TL;DR
The Medical Assistant Certification (CMA & RMA) exam is administered by CMA: American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). RMA: American Medical Technologists (AMT) with a CMA: ~69-76% first attempt. RMA: ~70% first attempt pass rate. This guide covers all 6 content domains, common failure modes, and sample questions. The exam format is CMA: 200 questions (180 scored), 160 minutes. RMA: 210 questions (all scored), 120 minutes with a CMA: 160 minutes (4 segments of 40 min). RMA: 120 minutes time limit.
Medical Assistant Certification (CMA & RMA): Complete Guide
Everything you need to know before you start studying.
Exam Facts
What the Exam Tests
Clinical Procedures
CMA: 59% / RMA: 52%Vital signs measurement, injection techniques (IM, SubQ, ID — know sites, gauge, and angle for each), specimen collection, EKG placement and interpretation basics, wound care, patient intake, and clinical decision-making within scope of practice.
Anatomy & Physiology
RMA dedicated: 20.9% / CMA: within ClinicalBody systems, medical terminology (roots, prefixes, suffixes), pathophysiology of common conditions (diabetes, hypertension, COPD), and disease processes. RMA tests this as a standalone domain with deeper pathophysiology.
Pharmacology
Both examsDrug classifications, routes of administration, dosage calculations, prescription abbreviations (BID, TID, QID, PRN, AC, PC), controlled substance schedules, medication administration techniques, and the 7 rights of medication administration.
Administrative Procedures
CMA: 20% / RMA: 27%Medical records (SOAP notes), insurance and billing (ICD-10/CPT coding), scheduling methods, HIPAA compliance, telephone techniques, and office management. RMA weighs this more heavily than CMA.
Laboratory Procedures
Both examsPhlebotomy (order of draw is THE most tested lab topic), urinalysis, CLIA-waived testing, hematology basics (CBC normal ranges), specimen processing, and quality control.
General/Legal/Ethics
CMA: 21%Medical law (scope of practice, malpractice, negligence), ethics, patient rights, infection control (standard precautions, OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard), first aid, nutrition, and communication skills.
Common Reasons Candidates Fail
1. Order of draw
The phlebotomy order of draw (blood culture → light blue citrate → red/gold SST → green heparin → lavender EDTA → gray oxalate) is tested on both CMA and RMA exams, often multiple times. Candidates who don't memorize it in order lose guaranteed points.
2. Injection site and technique confusion
IM injections (deltoid for adults, vastus lateralis for infants, 90° angle, 22-25G 1-1.5" needle), SubQ (45° angle, abdomen/upper arm/thigh, 25G 5/8" needle), and ID (15° angle, inner forearm, 26-27G 3/8" needle — for TB/PPD testing). Mixing up angles, sites, or gauge sizes is a common error.
3. Medical coding basics
Both exams test basic ICD-10 and CPT coding concepts. Candidates often confuse diagnosis codes (ICD-10) with procedure codes (CPT), or don't understand modifiers, primary vs secondary diagnosis, or the relationship between diagnosis and procedure coding.
4. RMA time pressure
The RMA exam gives only ~34 seconds per question (210 questions in 120 minutes) compared to CMA's ~53 seconds. RMA candidates who don't practice under timed conditions run out of time.
Practice Questions
Click "Reveal answer" to see the correct answer and explanation.
Q1.What is the correct order of draw for venipuncture tubes?
Q2.A tuberculin (PPD/Mantoux) skin test is administered via which injection route?
Q3.In SOAP documentation, "Patient reports sharp pain in the right lower abdomen for 2 days" belongs in which section?
Q4.Which of the following is a CLIA-waived test?
Q5.The normal adult hemoglobin range for a female is:
Practice adaptively for CMA and RMA certification: Valenke covers clinical procedures, pharmacology, phlebotomy, anatomy, coding, and more — with content tagged for both exams.
Start free practice →Frequently Asked Questions
▶What is the difference between CMA and RMA?
CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) is administered by AAMA and has 200 questions in 160 minutes. RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) is administered by AMT and has 210 questions in 120 minutes. Content overlap is ~85-90%. CMA is perceived as slightly harder on clinical depth; RMA has tighter time pressure. Both are nationally recognized.
▶What topics are on the medical assistant certification exam?
Both CMA and RMA cover clinical procedures (vital signs, injections, EKG, specimens), anatomy & physiology, pharmacology, administrative procedures (billing, coding, scheduling, HIPAA), laboratory procedures (phlebotomy, urinalysis), and medical law/ethics.
▶What is the most tested topic on the CMA/RMA exam?
Clinical procedures is the largest domain on both exams (59% of CMA, 52% of RMA). Within clinical, phlebotomy order of draw and injection techniques are the most frequently tested specific topics. Pharmacology and medical coding also appear heavily.