1|Page
NHA CCMA ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTING
CERTIFICATION EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026:
155 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
– ACE YOUR TEST ON THE FIRST TRY
## Table of Contents
| Section | Topic | Question Numbers | Count |
|---------|-------|----------------|-------|
| 1 | Patient Scheduling & Appointment Management | 1 – 25 | 25 |
| 2 | Medical Records & Electronic Health Records (EHR) | 26 – 50 | 25 |
| 3 | Health Insurance & Billing Basics (ICD-10, CPT, HCPCS) | 51 – 75
| 25 |
| 4 | Prior Authorization, Referrals & Pre-certification | 76 – 95 | 20 |
| 5 | Medical Law, Ethics & HIPAA | 96 – 120 | 25 |
| 6 | Professional Communication & Patient Relations | 121 – 140 | 20 |
| 7 | Practice Management, Inventory & OSHA Basics | 141 – 155 | 15 |
| **Total** | | **1 – 155** | **155** |
---
# SECTION 1: PATIENT SCHEDULING & APPOINTMENT
MANAGEMENT (Q1–25)
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**1. A medical assistant is scheduling a patient for a routine physical
exam. The physician requires 30 minutes for new patients and 15
minutes for established patients. Which type of scheduling system is
being used?**
A) Wave scheduling
B) Double-booking scheduling
C) Stream scheduling (fixed appointment times)
D) Open office hours
**Correct Answer:** C
**Rationale:** Stream scheduling assigns specific time slots for each
patient (e.g., 30 min new, 15 min established). Wave scheduling groups
patients at the top of the hour.
**High-Yield Tip:** NHA loves stream vs. wave vs. double-booking
scenarios.
**2. A patient calls requesting an appointment for the same day due to
chest pain. The medical assistant should:**
A) Schedule the patient for next week
B) Tell the patient to go to the emergency room immediately
C) Schedule for the end of the day
D) Ask the patient to call back tomorrow
,3|Page
**Correct Answer:** B
**Rationale:** Chest pain is a potential medical emergency. The MA
must recognize red flags and direct patient to ER or advise calling 911.
**High-Yield Tip:** Emergent symptoms (chest pain, difficulty
breathing, stroke signs) override scheduling protocols.
**3. Which scheduling method allows multiple patients to be booked at
the same time slot (e.g., three patients at 9:00 AM seen in order of
arrival)?**
A) Stream scheduling
B) Wave scheduling
C) Open booking
D) Modified wave scheduling
**Correct Answer:** B
**Rationale:** Wave scheduling groups several patients at the top of the
hour; they are seen in order of arrival. Modified wave adds a mix of new
and follow-ups.
**High-Yield Tip:** Wave = "batch" at same time.
**4. A patient no-shows for three consecutive appointments. The
medical assistant should:**
A) Discharge the patient immediately
, 4|Page
B) Document the no-shows and notify the provider; follow clinic policy
(may result in discharge)
C) Ignore the no-shows
D) Charge the patient a penalty without documentation
**Correct Answer:** B
**Rationale:** No-show policy varies by clinic. MA should document,
notify provider, and follow written policy (often warning letter then
discharge).
**High-Yield Tip:** Always document! No-show is a behavior, not a
judgment.
**5. A patient requests to be scheduled with a specific provider who is
fully booked for 3 weeks. The patient is upset. The MA should:**
A) Tell the patient to go elsewhere
B) Offer the next available appointment with the requested provider or
offer an alternative provider
C) Lie and say the provider is on vacation
D) Schedule without the patient's consent
**Correct Answer:** B
**Rationale:** Offer realistic options: wait for preferred provider or see
another provider sooner. Respect patient choice while managing
expectations.
NHA CCMA ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTING
CERTIFICATION EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026:
155 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
– ACE YOUR TEST ON THE FIRST TRY
## Table of Contents
| Section | Topic | Question Numbers | Count |
|---------|-------|----------------|-------|
| 1 | Patient Scheduling & Appointment Management | 1 – 25 | 25 |
| 2 | Medical Records & Electronic Health Records (EHR) | 26 – 50 | 25 |
| 3 | Health Insurance & Billing Basics (ICD-10, CPT, HCPCS) | 51 – 75
| 25 |
| 4 | Prior Authorization, Referrals & Pre-certification | 76 – 95 | 20 |
| 5 | Medical Law, Ethics & HIPAA | 96 – 120 | 25 |
| 6 | Professional Communication & Patient Relations | 121 – 140 | 20 |
| 7 | Practice Management, Inventory & OSHA Basics | 141 – 155 | 15 |
| **Total** | | **1 – 155** | **155** |
---
# SECTION 1: PATIENT SCHEDULING & APPOINTMENT
MANAGEMENT (Q1–25)
,2|Page
**1. A medical assistant is scheduling a patient for a routine physical
exam. The physician requires 30 minutes for new patients and 15
minutes for established patients. Which type of scheduling system is
being used?**
A) Wave scheduling
B) Double-booking scheduling
C) Stream scheduling (fixed appointment times)
D) Open office hours
**Correct Answer:** C
**Rationale:** Stream scheduling assigns specific time slots for each
patient (e.g., 30 min new, 15 min established). Wave scheduling groups
patients at the top of the hour.
**High-Yield Tip:** NHA loves stream vs. wave vs. double-booking
scenarios.
**2. A patient calls requesting an appointment for the same day due to
chest pain. The medical assistant should:**
A) Schedule the patient for next week
B) Tell the patient to go to the emergency room immediately
C) Schedule for the end of the day
D) Ask the patient to call back tomorrow
,3|Page
**Correct Answer:** B
**Rationale:** Chest pain is a potential medical emergency. The MA
must recognize red flags and direct patient to ER or advise calling 911.
**High-Yield Tip:** Emergent symptoms (chest pain, difficulty
breathing, stroke signs) override scheduling protocols.
**3. Which scheduling method allows multiple patients to be booked at
the same time slot (e.g., three patients at 9:00 AM seen in order of
arrival)?**
A) Stream scheduling
B) Wave scheduling
C) Open booking
D) Modified wave scheduling
**Correct Answer:** B
**Rationale:** Wave scheduling groups several patients at the top of the
hour; they are seen in order of arrival. Modified wave adds a mix of new
and follow-ups.
**High-Yield Tip:** Wave = "batch" at same time.
**4. A patient no-shows for three consecutive appointments. The
medical assistant should:**
A) Discharge the patient immediately
, 4|Page
B) Document the no-shows and notify the provider; follow clinic policy
(may result in discharge)
C) Ignore the no-shows
D) Charge the patient a penalty without documentation
**Correct Answer:** B
**Rationale:** No-show policy varies by clinic. MA should document,
notify provider, and follow written policy (often warning letter then
discharge).
**High-Yield Tip:** Always document! No-show is a behavior, not a
judgment.
**5. A patient requests to be scheduled with a specific provider who is
fully booked for 3 weeks. The patient is upset. The MA should:**
A) Tell the patient to go elsewhere
B) Offer the next available appointment with the requested provider or
offer an alternative provider
C) Lie and say the provider is on vacation
D) Schedule without the patient's consent
**Correct Answer:** B
**Rationale:** Offer realistic options: wait for preferred provider or see
another provider sooner. Respect patient choice while managing
expectations.
