NCCT NCMA study plan
NCCT NCMA · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Clinical duties
Define scope-of-practice boundaries for the medical assistant role and list five tasks that require delegation to a licensed provider
Label the major body systems and 30 key anatomical terms on a blank diagram from memory
Explain the chain of infection and identify two infection-control precautions for each link
Demonstrate correct hand hygiene and donning/doffing of personal protective equipment in the order tested
Your checkpoint
A one-page scope-of-practice summary plus a scored, self-graded anatomy labeling quiz at 80% or higher
Clinical duties
Measure and record vital signs, including blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiration, height, and weight, using correct technique
Convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius and between pounds and kilograms without a calculator error
Identify normal and abnormal vital sign ranges and state when to escalate a reading to the provider
Position a patient correctly for five common examination types
Your checkpoint
A vital-signs competency checklist completed for all six measurements with conversions verified
Clinical duties
Sequence the steps of routine sterilization and disinfection for instruments and surfaces
Differentiate sanitization, disinfection, and sterilization and match each to appropriate equipment
Describe proper handling and disposal of sharps and biohazardous waste
Explain the medical assistant's role in preparing and maintaining a sterile field
Your checkpoint
A written procedure card for instrument processing and a 10-item self-quiz scored at 90% or better
Clinical duties & Administrative duties
Identify the parts of a prescription and verify the seven rights of medication administration
Calculate common dosage problems using ratio and proportion
Describe routes of administration and the documentation required for each
List the administrative records that must capture medication and allergy information
Your checkpoint
A 15-question dosage-calculation and medication-safety worksheet with all work shown and errors corrected
Administrative duties
Apply appointment scheduling rules, including wave and modified-wave booking, to a sample day
Register a new patient and verify insurance eligibility using a mock intake form
Explain the difference between copay, coinsurance, deductible, and out-of-pocket maximum
Identify the release-of-information requirements for protected health information
Your checkpoint
A completed mock patient registration packet with eligibility notes and a scheduling grid for one clinic day
Administrative duties
Code five sample encounters using correct CPT and ICD-10-CM categories
Describe the claim life cycle from charge entry to remittance advice
Interpret an explanation of benefits and classify denials as correctable or not
List the elements of compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act in daily front-office work
Your checkpoint
A claim-tracking log for five mock claims showing codes, expected reimbursement, and denial follow-up steps
Administrative duties & Clinical duties
Reconcile a sample day's payments, including cash, check, and card, to a balanced total
Explain accounts-receivable aging and the first steps in collecting an overdue balance
Draft a professional telephone script for scheduling, reminders, and billing inquiries
Review clinical documentation standards for accuracy, timeliness, and legal defensibility
Your checkpoint
A balanced end-of-day reconciliation sheet plus three written phone scripts reviewed against a communication checklist
Clinical duties & Administrative duties
Complete two full-length timed practice tests and record scores by domain
Review every missed item and write a corrected rationale for each
Re-drill the two weakest subtopics from weeks 1 through 7
Rehearse exam-day logistics, including identification requirements and time allocation
Your checkpoint
A score-tracking sheet showing both practice test results, a corrected-error log, and a final weak-area review list
Milestones
Week 2: Score 80% or higher on an unassisted anatomy and vital-signs quiz and perform all six vital-sign measurements correctly on a practice partner
Week 4: Complete the medication-safety worksheet with 90% accuracy and explain the seven rights without notes
Week 6: Score 75% or higher on a 40-question administrative practice set covering scheduling, insurance, coding, and privacy
Week 8: Score 80% or higher on both full-length practice tests with no domain below 70%, and show a completed corrected-error log