CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam Content Outline - Number and Percent of Questions by Category

Sep 27, 2026

Comprehensive CMA (AAMA) certification exam content outline detailing accredited certification program context and the question distribution by major categories. Summarizes the clinical competency, general, and administrative sections with total scored items and notes that 20 questions are pretested. Provides a granular blueprint of clinical workflow, infection control, medical documentation, screenings, and provider order processing, including specific subtopics and competencies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Number and Percent of Questions by Category

Clinical Competency

General

Administrative

CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam Content Outline

I. Clinical Competency

A. Clinical Workflow: Patient Intake and Discharge

B. Safety and Infection Control

5. Medical Asepsis

6. Biohazard Disposal/Regulated Waste

7. Safety Resources

8. Safety and Emergency Procedures

9. Emergency Management, Identification, and Response/Basic First Aid

10. Body Mechanics/Ergonomics

11. Risk Management, Quality Assurance, and Safety Procedures

Content Outline For the CMA (AAMA)® Certification Exam A publication of the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants® The Certification Program of the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) as a result of demonstrating compliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. The NCCA is the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE), formerly called the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA). The NCCA Standards were created to ensure that certification programs adhere to modern standards of practice for the certification industry. Number and Percent of Questions by Category | Section | Category | Number/Percent | | --- | --- | --- | | | Clinical Competency | | | I. A. | Clinical Workflow: Patient Intake and Discharge | | | I. B. | Safety and Infection Control | | | I. C. | Procedures/Examinations | | | I. D. | Pharmacology | | | | Number of Questions | 106 | | | Percent of Questions | 59% | | | General | | | II. E. | Legal and Ethical Issues | | | II. F. | Communication | | | | Number of Questions | 38 | | | Percent of Questions | 21% | | | Administrative | | | III. G. | Billing, Coding, and Insurance | | | III. H. | Schedule Appointments and Health Information Management | | | | Number of Questions | 36 | | | Percent of Questions | 20% | | | | | | | Total Number | 180* | | | Total Percent | 100% | *The exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions. Of these, 180 questions will be scored, and 20 will be pretested. AAMA/CB/Exam Questions-Number and Percent/Rev: 1/26 CMA (AAMA)® Certification Exam Content Outline I. Clinical Competency A. Clinical Workflow: Patient Intake and Discharge 1. Vital Signs a. Blood pressure principles and technique b. Pulse points and techniques (1) Rate and rhythm c. Height/Weight/BMI d. Body temperature techniques and equipment e. Pulse oximetry f. Respiration rate and pattern g. Pain scale h. Pediatric measurements/ Growth chart i. Recognize/Document/Report age-specific normal and abnormal vital signs 2. Medical Terminology a. Word parts (roots, combining forms, prefixes, suffixes) b. Diagnostic procedures c. Surgical procedures 3. Interviewing Techniques a. Obtain concise and accurate reporting of relevant information b. Open-ended/Exploratory questions c. Closed/Direct questions 4. Documentation of Care a. Chief concern b. Subjective data/Present illness c. Review of systems d. Past medical history e. Reconciliation of medicationsand/or allergies f. Family history g. Social and occupational history h. Objective data/Examination i. Treatment/Compliance j. Making addenda/corrections 5. Patient Screenings/Wellness Assessments a. Cancer prevention and screening b. Prevention/Screening of sexually transmitted infections c. Nicotine risks and cessation d. Recognition of substance use/ addiction e. Osteoporosis screening f. Domestic violence screening and detection g. Suicide awareness and response h. Depression screening 6. Processing Provider Orders a. Diabetic teaching b. Instructions on use of mobility equipment and assistive devices (e.g., crutches, cane, walker, wheelchair) c. Pre-/Post procedure/treatment instructions d. Patient-administered treatments and medications (e.g., self-injections, nebulizers) e. Home monitoring (e.g., blood pressure, anticoagulation, blood sugar) f. Alternative medicine/Massage/Acupuncture g. Nutrition counseling (1) Basic nutritional elements (a) Carbohydrates (b) Fats (c) Proteins (d) Minerals and electrolytes (e) Vitamins (f) Fiber (g) Water (2) Function of dietary supplements and herbs (3) Special dietary needs (a) Weight control (b) Diabetes (c) Cardiovascular disease/ Hypertension (d) Cancer (e) Food sensi

FAQs

How many questions are scored versus pretested in the CMA (AAMA) certification exam?

The exam includes 200 multiple-choice questions. Of these, 180 questions are scored, and 20 are pretested.

What are the three main areas used to report the number and percent of questions?

The outline groups questions into Clinical Competency, General, and Administrative, with totals and percentages listed for each section.

Which topics are covered under Clinical Workflow: Patient Intake and Discharge?

Topics include vital signs, medical terminology, interviewing techniques, documentation of care, patient screenings/wellness assessments, and processing provider orders with detailed sub-competencies.

Sep 27, 2026

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