Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs) are a vital part of the very short-staffed medical field. With a critical nursing shortage causing so many issues within facilities and hospitals, the CMA is a welcome addition to any medical establishment.
For those who have chosen this honorable profession and have graduated with a diploma/degree in hand, their next step is to take the CMA exam in order to begin working. This test is required by law and one can not be employed as a CMA without passing it. Medical assistant certification exam prep must be done, and one way to prepare is by practicing online at the many sites available which mimic the exam itself. The questions are not the exact ones asked on the real exam, but they are similar and can at least get you started on the right track. The best part of these practice tests is that after they are taken, they calculate the score and give explanations of any wrong answer to help one understand where they went wrong.
Practice tests also help with the following:
Understanding how the test is formatted– By familiarizing oneself with the way the exam topics and questions are presented, then there will be less anxiety at test-time because there will be no surprises
Improving overall speed– This exam is timed and set up in increments of (4) 40-minute sections. If it is practiced ahead of time, it enables a wise allocation of time.
Improving focus– After running through some sample tests, there will be an idea of topics needing more study before the real test is taken.
The CMA exam has a total of 180 actual questions, with each one of those counting toward the total score; all questions are multiple-choice. There are 160 minutes allowed for the entire exam which are broken down into 40-minute sections for each segment.
The following is a list of topics within the CMA exam:
GENERAL: 50 QUESTIONS
Topics:
Psychology
Communication
Professionalism
Medical Law/Regulatory Guidelines
Medical Ethics
Risk Management, Quality Assurance, and Safety
Medical Terminology
ADMINISTRATIVE: 45 QUESTIONS
Topics:
Medical Reception
Patient Navigator/Advocate
Medical Business Practices
Establishing Patient Medical Record
Scheduling Appointments
Practice Finances
CLINICAL: 85 QUESTIONS
Topics:
Anatomy and Physiology
Infection Control
Patient Intake and Documentation of Care
Patient Preparation and Assisting the Provider
Nutrition
Collecting and Processing Specimens
Diagnostic Testing
Pharmacology
Emergency Management/Basic First Aid
A candidate looking to take this exam cannot simply walk into the test center and take it. There will be a 3-month time period that will be assigned in which one can apply for and schedule the test. After these steps are done, the candidate will be given a Scheduling Permit that must be on hand when showing up for at the test site. On the permit itself, is further information such as instructions, phone numbers, and website info. to answer any questions that might come up. The earlier the test is scheduled in that 3-month time frame, the more likely the desired time, date, and test-location will be available. If within the 3-months previously stated, the test has not been taken, you will not get your registration fee back and a new fee of $65 will be charged to reschedule for the next exam.
After all, is done and the exam is taken, the candidate will be notified immediately if they have passed or failed. If passed, an official, detailed transcript will be received by mail within 4 weeks after the date exam was taken.
Medical assistant certification exam prep is an absolute must. By taking practice tests ahead of time, a candidate will arrive for the real CMA exam fortified and already a step ahead. Anxiety is sure to be lessened, allowing for one to show up to the test with a fresh, crisp mind ready to conquer it.