Patient Interaction 71 33.8%

Source

You can practice for this exam by taking our RMA practice test.

The NCCT-NCMA exam consists of 165 total questions. The topics tested include:

Topic Number of Questions Percent of Exam
Pharmacology 21 14%
Clinical Medical Procedures 28 19%
Phlebotomy 21 14%
ECG and Other Diagnostic Tests 18 12%
General Office Procedures 21 14%
Medical Office Management 25 17%
Law and Ethics 16 11%

Source

Of the 165 questions, 15 will be unscored. You can practice for this exam by taking our NCCT practice test.

The CCMA exam consists of 180 total questions. The topics tested include:

Topic Number of Questions Percent of Exam
Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science 15 10%
Anatomy and Physiology 12 8%
Clinical Patient Care 81 54%
Patient Care Coordination and Education 7 or 8 5%
Administrative Assisting 19 or 21 13%
Communication and Customer Service 7 or 8 5%
Medical Law and Ethics 7 or 8 5%

Source

No matter which Medical Assistant exam you take or what you’ll be tested on, your study methods should remain consistent.

The best way to build your skills is by taking practice exams, which will help you get used to the structure and depth of the exams, and is a great way to understand your weak spots.

What are the different types of medical assistant exams?

There are four medical assistant exams, which are administered by different providers. They are: CMA, RMA, NCMA, and CCMA.

What is the most common medical assistant exam?

The most common and popular medical assistant exam is the CMA, as it is accepted by a large number of employers and regulatory bodies.

Can you retake the medical assistant exam?

You do have the option to retake the medical assistant exam, but the “fine print” will differ depending on which provider you used.

For example, one provider may allow you to retake certain portions of the exam, while others require that you retake the entire thing.