2024 Edition

Medical Assistant Certification Test

A Free Medical Assistant Certification Practice Test...

To get certified as a medical assistant, you may have to take a certification exam.

Generally, there are three organizations that certify medical assistants: the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the American Medical Technologists (AMT) and the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). In most cases, certification by any of these organizations will be accepted nationally. Subject matter for these exams falls into the following three subject areas: General Knowledge, Administrative Knowledge and Clinical Knowledge.

To prepare for the actual exam, we provide a 300 question Medical Assistant Practice Exam written by Melanie Shearer, MS., MT (ASCP), CMA (AAMA), Instructor of Medical Assisting.

Take this free practice test to see what types of questions are on a medical assistant exam.

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Medical Terminology and Anatomy

1.	Which of the following organs would be described as being located retroperitoneally?
		a. Kidneys
		b. Thymus
		c. Small Intestines
		d. Spleen
The term, "retroperitoneal," means to be placed behind the peritoneum. The kidneys are located in this area. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

2.	A pathologic condition described as, "Increased intraocular pressure of the eye," is:
		a. Detached Retina
		b. Fovea Centralis
		c. Presbyopia
		d. Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition that is caused by increased intraocular pressure in the eye. If not treated, glaucoma can lead to blindness. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Law, Ethics and Professionalism

3.	Malpractice that has been ruled because of a physician's failure to act is a form of:
		a. Misfeasance
		b. Malfeasance
		c. Infeasance
		d. Nonfeasance
Nonfeasance is defined as failure to act. When a physician fails to act and its ruled malpractice, this is categorized as nonfeasance. Misfeasance is performing a procedure incorrectly, and malfeasance is performing the wrong procedure. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

4.	Which of the following agency sets the standards for employee safety in the medical office?
		a. AAMA
		b. AMA
		c. CDC
		d. OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration oversees safety in the workplace and is federally mandated. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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Psychology and Communication

5.	A patient who is displaying the defense mechanism of Compensation would:
		a. Refuse to hear unwanted information.
		b. Transfer feelings of negativity to someone else.
		c. Overemphasize behaviors which accommodate for perceived weaknesses.
		d. Place blame on others for personal actions or mistakes.
Compensation means to overcome a perceived weakness by over compensating another behavior or personality trait. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

6.	Which of the following would be an inappropriate and potentially unlawful interview question?
		a. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
		b. Do you have any commitments outside of work that would hinder your ability to be a high-performer?
		c. How do your children feel about your decision to work here?
		d. If you could pick any color, which would it be?
Interview questions which focus on a person's religious affiliation, marital status, or number of children are unlawful and cannot be legally asked during an interview. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Bookkeeping, Credits and Collections

7.	A patient sends a check to pay for her last office visit. That check bounces at the bank. Which of the following is the most likely scenario when dealing with this situation?
		a. The patient will be charged an NSF fee by the office.
		b. The patient will receive a letter from the bank stating that the account with the doctor's office is closed.
		c. The bank will honor the check and transfer funds to the office account.
		d. The patient will receive a notice from the bank stating that cash will be required for all future transactions with the office.
NSF fees are fees assessed by the office for non-sufficient funds. Banks will typically charge a company a fee if checks bounce. These fees are passed to the writer of the bad check in the form of NSF fees. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

8.	Geographical area is important when:
		a. establishing fee schedules.
		b. handling equipment orders.
		c. following office policy on bookkeeping.
		d. None of the above.
Fee schedules are set by the office based on the usual fee charged for a procedure. These usual fees are based on geographic location which allows fees to remain competitive, yet fair. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Billing, Coding and Insurance

9.	In the CPT manual, codes in the range of 99201-99600 are:
		a. Surgical Codes
		b. Evaluation and Management Codes
		c. Radiology Codes
		d. All of the above.
E&M codes are CPT codes that are used when a patient is being evaluated and treated. These codes are assigned based on the type of appointment that is done. For example, a patient who is new to the practice would receive an E&M code that designates a new office visit that allows time for a thorough history and examination. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

10.	Workman's Compensation claims:
		a. are federally managed.
		b. are kept separate from other insurance claims which are not Workman's Comp in nature.
		c. are to be shared with the patient's employer with full medical record review.
		d. None of the above.
Workman's Compensation files are to be kept separate from a patient's usual medical record. These forms are filed to the state for claims for payment. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Medical Records and Office Supplies

11.	When filing using the terminal digits method, which would be true?
		a. The filing is done using the last one or two digits of the patient's medical record number.
		b. It is the simplest way to file.
		c. The patient will acquire multiple charts.
		d. All of the above are false.
Terminal digit filing is a filing method that uses the patient's medical record number to dictate where the file is stored. Using the last one or two numbers of the medical record number helps to keep charts filed in an easy to retrieve manner. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

12.	Which of the following programs would be best suited for making a patient data base?
		a. Microsoft Word
		b. Microsoft Excel
		c. Microsoft Access
		d. Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Access is a commonly used software program for developing databases. While Excel is useful for spreadsheet applications, Access allows for more cross-referencing of information. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Oral and Written Communication, Data Entry, Computers and Mail

13.	The postal abbreviation for Idaho is:
		a. IH
		b. IO
		c. IA
		d. ID
Postal abbreviations are used for all 50 states using two capital letters. Idaho is abbreviated with an ID. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

14.	Which of the following examples is properly written?
		a. Fred Felix 2900 Mainstreet Ave Cleveland OH 44115
		b. Dr. Sherry Merry, MD.
		c. The City of Freedom
		d. None of the above are correct.
When writing an address, the US Postal Service asks that no punctuation be used to assist the digital readers with accurately bar-coding each piece of mail. When addressing a physician, either use the term Dr. at the beginning or the credential at the end, but never both at the same time. When noting a city, do not capitalize the word city. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Scheduling and Office Management

15.	The best way to avoid injuries when using computers is:
		a. Stand and stretch every hour
		b. Adjust the seat height so that your feet are flat on the floor.
		c. Adjust the monitor so that your neck is at a neutral angle.
		d. All of the above.
Using ergonomic practices will reduce repetitive strain that is common in office employees. Frequently stretching, adjusting chairs and monitors to avoid strain, and paying attention to avoid aches and pains will reduce injuries. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

16.	Which of the following scheduling methods would be best for an Urgent Care setting?
		a. Wave Scheduling
		b. Double Booking
		c. Open-hour Scheduling
		d. Modified Wave Scheduling
Open-hour scheduling is also known as walk-in scheduling and best suits emergency clinics. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Exam Room Techniques, Patient Preparation and Infection Control

17.	Over a patient's lifespan, the pulse rate:
		a. starts out fast and decreases as the patient ages.
		b. starts out slower and increases as the patient ages.
		c. Varies from slow to fast throughout the lifespan.
		d. Stays consistent from birth to death.
Normal pulse rates in infants average around 140 beats per minute. This rate falls to an average of 80 beats per minute in adults. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

18.	To accurately assess a patient's respiration rate, which of the following methods would be BEST?
		a. Tell the patient, "Please remain silent while I count your number of breaths."
		b. Count respirations at the same time you are counting the pulse rate.
		c. Count the pulse rate for one minute, then, while keeping your index fingers on the patient's radial artery, count the respirations for an additional minute.
		d. Count the patient's respiration rate, then take the patient's temperature, and then take the pulse rate.
The most accurate assessment of a patient's respiration rate is to count the breaths while the patient is unaware that you are doing so. Patients who are aware that their respirations are being counted may breathe abnormally. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Office Laboratory Procedures

19.	Specific gravity in urinalysis:
		a. compares the concentration of urine to that of distilled water.
		b. is useless when the patient is dehydrated.
		c. can only be done with a refractometer.
		d. None of the above.
Specific gravity measures the concentration of solutes in a liquid compared to the concentration of distilled water. Normal specific gravity readings of human urine range from 1.005-1.030. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

20.	The smallest of the white blood cells which also can be involved in humoral immunity is the:
		a. Lymphocyte
		b. Monocyte
		c. Basophil
		d. Erythrocyte
The smallest of the white blood cells is the lymphocyte. Monocytes are the largest white blood cells. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Emergency Procedures and First Aid

21.	Which of the following symptoms can occur with a heart attack?
		a. Cyanosis
		b. Syncope
		c. Ashen skin
		d. All of the above.
The signs and symptoms of a heart attack can vary from patient to patient. The most commonly reported symptoms are fatigue and anxiety, along with chest, arm, or jaw pain. Cyanosis and syncope can also be observed, along with pallor. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

22.	You witness an automobile accident on the way to work. Which of the following would be an indication that a patient has experienced head trauma?
		a. bleeding from the rectum
		b. extreme hunger
		c. Vomiting
		d. rapid pulse rate
Vomiting is a sign that the patient may have experienced a concussion. Patients that are nauseous after an accident should be evaluated immediately by an emergency professional. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Pharmacology

23.	Which of the following formulas would correctly solve a dosage calculation problem?
		a. Ordered dosage/ Dosage On hand) * Amount of Drug = Dosage to be given
		b. Dosage on hand/ Ordered dosage) * Amount of Drug = Dosage to be given
		c. Amount of Drug/ Ordered dosage) * Dosage on hand = Dosage to be given
		d. None of the above are correct.
To accurately calculate dosages, use the formula (Ordered dosage/ Dosage on hand) * Amount of drug = Dosage to be given. Amount of drug is the number of capsules, pills, or milliliters necessary to give the dosage on hand. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

24.	When giving an injection of insulin, which of the following is TRUE?
		a. The deltoid muscle is the preferred injection site for insulin.
		b. The angle of the needle should be 90 degrees.
		c. The site should not be massaged after medication administration.
		d. All of the above are true.
Insulin injections are given subcutaneously. The site should not be massaged after administration as the medication needs to distribute slowly. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Pathophysiology and Nutrition

25.	A patient with a verruca (Choose the BEST answer.)
		a. is infected with the HCV virus.
		b. can be treated with an OTC medication.
		c. is not contagious.
		d. None of the above.
Plantar warts are caused by a strain of the Human Papilloma Virus and can be highly contagious but treated with an over the counter medication such as Compound W. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

26.	Testing for preeclampsia is done:
		a. on toddlers who have seizures.
		b. on the elderly with syncope.
		c. on preteens with epistaxis.
		d. on pregnant women.
Preeclampsia is a condition that can lead to stroke in pregnant women with high blood pressure. Proteinuria is an easily detectable sign of impending preeclampsia and can be easily tested with a urine dipstick. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Quality starts with who wrote the material.

Our practice exam writer

Melanie Shearer, MS, MT (ASCP), CMA (AAMA) is an Assistant Professor at Cuyahoga Community College, where she teaches medical assisting. Ms. Shearer volunteers her time to the Medical Assisting Education Review Board of the AAMA, serving as a member of the Leadership in Education and Practice Task Force and a program surveyor.

Dr. David Valte, MD, is a professor in medical assisting at Keiser University. He is also an adjunct instructor at the Arizona College of Nursing. Dr. Valte has taught medical assisting at numerous schools and has held department head and chairman positions in medical assisting education departments. He is a registered educator with the AAMA.

Christine Cline, CMA (AAMA) formerly instructed in medical assisting for five years as adjunct faculty at Everett Community College.

Our Practice Tests follow the actual CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam Outline:

General

Medical Terminology

Anatomy & Physiology

Psychology

Professionalism

Communication

Medicolegal Guidelines

Administrative

Data Entry

Equipment

Records Mgmt.

Processing Mail

Scheduling Appointments

Resource Info.

Maintaining Office

Office Policies, Procedures

Practice Finances

Clinical

Infection Control

Treatment Area

Patient Preparation...

Patient History, Interview

Specimen, Diagnostics...

Preparing, Admin. Medications...

Emergencies

First Aid

Nutrition

The three most popular medical assistant certifications are CMA by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), RMA by the American Medical Technologists (AMT) and the NCMA by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). In most cases, certification by any of these organizations will be accepted nationally.

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