NCCT NCMA study guide
NCCT NCMA · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Medical Assistant – NCMA credential is issued by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), an independent credentialing organization that has tested healthcare professionals and instructors throughout the United States since 1989. NCCT states that the Medical Assistant – NCMA certification is accredited by NCCA, and describes medical assistants as allied healthcare professionals who are responsible for various clinical and/or administrative duties. That dual scope is the practical heart of the credential: it signals that a candidate can function on both sides of a medical practice, supporting providers in the exam room and keeping the front office running. The NCMA is aimed at medical assistants working in ambulatory settings, at students and graduates of medical assisting programs, and at candidates from other healthcare backgrounds who want formal recognition of combined clinical and administrative competence. Topics on this exam: Clinical duties and Administrative duties. The NCCT NCMA study guide has 2 sections and about 767 words.
01Clinical Duties
The Clinical Duties domain tests the hands-on patient-care knowledge a medical assistant uses daily: vital signs, infection control, exam preparation, specimen collection, medication administration, EKG, and emergency response. Questions are often scenario-based, so know both the rule and the reason behind it. Standard precautions apply to every patient. Wear gloves for blood, body fluids, mucous membranes, and non-intact skin; add gown, mask, and eye protection when splash risk exists.
385 words, about 2 min02Administrative Duties
The Administrative Duties domain tests the front-office and business tasks of medical assisting: scheduling, registration, medical records, HIPAA, insurance verification, billing, telephone communication, supplies, and office finance. Items often ask for the next correct action when a request conflicts with privacy or office policy. HIPAA: release protected health information only with a valid written authorization unless the request is for treatment, payment, or health care operations, or is required by law. Use the minimum necessary information.
382 words, about 2 min