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To become a certified clinical medical assistant, you'll need to pass the CCMA certification exam. This exam and earning a certification to become a certified clinical medical assistant is a great way to advance your career.
With that in mind, here's everything you need to know to pass the exam with flying colors.
What is the CCMA exam?
The CCMA exam is an exam that all candidates need to pass to become credentialed by the Certifying Board of the AAMA.
There are a number of questions included which could be any of the following:
- Which of the following is the term for an abnormally low white blood cell count?
- Which of the following terms describes the body’s ability to maintain its normal state?
- An area of dead myocardial tissue is best described by which of the following?
There are many places medical assistants can work and becoming a CCMA gives you a more tailored choice of where you can work.
CCMA exam structure
The exam structure is made up of five parts, each contributing a certain amount to the overall exam score. Take a look below at what you'll expect when it comes to the CCMA certification exam structure.
- Domain 1: Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science (10%)
- Domain 2: Clinical Patient Care (56%)
- Domain 3: Patient Care Coordination and Education (8%)
- Domain 4: Administrative Assisting (8%)
- Domain 5: Communication and Customer Service (8%)
As you can tell, the clinical patient care section is probably one of the most influential in your CCMA exam success. However, it's important to read up on what each domain includes from medical law to laboratory procedures.
How to apply for the CCMA exam
1. Go to the NHA website and create an account
2. Pay the application fee
3. Submit your application materials
4. Schedule your exam
5. Take the exam and pass!
Remember that failing the test doesn't mean the end of the world. You can either retake it or explore alternative jobs for medical assistants if you're looking for something new. You could always compare roles, like medical assistant vs CNA positions.
What are the CCMA exam requirements?
There are a number of CCMA exam requirements to ensure your application is approved for you to take the exam in the first place. These exam requirements include:
- You must be at least 17 years old.
- You must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- You must have completed a medical assistant program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
- You must have at least one year of experience working as a medical assistant.
Medical assistants that are looking to advance in this field, should ensure they've got at least one year of experience. More than a year in a medical assistant role would be beneficial.
Tips for passing the CCMA exam
To give yourself the best chance at earning this medical assistant certification test, here are some tips to pass the CCMA exam.
Create a study schedule
To pass the CCMA exam successfully, it's worth having a study schedule in place. That way, test takers will hopefully be full of all the knowledge they need to pass the first time.
Use study materials from the NHA
There are plenty of study materials that are useful to have available from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Of course, the medical assistant skills and experience you've had so far might offer enough prior knowledge but there's no harm in having more study materials available.
Take practice exams
Practice tests are the best way to help increase your chances of passing first time. Make sure you take a practice test or two to help test your knowledge.
Get enough sleep the night before the exam
Just like your medical assistant training, being prepared and well-rested is important to make the most out of the day ahead. Make sure you're getting enough sleep the night before so that you can wake up fresh-faced and ready to go.
Arrive early at the testing center
To ensure you step into that exam room on time, ensure you've arrived early at the test center. It's always better to be early to a test than to be running late.
Stay calm and focused during the exam
The last thing you want to do is panic when it comes to an exam. Stay calm and focus on simply answering the questions as best as you can. Remember, you can always retake the test.
With a CCMA certification, it may influence how much you earn. Take a look at the state with the highest salary for medical assistants to get a good understanding of different areas you might want to practice in.
CCMA exam FAQs
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