Question 1
A medical assistant applies a tourniquet to locate a vein. What is the longest it should stay on?
How hard is the medical assistant exam?
From July 2024 to April 2025, 69% of first-time candidates passed the CMA (AAMA) exam. Both exams turn your right answers into a scaled score, and you need 405 of 800 on the CMA (AAMA) exam or 390 of 500 on the CCMA exam.
| CMA (AAMA) first-time pass rate | 69%, July 2024 to April 2025 |
|---|---|
| CMA (AAMA) exams given | 4,171 in that period, 2,680 of them first attempts |
| CMA (AAMA) passing score | 405 on a 200 to 800 scale |
| CCMA passing score | 390 on a 200 to 500 scale |
What makes it hard
The range. One exam asks about drawing blood, coding a claim, a HIPAA release and an asthma attack in the same hour. Most candidates are strong in the parts they practice every day and weak in the ones their externship skipped.
The clock. The CMA (AAMA) exam allows 160 minutes for 200 questions, about 48 seconds each. The CCMA exam allows about a minute an item.
How the scores work
CMA (AAMA): your score is based on the number of right answers, placed on a 200 to 800 scale. You see pass or fail as soon as you finish, and a score report comes by email about 24 hours later.
CCMA: each exam form is scaled from 200 to 500, so the passing score of 390 means the same on every form. The score report shows whether you were above, near or below the passing standard in each content area.
Making it easier
Find your weakest area first, then practice it on the clock. The free practice test does the first part in about 15 minutes.
Try 3 questions
Question 2
The provider orders 500 mg of a drug by mouth. The tablets on hand are 250 mg each. How many tablets are given?
Question 3
A 17-year-old patient who is legally emancipated comes in for a procedure. Who signs the consent form?
Next step
Questions people ask
What is the CMA (AAMA) pass rate?
The AAMA reports a 69% pass rate for first-time candidates from July 2024 to April 2025.
What score do you need to pass the CMA (AAMA) exam?
405 or more, on a scale of 200 to 800.
What score do you need to pass the CCMA exam?
A scaled score of 390 or higher, on a scale of 200 to 500.
Do the pretest questions count?
No. On both exams they are mixed in unmarked and do not affect your score.