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FAQs on CMA (AAMA) Certification Got questions? We've got answers to the most frequently asked questions about the CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Examination. For more details, review the Candidate Application and Handbook. You may also contact us at certification@aama-ntl.org or call 800/228-2262 and ask to speak to the Certification Department staff.
Q: Am I eligible to take the exam? A: To qualify for the exam, you must be in one of three enrollment categories:
A: There are two reasons you would not be eligible:
A: The exam may be taken throughout the year at a Prometric testing center (open 8 to 10 hours per day, five to six days a week) of your choice. Each candidate is allowed a 90-day period in which to take the exam. Your 90-day testing period will be assigned based on the testing period start date you indicate on your application. A: The start date should be the earliest possible date that you wish to sit for the exam. Applications are due at least 90 days in advance of the first of the month in which your testing period start date begins. Refer to the following chart for assistance in determining when you should mail your application.
A: If you are a member of the AAMA or a CAAHEP or ABHES completing student or recent graduate, your fee is $125. All others pay $250. All fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable. Personal checks will not be accepted. Candidate fees must be paid by any of the following methods:
Applications submitted without proper fee payment will delay scheduling of your exam appointment or may be returned to you. Membership in the AAMA gives you great benefits that will help you on your career path. Discover these benefits and join today.
A: The documentation required varies for each category:
A: If you are a completing student or graduate, your program director will receive a form that must be completed to verify that you fulfilled all formal coursework requirements, including a practicum, and that you did not take the CMA (AAMA) Exam more than 30 days prior to the date that you fulfilled all program requirements. If you are a nonrecent graduate you must submit an official transcript with your application.
A: Mail your application, candidate fee, and documentation (if necessary) in one envelope to:
A: No. We cannot accept faxed applications.
A: You will be informed within 30 days of the date you mailed your application. If you have met all application requirements, you will receive a scheduling permit that contains instructions for making a testing appointment. If your application is incomplete, you will receive a letter explaining the deficiencies, which may include the following:
If you do not receive a response within 30 days, please notify the Certification Department by calling 800/228-2262 or by e-mailing certification@aama-ntl.org. Include the following information:
A: You will receive a scheduling permit approximately three weeks prior to your testing start date with instructions for making an appointment. You will need the scheduling ID number on your permit in order to schedule an appointment. Once you receive your permit, you may schedule an appointment online at a Prometric test center in your area. The sooner you schedule your appointment, the more likely you will receive your preferred time and location. An e-mail confirming your appointment will be sent to you. A: The computerized exam consists of 200 multiple-choice questions covering topic areas that are listed in the CMA (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Examination Content Outline. Before the exam begins, there will be an optional tutorial that shows how to navigate through the exam. The maximum time allowed for the tutorial is 15 minutes. The time used for the tutorial is not counted as part of the exam time and will not affect your score. Following the tutorial, the exam will be administered in four 40-minute segments. You will have an optional 20-minute total for breaks between segments. You will have 160 minutes to answer all the exam questions. The maximum time allowed for your exam appointment will be 195 minutes (i.e., three hours and 15 minutes).
A: An unofficial pass/fail result will be provided to you immediately upon your completion of the exam. A final, official report of the scores you achieved will be mailed to you after your exam date and upon verification that you have fulfilled all application requirements. An official report of the score achieved and certification status (pass or fail) will be mailed 10 weeks after the exam date. If you have not received an official exam score report within 12 weeks of the date you sat for the exam, contact the AAMA Certification Department. Candidates who pass the exam and receive official notification of their scores will be awarded the CMA (AAMA) credential.
A: If you pass the exam, you will receive your CMA (AAMA) certificate and wallet card approximately nine weeks after the score reports are mailed.
A: If your unofficial result indicates that you did not pass, you may submit an application and candidate fee at your earliest convenience; however, at least 90 days must elapse before you may sit for the exam again.
A: Initial candidates for the CMA (AAMA) Exam who graduate on or after January 1, 2010 are allowed three exam attempts.
A: Initial candidates for the CMA (AAMA) Exam who graduate on or after January 1, 2010 have 60 months from the date of graduation to sit for and pass the exam. If the candidate does not pass within the 60-month time frame, the candidate is no longer eligible for the CMA (AAMA) credential.
A: Yes. To better ensure continuing competency and knowledge and thus better protect patients, you are required to recertify your credential every 60 months. You must maintain currency in order to use the credential in connection with employment. You may recertify by examination or through continuing education. Become familiar with recertification requirements so that you're always up to date.
A: Yes. Certification status is a matter of public record and may be released. Your CMA (AAMA) Certification status can be verified on the Verify Employee CMA (AAMA) Status page. The CMA (AAMA) credential has the reputation of being the gold standard for the profession. Greater numbers of employers are preferring (or even insisting) that their medical assistants be CMAs (AAMA). The AAMA staff receives 100 or more requests per day to verify that current or potential medical assistant employees are CMAs (AAMA). Of the credentialed medical assistants in the work force today, CMAs (AAMA) comprise the majority.
A: CMA (AAMA) lapel pins, replacement certificates, and wallet cards may be ordered by completing and mailing in the CMA (AAMA) Certificate and Lapel Pin Order Form (pdf). |
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