National CMA Exam 2025/2026 | Complete Exam
with Verified Questions & 100% Correct Answers
National Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Exam | Key Concepts: Medical Terminology,
Anatomy & Physiology, Pharmacology, Clinical Procedures, Laboratory Procedures, Infection
Control, Patient Care, Medical Law & Ethics, and Administrative Duties | Expert-Verified Q&A |
Certification & Exam-Ready
Introduction
This updated 2025/2026 National CMA Exam resource provides 200 fully verified exam
questions with 100% correct answers. Content covers essential CMA knowledge including
clinical skills, patient care techniques, medical office administration, pharmacology basics,
laboratory testing, and compliance with legal and ethical standards. All answers are already
graded A+ and ensure complete preparation for the National CMA certification exam success.
Answer Format
All correct answers are highlighted in bold and green, with rationales that explain medical
assisting principles, reinforce safe and effective practice, and strengthen exam-focused critical
thinking for certification readiness.
Questions 1–200
1. What does the prefix "brady-" mean in medical terminology?
a) Fast
b) Slow
c) Painful
d) Above
b) Slow
Rationale: The prefix "brady-" means slow, as in bradycardia (slow heart rate), per medical
terminology standards.
2. What is the medical term for inflammation of the liver?
a) Nephritis
b) Hepatitis
c) Gastritis
d) Dermatitis
b) Hepatitis
Rationale: Hepatitis refers to liver inflammation, with "hepato-" meaning liver, per medical
terminology standards.
,3. What does the suffix "-ectomy" indicate?
a) Study of
b) Surgical removal
c) Inflammation
d) Tumor
b) Surgical removal
Rationale: The suffix "-ectomy" denotes surgical removal, as in appendectomy, per medical
terminology standards.
4. What is the term for a rapid heartbeat?
a) Bradycardia
b) Tachycardia
c) Arrhythmia
d) Angina
b) Tachycardia
Rationale: Tachycardia, with "tachy-" meaning fast, refers to a rapid heart rate, per medical
terminology standards.
5. What does "cyan/o" refer to in medical terms?
a) Red
b) Blue
c) White
d) Yellow
b) Blue
Rationale: "Cyan/o" indicates blue, as in cyanosis (bluish skin), per medical terminology
standards.
6. What is the medical term for difficulty breathing?
a) Dyspnea
b) Apnea
c) Tachypnea
d) Bradypnea
a) Dyspnea
Rationale: Dyspnea refers to difficult or labored breathing, per medical terminology standards.
7. What does the root "cardi/o" pertain to?
a) Lung
b) Heart
c) Kidney
d) Liver
b) Heart
Rationale: "Cardi/o" refers to the heart, as in cardiology, per medical terminology standards.
8. What is the term for blood in the urine?
a) Hematuria
b) Hematoma
,c) Hemoptysis
d) Hemorrhage
a) Hematuria
Rationale: Hematuria, with "hemat/o" (blood) and "uria" (urine), means blood in the urine, per
medical terminology standards.
9. Which structure carries blood away from the heart?
a) Veins
b) Arteries
c) Capillaries
d) Venules
b) Arteries
Rationale: Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart, except for pulmonary arteries,
per anatomy and physiology.
10. What is the primary function of the pancreas?
a) Produce bile
b) Regulate blood sugar
c) Filter blood
d) Store urine
b) Regulate blood sugar
Rationale: The pancreas produces insulin and glucagon to regulate blood glucose levels, per
anatomy and physiology.
11. What is the generic name for the medication Lipitor?
a) Atorvastatin
b) Lisinopril
c) Metformin
d) Omeprazole
a) Atorvastatin
Rationale: Lipitor is the brand name for atorvastatin, a statin used to lower cholesterol, per
pharmacology standards.
12. What is the purpose of an autoclave in a medical office?
a) Measure blood pressure
b) Sterilize equipment
c) Administer injections
d) Perform ECGs
b) Sterilize equipment
Rationale: An autoclave uses steam under pressure to sterilize medical instruments, per
infection control standards.
13. What is the correct order of the blood draw in phlebotomy?
a) Red, lavender, green
b) Yellow, red, lavender
c) Blue, green, lavender
, d) Lavender, yellow, red
b) Yellow, red, lavender
Rationale: The order (yellow for blood cultures, red for serum, lavender for hematology)
prevents contamination, per laboratory procedures.
14. What does HIPAA stand for?
a) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
b) Healthcare Information Privacy and Access Act
c) Health Information Protection and Assurance Act
d) Healthcare Integrity and Patient Advocacy Act
a) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Rationale: HIPAA ensures patient data privacy and security, per medical law and ethics.
15. How should a medical assistant dispose of a used needle?
a) Place it in a regular trash bin
b) Place it in a sharps container
c) Recap it and store it
d) Dispose of it in a biohazard bag
b) Place it in a sharps container
Rationale: Needles must be disposed of in a puncture-resistant sharps container to ensure
safety, per infection control standards.
16. What is the normal range for adult blood pressure?
a) 140/90–160/100 mmHg
b) 120/80–139/89 mmHg
c) 90/60–119/79 mmHg
d) 160/100–180/110 mmHg
c) 90/60–119/79 mmHg
Rationale: Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg, per clinical procedure guidelines.
17. What is the term for the study of drugs and their effects on the body?
a) Pathology
b) Pharmacology
c) Physiology
d) Phlebotomy
b) Pharmacology
Rationale: Pharmacology studies drug actions and effects, per medical terminology.
18. What is the purpose of the tricuspid valve?
a) Regulates blood flow between the right atrium and ventricle
b) Carries blood to the lungs
c) Prevents blood backflow to the aorta
d) Filters blood in the kidneys
a) Regulates blood flow between the right atrium and ventricle
Rationale: The tricuspid valve prevents backflow between the right atrium and ventricle, per
anatomy and physiology.
with Verified Questions & 100% Correct Answers
National Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Exam | Key Concepts: Medical Terminology,
Anatomy & Physiology, Pharmacology, Clinical Procedures, Laboratory Procedures, Infection
Control, Patient Care, Medical Law & Ethics, and Administrative Duties | Expert-Verified Q&A |
Certification & Exam-Ready
Introduction
This updated 2025/2026 National CMA Exam resource provides 200 fully verified exam
questions with 100% correct answers. Content covers essential CMA knowledge including
clinical skills, patient care techniques, medical office administration, pharmacology basics,
laboratory testing, and compliance with legal and ethical standards. All answers are already
graded A+ and ensure complete preparation for the National CMA certification exam success.
Answer Format
All correct answers are highlighted in bold and green, with rationales that explain medical
assisting principles, reinforce safe and effective practice, and strengthen exam-focused critical
thinking for certification readiness.
Questions 1–200
1. What does the prefix "brady-" mean in medical terminology?
a) Fast
b) Slow
c) Painful
d) Above
b) Slow
Rationale: The prefix "brady-" means slow, as in bradycardia (slow heart rate), per medical
terminology standards.
2. What is the medical term for inflammation of the liver?
a) Nephritis
b) Hepatitis
c) Gastritis
d) Dermatitis
b) Hepatitis
Rationale: Hepatitis refers to liver inflammation, with "hepato-" meaning liver, per medical
terminology standards.
,3. What does the suffix "-ectomy" indicate?
a) Study of
b) Surgical removal
c) Inflammation
d) Tumor
b) Surgical removal
Rationale: The suffix "-ectomy" denotes surgical removal, as in appendectomy, per medical
terminology standards.
4. What is the term for a rapid heartbeat?
a) Bradycardia
b) Tachycardia
c) Arrhythmia
d) Angina
b) Tachycardia
Rationale: Tachycardia, with "tachy-" meaning fast, refers to a rapid heart rate, per medical
terminology standards.
5. What does "cyan/o" refer to in medical terms?
a) Red
b) Blue
c) White
d) Yellow
b) Blue
Rationale: "Cyan/o" indicates blue, as in cyanosis (bluish skin), per medical terminology
standards.
6. What is the medical term for difficulty breathing?
a) Dyspnea
b) Apnea
c) Tachypnea
d) Bradypnea
a) Dyspnea
Rationale: Dyspnea refers to difficult or labored breathing, per medical terminology standards.
7. What does the root "cardi/o" pertain to?
a) Lung
b) Heart
c) Kidney
d) Liver
b) Heart
Rationale: "Cardi/o" refers to the heart, as in cardiology, per medical terminology standards.
8. What is the term for blood in the urine?
a) Hematuria
b) Hematoma
,c) Hemoptysis
d) Hemorrhage
a) Hematuria
Rationale: Hematuria, with "hemat/o" (blood) and "uria" (urine), means blood in the urine, per
medical terminology standards.
9. Which structure carries blood away from the heart?
a) Veins
b) Arteries
c) Capillaries
d) Venules
b) Arteries
Rationale: Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart, except for pulmonary arteries,
per anatomy and physiology.
10. What is the primary function of the pancreas?
a) Produce bile
b) Regulate blood sugar
c) Filter blood
d) Store urine
b) Regulate blood sugar
Rationale: The pancreas produces insulin and glucagon to regulate blood glucose levels, per
anatomy and physiology.
11. What is the generic name for the medication Lipitor?
a) Atorvastatin
b) Lisinopril
c) Metformin
d) Omeprazole
a) Atorvastatin
Rationale: Lipitor is the brand name for atorvastatin, a statin used to lower cholesterol, per
pharmacology standards.
12. What is the purpose of an autoclave in a medical office?
a) Measure blood pressure
b) Sterilize equipment
c) Administer injections
d) Perform ECGs
b) Sterilize equipment
Rationale: An autoclave uses steam under pressure to sterilize medical instruments, per
infection control standards.
13. What is the correct order of the blood draw in phlebotomy?
a) Red, lavender, green
b) Yellow, red, lavender
c) Blue, green, lavender
, d) Lavender, yellow, red
b) Yellow, red, lavender
Rationale: The order (yellow for blood cultures, red for serum, lavender for hematology)
prevents contamination, per laboratory procedures.
14. What does HIPAA stand for?
a) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
b) Healthcare Information Privacy and Access Act
c) Health Information Protection and Assurance Act
d) Healthcare Integrity and Patient Advocacy Act
a) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Rationale: HIPAA ensures patient data privacy and security, per medical law and ethics.
15. How should a medical assistant dispose of a used needle?
a) Place it in a regular trash bin
b) Place it in a sharps container
c) Recap it and store it
d) Dispose of it in a biohazard bag
b) Place it in a sharps container
Rationale: Needles must be disposed of in a puncture-resistant sharps container to ensure
safety, per infection control standards.
16. What is the normal range for adult blood pressure?
a) 140/90–160/100 mmHg
b) 120/80–139/89 mmHg
c) 90/60–119/79 mmHg
d) 160/100–180/110 mmHg
c) 90/60–119/79 mmHg
Rationale: Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg, per clinical procedure guidelines.
17. What is the term for the study of drugs and their effects on the body?
a) Pathology
b) Pharmacology
c) Physiology
d) Phlebotomy
b) Pharmacology
Rationale: Pharmacology studies drug actions and effects, per medical terminology.
18. What is the purpose of the tricuspid valve?
a) Regulates blood flow between the right atrium and ventricle
b) Carries blood to the lungs
c) Prevents blood backflow to the aorta
d) Filters blood in the kidneys
a) Regulates blood flow between the right atrium and ventricle
Rationale: The tricuspid valve prevents backflow between the right atrium and ventricle, per
anatomy and physiology.
