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CMAA — CERTIFIED MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
CMAA — CERTIFIED MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT EXAM — 250 Practice
Questions
This comprehensive CMAA practice exam is designed to assess your knowledge and
readiness for the National Health career Association (NHA) Certified Medical
Administrative Assistant (CMAA) certification exam.
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE (Questions 1-10)
1. Which of the following is the most common healthcare setting for a Certified
Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) to work?
A. Hospital emergency department.
B. Inpatient psychiatric unit.
C. Outpatient medical practice or clinic.
D. Nursing home facility.
Answer: C. Rationale: The majority of CMAA-certified professionals work in outpatient
medical practices, clinics, and physician offices. CMAA certification specifically
focuses on the administrative functions required in ambulatory care settings.
2. A medical administrative assistant is responsible for managing patient records.
Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of a medical record?
A. To document financial transactions.
B. To serve as a legal record of patient care.
C. To track employee performance.
D. To advertise the practice's services.
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Answer: B. Rationale: The medical record serves as a legal document that chronicles
the patient's medical history, diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes. It is essential for
continuity of care and serves as a legal record of the care provided.
3. What is the meaning of the abbreviation "EHR" in a medical administrative
context?
A. Electronic Health Record.
B. Emergency Health Response.
C. Employee Health Report.
D. Electronic Hospital Registry.
Answer: A. Rationale: EHR stands for Electronic Health Record, which is a digital
version of a patient's paper chart. EHRs are real-time, patient-centered records that
make information available instantly and securely to authorized users.
4. Which of the following is a key responsibility of a CMAA in an outpatient medical
practice?
A. Performing surgical procedures.
B. Administering medications to patients.
C. Managing patient scheduling and intake.
D. Interpreting laboratory results.
Answer: C. Rationale: Managing patient scheduling and intake is a core administrative
responsibility of a CMAA. Clinical tasks such as performing surgery, administering
medications, and interpreting lab results are outside the scope of practice for medical
administrative assistants.
5. What is the primary role of the medical administrative assistant in maintaining
the daily operations of a medical practice?
A. Diagnosing medical conditions.
B. Ensuring efficient office workflow.
C. Prescribing medications.
D. Performing phlebotomy.
Answer: B. Rationale: The CMAA's primary role is to ensure efficient office workflow by
managing administrative tasks such as scheduling, patient intake, records
management, and billing support. Clinical tasks like diagnosing, prescribing, and
phlebotomy are performed by licensed clinical professionals.
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6. Which healthcare setting would MOST likely employ a CMAA with specialized
training in medical billing and coding?
A. A hospital laboratory.
B. A physical therapy clinic.
C. A radiology center.
D. A multi-specialty physician group practice.
Answer: D. Rationale: Multi-specialty physician group practices have complex billing
and coding needs due to the variety of services provided. CMAA professionals in these
settings often require knowledge of medical billing and coding fundamentals.
7. What is the meaning of the abbreviation "OSHA" as it relates to the medical
administrative assistant's responsibilities?
A. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
B. Office of Standards and Healthcare Administration.
C. Organization for Safety and Health Assessment.
D. Occupational Standards for Healthcare Assistants.
Answer: A. Rationale: OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, a federal agency that sets and enforces workplace safety standards.
Medical administrative assistants must be aware of OSHA regulations, including those
related to bloodborne pathogens and workplace safety.
8. Which of the following is the most important professional attribute for a medical
administrative assistant?
A. The ability to diagnose illnesses.
B. Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
C. Advanced clinical procedure knowledge.
D. Proficiency in surgical techniques.
Answer: B. Rationale: Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential for a
CMAA because the role involves frequent interaction with patients, providers, insurance
companies, and other healthcare professionals.
9. The CMAA is responsible for processing incoming and outgoing mail. Which of
the following describes the proper procedure for handling mail in a medical office?
A. Open all mail and distribute it immediately.
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B. Sort mail, open it, date-stamp it, and distribute it appropriately.
C. Only open mail marked "personal" or "confidential."
D. Return all mail to the sender.
Answer: B. Rationale: Proper mail handling includes sorting incoming mail, opening it,
date-stamping it for documentation purposes, and distributing it to the appropriate staff
members. This ensures timely processing and accountability.
10. A medical administrative assistant is responsible for ordering office supplies.
What is the best practice for inventory management?
A. Order supplies only when completely out.
B. Maintain a par level and reorder when supplies reach that level.
C. Order the maximum quantity of every item monthly.
D. Allow each provider to order their own supplies.
Answer: B. Rationale: Maintaining a par level (minimum quantity to keep in stock) and
reordering when supplies reach that level ensures that the office has adequate supplies
without overstocking or running out.
SECTION 2: COMMUNICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM (Questions 11-31)
11. A patient calls the medical office and is angry about a billing issue. What is the
MOST appropriate way for the medical administrative assistant to handle this call?
A. Transfer the call to the billing department immediately.
B. Listen actively, acknowledge the patient's frustration, and offer to help resolve the
issue.
C. Tell the patient to calm down before proceeding.
D. Place the patient on hold indefinitely.
Answer: B. Rationale: Active listening and acknowledging the patient's frustration is the
first step in de-escalating a difficult call. The administrative assistant should then
attempt to resolve the issue or transfer the call to the appropriate person.
12. Which of the following is an example of professional written communication in
a medical office?
A. Sending a text message to a patient about their test results.
CMAA — CERTIFIED MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
CMAA — CERTIFIED MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT EXAM — 250 Practice
Questions
This comprehensive CMAA practice exam is designed to assess your knowledge and
readiness for the National Health career Association (NHA) Certified Medical
Administrative Assistant (CMAA) certification exam.
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE (Questions 1-10)
1. Which of the following is the most common healthcare setting for a Certified
Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) to work?
A. Hospital emergency department.
B. Inpatient psychiatric unit.
C. Outpatient medical practice or clinic.
D. Nursing home facility.
Answer: C. Rationale: The majority of CMAA-certified professionals work in outpatient
medical practices, clinics, and physician offices. CMAA certification specifically
focuses on the administrative functions required in ambulatory care settings.
2. A medical administrative assistant is responsible for managing patient records.
Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of a medical record?
A. To document financial transactions.
B. To serve as a legal record of patient care.
C. To track employee performance.
D. To advertise the practice's services.
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Answer: B. Rationale: The medical record serves as a legal document that chronicles
the patient's medical history, diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes. It is essential for
continuity of care and serves as a legal record of the care provided.
3. What is the meaning of the abbreviation "EHR" in a medical administrative
context?
A. Electronic Health Record.
B. Emergency Health Response.
C. Employee Health Report.
D. Electronic Hospital Registry.
Answer: A. Rationale: EHR stands for Electronic Health Record, which is a digital
version of a patient's paper chart. EHRs are real-time, patient-centered records that
make information available instantly and securely to authorized users.
4. Which of the following is a key responsibility of a CMAA in an outpatient medical
practice?
A. Performing surgical procedures.
B. Administering medications to patients.
C. Managing patient scheduling and intake.
D. Interpreting laboratory results.
Answer: C. Rationale: Managing patient scheduling and intake is a core administrative
responsibility of a CMAA. Clinical tasks such as performing surgery, administering
medications, and interpreting lab results are outside the scope of practice for medical
administrative assistants.
5. What is the primary role of the medical administrative assistant in maintaining
the daily operations of a medical practice?
A. Diagnosing medical conditions.
B. Ensuring efficient office workflow.
C. Prescribing medications.
D. Performing phlebotomy.
Answer: B. Rationale: The CMAA's primary role is to ensure efficient office workflow by
managing administrative tasks such as scheduling, patient intake, records
management, and billing support. Clinical tasks like diagnosing, prescribing, and
phlebotomy are performed by licensed clinical professionals.
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6. Which healthcare setting would MOST likely employ a CMAA with specialized
training in medical billing and coding?
A. A hospital laboratory.
B. A physical therapy clinic.
C. A radiology center.
D. A multi-specialty physician group practice.
Answer: D. Rationale: Multi-specialty physician group practices have complex billing
and coding needs due to the variety of services provided. CMAA professionals in these
settings often require knowledge of medical billing and coding fundamentals.
7. What is the meaning of the abbreviation "OSHA" as it relates to the medical
administrative assistant's responsibilities?
A. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
B. Office of Standards and Healthcare Administration.
C. Organization for Safety and Health Assessment.
D. Occupational Standards for Healthcare Assistants.
Answer: A. Rationale: OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, a federal agency that sets and enforces workplace safety standards.
Medical administrative assistants must be aware of OSHA regulations, including those
related to bloodborne pathogens and workplace safety.
8. Which of the following is the most important professional attribute for a medical
administrative assistant?
A. The ability to diagnose illnesses.
B. Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
C. Advanced clinical procedure knowledge.
D. Proficiency in surgical techniques.
Answer: B. Rationale: Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential for a
CMAA because the role involves frequent interaction with patients, providers, insurance
companies, and other healthcare professionals.
9. The CMAA is responsible for processing incoming and outgoing mail. Which of
the following describes the proper procedure for handling mail in a medical office?
A. Open all mail and distribute it immediately.
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B. Sort mail, open it, date-stamp it, and distribute it appropriately.
C. Only open mail marked "personal" or "confidential."
D. Return all mail to the sender.
Answer: B. Rationale: Proper mail handling includes sorting incoming mail, opening it,
date-stamping it for documentation purposes, and distributing it to the appropriate staff
members. This ensures timely processing and accountability.
10. A medical administrative assistant is responsible for ordering office supplies.
What is the best practice for inventory management?
A. Order supplies only when completely out.
B. Maintain a par level and reorder when supplies reach that level.
C. Order the maximum quantity of every item monthly.
D. Allow each provider to order their own supplies.
Answer: B. Rationale: Maintaining a par level (minimum quantity to keep in stock) and
reordering when supplies reach that level ensures that the office has adequate supplies
without overstocking or running out.
SECTION 2: COMMUNICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM (Questions 11-31)
11. A patient calls the medical office and is angry about a billing issue. What is the
MOST appropriate way for the medical administrative assistant to handle this call?
A. Transfer the call to the billing department immediately.
B. Listen actively, acknowledge the patient's frustration, and offer to help resolve the
issue.
C. Tell the patient to calm down before proceeding.
D. Place the patient on hold indefinitely.
Answer: B. Rationale: Active listening and acknowledging the patient's frustration is the
first step in de-escalating a difficult call. The administrative assistant should then
attempt to resolve the issue or transfer the call to the appropriate person.
12. Which of the following is an example of professional written communication in
a medical office?
A. Sending a text message to a patient about their test results.
