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CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam practice questions

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Question 1General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

Which action is considered the single most important measure for preventing the spread of infection in a health care setting?

  1. Spraying the room with disinfectant between patients
  2. Replacing the clinic's air filters on a monthly schedule
  3. Wearing a fresh pair of gloves for every task performed
  4. Hand hygiene before and after each patient contact Correct answer.

Explanation

Hand hygiene interrupts the transmission link in the chain of infection and is recommended before and after every patient contact, whether or not gloves are worn. Gloves do not replace hand washing, and environmental measures are secondary to hand hygiene.

Question 2General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

Which prefix means "before"?

  1. Post-
  2. Hyper-
  3. Pre- Correct answer.
  4. Anti-

Explanation

The prefix pre- denotes before, as in preoperative (before surgery) or prenatal (before birth). Recognizing common prefixes helps the medical assistant interpret unfamiliar clinical terms accurately.

Question 3General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A living will is a legal document that:

  1. allows the physician to bill Medicare for hospice services
  2. names a person to make financial decisions for the patient
  3. states the patient's wishes about end-of-life medical treatment Correct answer.
  4. transfers ownership of the patient's medical records to a relative

Explanation

A living will is an advance directive that records the patient's preferences for life-sustaining treatment when the patient can no longer speak for themselves. It instructs caregivers rather than appointing a decision maker or transferring property.

Question 4General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

Which of the following is an example of an open-ended question?

  1. Do you have chest pain right now?
  2. What brings you to the clinic today? Correct answer.
  3. Did you eat breakfast this morning?
  4. Are you taking your medication daily?

Explanation

Open-ended questions invite the patient to explain in their own words and cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. They encourage fuller disclosure of symptoms and concerns than closed questions.

Question 5General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

The HIPAA Privacy Rule primarily regulates:

  1. the amount of liability insurance a clinic must carry
  2. the use and disclosure of protected health information Correct answer.
  3. the wage rates paid to medical office staff
  4. the frequency of equipment sterilization in clinics

Explanation

The HIPAA Privacy Rule sets national standards for how covered entities may use and disclose protected health information and gives patients rights over their records. It does not address insurance amounts, sterilization schedules, or wages.

Question 6General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

In medical malpractice law, the standard of care refers to:

  1. the care a reasonably prudent professional would provide Correct answer.
  2. the maximum care the patient's insurance will pay for
  3. the cheapest treatment available for the patient's condition
  4. the level of care specified in the clinic's marketing materials

Explanation

The standard of care is what a reasonably prudent health care professional with similar training would do in similar circumstances. Courts compare the defendant's conduct against that benchmark rather than against cost or advertising claims.

Question 7General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

Good Samaritan laws generally protect health care workers who:

  1. give emergency aid voluntarily and in good faith Correct answer.
  2. refuse to assist at the scene of an emergency
  3. perform procedures beyond their training in an emergency
  4. charge a fee for emergency care given outside of work

Explanation

Good Samaritan statutes shield people who voluntarily render emergency assistance in good faith without expectation of payment. Protection typically does not extend to gross negligence or to care beyond one's training.

Question 8General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

Which of the following is an example of nonverbal communication?

  1. Maintaining eye contact while the patient speaks Correct answer.
  2. Explaining a procedure in the patient's preferred language
  3. Reading the after-visit summary aloud to the patient
  4. Documenting the patient's answers in the chart

Explanation

Nonverbal communication includes posture, facial expression, gestures, and eye contact, which convey attention and attitude without words. The other choices involve spoken or written language.

Question 9General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A mosquito transmits West Nile virus to a person. In the chain of infection, the mosquito is the:

  1. portal of entry
  2. vector Correct answer.
  3. reservoir
  4. susceptible host

Explanation

A vector is a living organism, such as a mosquito or tick, that carries an infectious agent from one host to another. The reservoir is where the organism normally lives and multiplies, while the portal of entry is the route into the new host.

Question 10General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A competent adult patient declines a recommended blood transfusion. The medical assistant should:

  1. tell the patient the physician will stop providing care
  2. have the patient's spouse sign a consent form instead
  3. document the refusal and inform the physician Correct answer.
  4. schedule the transfusion without telling the patient

Explanation

A competent adult has the right to refuse treatment, and the refusal should be documented and communicated to the provider. Attempting to obtain consent from someone else or proceeding without consent violates patient autonomy.

Question 11General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A 15-year-old presents for a routine sports physical. Who must sign the consent form?

  1. Any adult who accompanied the patient to the clinic
  2. A parent or legal guardian Correct answer.
  3. The patient, because the visit is voluntary
  4. No consent is needed for preventive care

Explanation

Minors generally cannot legally consent to routine medical care, so a parent or legal guardian must sign unless the minor is emancipated or a specific exception such as certain confidential services applies. A random accompanying adult has no legal authority to consent.

Question 12General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A patient who speaks limited English needs instructions for a new prescription. The best action is to:

  1. speak more loudly and use hand gestures
  2. hand the patient a written handout in English
  3. arrange a qualified medical interpreter Correct answer.
  4. ask the patient's 10-year-old child to translate

Explanation

Trained medical interpreters provide accurate, confidential communication and reduce errors in medication instructions. Using children, raising one's voice, or relying on untranslated handouts compromises understanding and may violate language-access requirements.

Question 13General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A medical assistant wants to confirm that a patient understood new medication instructions. The most reliable approach is to:

  1. hand the patient a printed pamphlet and document that it was given
  2. ask the patient to restate the instructions in their own words Correct answer.
  3. ask the patient whether they have any questions
  4. read the instructions to the patient twice

Explanation

Teach-back asks patients to explain the information in their own words, which reveals actual understanding rather than polite agreement. Asking if there are questions or repeating the information does not verify comprehension.

Question 14General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A medical assistant discovers an error in a paper medical record. The correct way to fix it is to:

  1. cover the incorrect entry with correction fluid and write over it
  2. erase the error and write the correct information
  3. remove the page and rewrite the entire record with the corrected entry
  4. draw one line through the error, then date and initial the correction Correct answer.

Explanation

Paper records must remain a permanent, legible account of care, so errors are corrected by a single line-through with the correction, date, and initials. Erasing, obliterating, or replacing the original entry destroys the audit trail.

Question 15General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A signed patient authorization is generally not required for which disclosure of protected health information?

  1. Releasing records to a family member who calls
  2. Providing records to the patient's employer
  3. Sending records to the patient's attorney upon request
  4. Treatment, payment, and health care operations Correct answer.

Explanation

The Privacy Rule permits disclosures for treatment, payment, and health care operations without a separate authorization. Disclosures to attorneys, employers, or calling relatives require a valid authorization or another specific legal basis.

Question 16General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

An employer calls asking whether a patient was seen at the clinic. The medical assistant should:

  1. state that no information can be released Correct answer.
  2. read the appointment date and time to the caller
  3. transfer the call to the physician immediately
  4. confirm the appointment but not the diagnosis

Explanation

Even the fact that a person is a patient is protected health information, so no confirmation may be given without authorization. The assistant should decline politely and follow practice policy on such requests.

Question 17General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires employers to:

  1. provide yearly tuberculosis skin testing to all staff
  2. post each employee's vaccination history publicly
  3. offer hepatitis B vaccination to at-risk employees Correct answer.
  4. supply respirators for every clerical worker

Explanation

The standard requires an exposure control plan, training, personal protective equipment, and hepatitis B vaccination offered at no cost to employees with occupational exposure. Tuberculosis testing and respirator use follow other standards and are based on risk.

Question 18General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

When removing personal protective equipment after patient care, which item is removed first?

  1. Mask or respirator
  2. Goggles or face shield
  3. Gown
  4. Gloves Correct answer.

Explanation

Gloves are removed first because they are the most heavily contaminated and are removed in a way that contains contamination. The remaining items are then removed in sequence, with the mask or respirator last because it covers the face.

Question 19General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A medical assistant overhears two coworkers discussing a patient's diagnosis in the hospital elevator. The most appropriate response is to:

  1. ignore it because the elevator is a public space
  2. call the patient and report what the coworkers said
  3. join the conversation so that the information shared stays accurate
  4. quietly remind the coworkers where such discussions may occur Correct answer.

Explanation

Patient information should be discussed only in private areas with a legitimate need to know, and a respectful private reminder protects confidentiality without escalating the situation. Joining in or ignoring the breach allows it to continue.

Question 20General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A medical assistant suspects that a child's injuries were caused by abuse. The medical assistant should:

  1. ask the child to describe what happened and keep it confidential
  2. wait until the physician confirms the diagnosis before acting
  3. report the suspicion to the designated agency per state law Correct answer.
  4. confront the parent with the suspicion in the exam room

Explanation

Mandated reporters must report reasonable suspicion of child abuse to the designated agency, and the report is made in good faith without needing proof. Detailed questioning or confronting the parent can compromise the investigation and the child's safety.

Question 21General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A patient sues a clinic for negligence. To succeed, the patient must prove duty, breach of duty, damages, and:

  1. causation Correct answer.
  2. malice
  3. a written contract
  4. intent

Explanation

Negligence requires proof of four elements: duty, breach of that duty, causation, and damages. Malice and intent belong to intentional torts, and negligence may exist without any written contract.

Question 22General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A competent adult patient with a treatable condition refuses surgery. The physician disagrees with the decision. Which principle supports the patient's choice?

  1. Autonomy Correct answer.
  2. Nonmaleficence
  3. Beneficence
  4. Justice

Explanation

Autonomy is the principle that a competent patient has the right to make decisions about their own body, including the right to refuse beneficial treatment. Beneficence and nonmaleficence guide the clinician's recommendations but do not override a capable patient's decision.

Question 23General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A medical office receives a subpoena duces tecum. This document requires the office to:

  1. obtain the patient's consent before any action
  2. produce specified documents on a given date Correct answer.
  3. destroy records after the case is closed
  4. send a representative to testify in court

Explanation

A subpoena duces tecum compels the production of specified documents at a stated time and place. A subpoena ad testificandum directs a person to appear and testify, and the office should still verify the request against privacy requirements before releasing records.

Question 24General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A physician asks a medical assistant to administer an intravenous push medication. Clinic policy and state law do not permit medical assistants to perform this task. The medical assistant should:

  1. ask a coworker with more experience to give it
  2. carry out the task because the physician delegated it
  3. decline and state that the task is outside the legal scope Correct answer.
  4. carry out the task and document who requested it

Explanation

A medical assistant's scope of practice is defined by state law and may be further limited by employer policy; delegation by a physician does not expand it. Performing the task could harm the patient and expose the assistant to legal liability.

Question 25General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A pharmaceutical representative offers a medical assistant concert tickets for scheduling more patients with a particular drug. The most appropriate action is to:

  1. accept now and report the offer to the physician later
  2. accept the tickets because gifts do not affect scheduling
  3. decline the gift per the office conflict-of-interest policy Correct answer.
  4. accept the tickets and share them with the office staff

Explanation

Accepting incentives tied to prescribing or scheduling decisions creates a conflict of interest that can compromise patient care and violate practice policy and industry rules. The gift should be declined and the offer reported as policy requires.

Question 26General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A urinary catheter is inserted without adequate cleansing of the meatus, and the patient later develops an infection. In the chain of infection, the meatus at the insertion site is the:

  1. reservoir
  2. susceptible host
  3. mode of transmission
  4. portal of entry Correct answer.

Explanation

The portal of entry is the route by which an infectious agent enters a susceptible host; a catheter insertion site breaches the skin's natural defenses. Reservoir, mode of transmission, and susceptible host describe other links in the chain.

Question 27General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

Which of these is an open-ended question?

  1. Did you take your medicine this morning?
  2. How has your breathing been since your last visit? Correct answer.
  3. Is your pain sharp or dull?
  4. Are you having pain right now?

Explanation

Open-ended questions invite a descriptive answer and cannot be answered with yes, no, or a single word. Asking how breathing has been invites the patient to describe the experience.

Question 28General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

Routine handwashing with soap and water should last at least:

  1. 60 seconds
  2. 10 seconds
  3. 15 seconds Correct answer.
  4. 5 seconds

Explanation

Routine handwashing should last at least 15 seconds, with soap and friction covering all surfaces of the hands and wrists. Longer scrubbing is reserved for surgical hand antisepsis.

Question 29General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A competent patient chooses a treatment option that her physician does not recommend. The principle that supports the patient's right to make this choice is:

  1. beneficence
  2. justice
  3. autonomy Correct answer.
  4. veracity

Explanation

Autonomy is the principle that a competent patient has the right to make decisions about their own health care, even when the provider disagrees. Beneficence, justice, and veracity describe other obligations.

Question 30General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A patient wants to name her daughter to make medical decisions if she becomes unable to do so. The document used is a:

  1. organ donor card
  2. living will
  3. DNR order
  4. health care proxy Correct answer.

Explanation

A health care proxy, also called a durable power of attorney for health care, names a person to make decisions when the patient cannot. A living will states treatment preferences but does not designate an agent.

Question 31General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

In the RACE fire response, the letter R stands for:

  1. Rescue Correct answer.
  2. Remove
  3. Run
  4. Report

Explanation

RACE stands for Rescue, Alarm, Contain, and Extinguish or Evacuate. The first priority is moving anyone in immediate danger to safety.

Question 32General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A medical assistant should answer an incoming office telephone call by the:

  1. sixth ring
  2. tenth ring
  3. first ring
  4. third ring Correct answer.

Explanation

Answering by the third ring keeps the practice accessible and avoids leaving callers waiting. The greeting should identify the practice and the person answering.

Question 33General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A biohazard label on a container indicates that the contents:

  1. carry infectious risk Correct answer.
  2. are sterile
  3. require refrigeration
  4. are radioactive

Explanation

The biohazard symbol identifies items that may carry infectious agents and must be handled with standard precautions. Radioactive materials use a different symbol.

Question 34General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

Which element is required for informed consent to be valid?

  1. A signature from the patient's spouse
  2. A written promise of a good outcome
  3. Disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives Correct answer.
  4. A witness who is a physician

Explanation

Valid informed consent requires capacity, voluntariness, and disclosure of the nature of the procedure, its risks, benefits, and alternatives. A guarantee of outcome is never part of consent.

Question 35General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A specialist's office requests a patient's complete medical record, but only two recent lab results are needed for the consult. Under HIPAA, the medical assistant should:

  1. refuse the request without explanation
  2. send the entire record as requested
  3. ask the patient to deliver the record in person
  4. send only the two lab results Correct answer.

Explanation

The minimum necessary standard limits uses and disclosures to the information reasonably needed for the purpose. Sending only the relevant results meets the request while protecting other information.

Question 36General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

Which minor is generally able to consent to medical treatment without a parent or guardian?

  1. A 17-year-old who works part-time
  2. A 17-year-old who is emancipated Correct answer.
  3. A 12-year-old with a note from a parent
  4. A 16-year-old accompanied by an older sibling

Explanation

Emancipated minors may consent to their own care; emancipation may result from marriage, military service, or a court order. Age alone, a note, or employment does not create this right.

Question 37General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

After a patient falls in the waiting room, an incident report is completed primarily to:

  1. assign blame to the staff member involved
  2. satisfy the patient's request for compensation
  3. replace the entry in the patient's medical record
  4. document the facts for risk management and quality review Correct answer.

Explanation

Incident reports capture objective facts for risk management and quality improvement. They are not part of the medical record and are not used to assign blame or determine payment.

Question 38General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A patient says, "I am worried about this surgery." Which response shows active listening?

  1. "Did you sign the consent form yet?"
  2. "It sounds like you are feeling anxious about the operation." Correct answer.
  3. "Many patients feel that way, so let's move on."
  4. "You shouldn't worry; the surgeon is excellent."

Explanation

Reflecting the patient's feeling back demonstrates that the message was heard and invites further discussion. Active listening focuses on the patient's expressed emotion rather than on reassurance or the next task.

Question 39General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

The distance of about 18 inches to 4 feet, commonly used for a patient interview, is called:

  1. intimate space
  2. social space
  3. public space
  4. personal space Correct answer.

Explanation

Personal space is roughly 18 inches to 4 feet and is the usual distance for interviews and conversations. Intimate space is closer, while social and public space are farther away.

Question 40General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A urine pregnancy test performed in a medical office is classified under CLIA as a:

  1. provider-performed microscopy
  2. moderate-complexity test
  3. high-complexity test
  4. waived test Correct answer.

Explanation

CLIA categorizes urine pregnancy tests as waived tests, which may be performed by trained staff following the manufacturer's instructions. Waived testing still requires adherence to good laboratory practices.

Question 41General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A medical assistant is unsure how to handle a spilled chemical. Where should she look for handling and first-aid information?

  1. the office policy manual only
  2. the chemical's safety data sheet Correct answer.
  3. the manufacturer's customer service line
  4. the patient's medical record

Explanation

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard requires a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical, and it must be readily accessible to employees. The sheet lists hazards, safe handling, spill response, and first-aid measures.

Question 42General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A medical assistant employed by a clinic injures a patient while performing an authorized task. Under respondeat superior:

  1. the patient cannot recover damages
  2. the employer may share liability for the act Correct answer.
  3. the medical assistant alone is liable
  4. the state licensing board pays the damages

Explanation

Under respondeat superior, an employer can be held liable for negligent acts of employees acting within the scope of employment. The employee may also remain personally liable.

Question 43General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A patient refuses an injection. The medical assistant says, "I will hold you down if I have to." This statement may be considered:

  1. assault Correct answer.
  2. negligence
  3. battery
  4. defamation

Explanation

Assault is the threat of imminent harmful or offensive contact, which this statement conveys. Battery would require actual unauthorized contact.

Question 44General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A patient from a culture that considers direct eye contact disrespectful looks at the floor during the interview. The medical assistant should:

  1. insist on eye contact so the patient pays attention
  2. document that the patient was uncooperative
  3. continue without demanding eye contact Correct answer.
  4. speak more loudly to get the patient's attention

Explanation

Cultural norms vary, and avoiding eye contact may signal respect rather than inattention. The medical assistant should adapt without imposing her own cultural expectations.

Question 45General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

Which approach best helps a patient with low health literacy understand discharge instructions?

  1. Use medical terminology to be precise
  2. Give the instructions in a long, detailed handout
  3. Use plain language and short sentences Correct answer.
  4. Provide the instructions only verbally

Explanation

Plain language with short sentences improves comprehension for patients with limited health literacy. Written materials should be combined with a check for understanding rather than relying on jargon or verbal instruction alone.

Question 46General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

Under the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule, a covered entity must notify affected individuals of a breach without unreasonable delay and no later than:

  1. 60 days after discovery Correct answer.
  2. 1 year after discovery
  3. 6 months after discovery
  4. 10 days after discovery

Explanation

The rule requires individual notice without unreasonable delay and no later than 60 days after the breach is discovered. Larger breaches also require notice to the Department of Health and Human Services and possibly the media.

Question 47General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

Under HIPAA, protected health information of a deceased patient is generally protected for:

  1. 50 years after death Correct answer.
  2. 7 years after death
  3. 10 years after death
  4. the lifetime of the patient only

Explanation

HIPAA protects identifiable health information for 50 years after a patient's death. After that period, the information is no longer covered by the Privacy Rule.

Question 48General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A patient tells the medical assistant that he intends to seriously harm his ex-girlfriend. The provider's legal duty in most states is to:

  1. report only if the patient repeats the threat
  2. wait until an act of violence occurs
  3. keep the statement confidential
  4. warn the intended victim or notify authorities Correct answer.

Explanation

Under the Tarasoff duty-to-warn principle, a provider may have a duty to protect an identifiable third party from a patient's serious threat of violence. This may include warning the victim or notifying law enforcement.

Question 49General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A surgical instrument is left inside a patient during an operation. The legal doctrine that allows negligence to be inferred without direct proof of the standard of care is:

  1. res ipsa loquitur Correct answer.
  2. respondeat superior
  3. informed consent
  4. statute of limitations

Explanation

Res ipsa loquitur, meaning "the thing speaks for itself," permits an inference of negligence when an injury would not ordinarily occur without negligence and the instrument was under the defendant's control. It shifts the burden of explanation to the defendant.

Question 50General (medical assisting foundations, communication, law/ethics, professional components)

A patient reads her record and believes her allergy list is wrong. Under HIPAA, she has the right to:

  1. have the record destroyed immediately
  2. remove the entire record from the office
  3. request an amendment to the record Correct answer.
  4. demand that the provider be disciplined

Explanation

HIPAA gives patients the right to request an amendment to their protected health information, and the provider must respond in writing. The provider may deny the request in limited circumstances and must allow the patient to submit a statement of disagreement.