CMA (AAMA) Exam Pass Rate, Format & Study Guide

The AAMA exam content outline lists a CMA (AAMA) exam of 200 multiple-choice questions, of which 180 are scored and 20 are pretest questions, taken in four 40-minute segments, 160 minutes in total; the portal mock uses 180 questions in 160 minutes. Results are reported as a scaled score on a 200 to 800 scale. AAMA lists a minimum passing score of 405 on its exam application, and third-party sites quote other figures, so confirm the current passing score with AAMA. The exam content outline lists three content areas with these shares of the exam: Clinical Competency 59 percent, General 21 and Administrative 20.

The CMA (AAMA) credential is a widely recognised medical assisting credential, and the exam is the way to earn it after meeting AAMA eligibility requirements.

Medical assisting students and graduates preparing for the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam.

The certifying body does not publicly publish an official pass rate for this exam. Be wary of third-party sites citing a specific number here — treat any pass-rate claim you see elsewhere for this exam as unverified.

AAMA allows six attempts per year, and each attempt requires a new exam application and fee; confirm the current rule with AAMA.

AAMA reports a scaled score on a 200 to 800 scale and lists 405 as the minimum passing score on its exam application. A scaled score is not a percentage of questions correct, so the portal mock shows a percent score only as a rough self-check. Format: 200 multiple-choice questions, 180 of them scored, in four 40-minute segments; the portal mock has 180 questions in 160 minutes, the same scored size and total time. No official pass rate is available for this exam, so none is quoted here.

The AAMA exam content outline lists a CMA (AAMA) exam of 200 multiple-choice questions, of which 180 are scored and 20 are pretest questions, taken in four 40-minute segments, 160 minutes in total; the portal mock uses 180 questions in 160 minutes. Results are reported as a scaled score on a 200 to 800 scale. AAMA lists a minimum passing score of 405 on its exam application, and third-party sites quote other figures, so confirm the current passing score with AAMA. The exam content outline lists three content areas with these shares of the exam: Clinical Competency 59 percent, General 21 and Administrative 20. 200 multiple-choice questions (180 scored, 20 pretest) · four timed segments of 40 minutes · scaled score · computer-based. AAMA reports a scaled score on a 200 to 800 scale and lists 405 as the minimum passing score on its exam application. A scaled score is not a percentage of questions correct, so the portal mock shows a percent score only as a rough self-check.

• Clinical Competency59%
• General21%
• Administrative20%

The content outline spreads questions across 3 areas: Clinical Competency (59.0%); General (21.0%); Administrative (20.0%).

AAMA accepts four routes: a student or graduate of a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited medical assisting program, a previously certified CMA (AAMA), a medical assisting educator with at least 1,000 hours in a postsecondary program at an accredited institution, or the Alternative Pathway. Your program director verifies program completion.

The exam application fee is nonrefundable: $125 for AAMA members and $250 for nonmembers, or $125 for students and recent graduates of accredited programs. Each new attempt needs its own application and fee.

The CMA (AAMA) credential has to be recertified; AAMA publishes the recertification options and deadlines, and recertifying candidates are listed on the AAMA application fee schedule. Check AAMA for what applies after you pass.

Start with the heaviest areas of the content outline: Clinical Competency (59.0%); General (21.0%); Administrative (20.0%). Then work through the remaining areas, and finish with timed full-length practice runs of 180 questions in one sitting.

This guide follows the AAMA exam content outline (revised January 2026); AAMA updates its outline periodically, so check aama-ntl.org before you book.