CPMSM Exam Prep 2026 COMPLETE TEST BANK
| Actual Questions & Answers | Expert Review
1. A primary responsibility of the medical staff services professional is:
A. Performing surgeries
B. Credentialing and privileging management
C. Prescribing medication
D. Diagnosing patients
B. Credentialing and privileging management
Credentialing ensures practitioners are qualified and privileges define clinical scope.
2. The primary source verification process refers to:
A. Checking social media profiles
B. Verifying information directly from original issuing sources
C. Asking colleagues for confirmation
D. Reviewing hospital gossip
B. Verifying information directly from original issuing sources
Primary source verification confirms authenticity from licensing boards or schools.
3. Which document is MOST important for initial credentialing?
A. Parking permit
B. Medical license
C. Staff ID badge
D. Employment photo
B. Medical license
It confirms legal authority to practice.
4. What is the main purpose of privileging?
A. Salary determination
B. Defining clinical competencies allowed
C. Vacation scheduling
D. Payroll management
B. Defining clinical competencies allowed
Privileges specify what procedures a provider may perform.
5. A NPDB query is used to:
A. Check credit history
B. Identify malpractice and disciplinary actions
C. Verify address
D. Confirm insurance coverage
B. Identify malpractice and disciplinary actions
The NPDB tracks adverse professional actions.
6. Credentialing cycles typically occur every:
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 10 years
C. 3 years
Most organizations recredential every 2–3 years.
,7. A bylaws document primarily defines:
A. Parking rules
B. Medical staff governance structure
C. Patient billing
D. Pharmacy inventory
B. Medical staff governance structure
Bylaws govern medical staff operations.
8. What is a focus of the Joint Commission standards?
A. Hospital cafeteria menus
B. Patient safety and quality care
C. Employee vacation policy
D. Marketing strategy
B. Patient safety and quality care
Accreditation emphasizes safety and quality.
9. Delegated credentialing refers to:
A. Ignoring credentialing rules
B. Outsourcing credentialing verification to another entity
C. Hiring temporary staff
D. Reducing staff privileges
B. Outsourcing credentialing verification to another entity
Allows trusted organizations to perform credentialing.
10. What is the first step in initial appointment?
A. Grant privileges
B. Application submission
C. Billing setup
D. Schedule surgery
B. Application submission
The process begins with provider application.
11. The main purpose of peer review is:
A. Salary increase
B. Evaluate clinical performance
C. Marketing improvement
D. Office decoration
B. Evaluate clinical performance
Peer review assesses quality of care.
12. Reappointment typically includes:
A. Full re-licensing exam
B. Review of performance and credentials
C. New medical school admission
D. Insurance enrollment only
B. Review of performance and credentials
Ensures ongoing competence.
13. Which is a key source for verifying board certification?
A. Facebook
B. ABMS or specialty boards
C. Hospital cafeteria
, D. Co-worker opinion
B. ABMS or specialty boards
Board certification must be verified at source.
14. A conflict of interest occurs when:
A. A provider works night shift
B. Personal interests may influence decisions
C. A clinic is busy
D. A hospital is new
B. Personal interests may influence decisions
Conflicts can bias credentialing decisions.
15. Credentialing files must be maintained for:
A. 1 year
B. 3 years
C. As per regulatory/legal requirements
D. 6 months
C. As per regulatory/legal requirements
Retention rules vary by regulation.
16. Which body enforces EMTALA?
A. CMS
B. FDA
C. CDC
D. OSHA
A. CMS
CMS oversees EMTALA compliance.
17. EMTALA primarily ensures:
A. Free insurance
B. Emergency treatment regardless of payment
C. Private hospital ownership
D. Staff scheduling
B. Emergency treatment regardless of payment
Patients must be stabilized before transfer.
18. Medical staff categories include:
A. Only physicians
B. Active, courtesy, consulting, etc.
C. Only surgeons
D. Only residents
B. Active, courtesy, consulting, etc.
Different membership categories exist.
19. FPPE stands for:
A. Final performance physician evaluation
B. Focused Professional Practice Evaluation
C. Federal physician program exam
D. Full privilege practice enrollment
B. Focused Professional Practice Evaluation
Used for new or revised privileges.
| Actual Questions & Answers | Expert Review
1. A primary responsibility of the medical staff services professional is:
A. Performing surgeries
B. Credentialing and privileging management
C. Prescribing medication
D. Diagnosing patients
B. Credentialing and privileging management
Credentialing ensures practitioners are qualified and privileges define clinical scope.
2. The primary source verification process refers to:
A. Checking social media profiles
B. Verifying information directly from original issuing sources
C. Asking colleagues for confirmation
D. Reviewing hospital gossip
B. Verifying information directly from original issuing sources
Primary source verification confirms authenticity from licensing boards or schools.
3. Which document is MOST important for initial credentialing?
A. Parking permit
B. Medical license
C. Staff ID badge
D. Employment photo
B. Medical license
It confirms legal authority to practice.
4. What is the main purpose of privileging?
A. Salary determination
B. Defining clinical competencies allowed
C. Vacation scheduling
D. Payroll management
B. Defining clinical competencies allowed
Privileges specify what procedures a provider may perform.
5. A NPDB query is used to:
A. Check credit history
B. Identify malpractice and disciplinary actions
C. Verify address
D. Confirm insurance coverage
B. Identify malpractice and disciplinary actions
The NPDB tracks adverse professional actions.
6. Credentialing cycles typically occur every:
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 10 years
C. 3 years
Most organizations recredential every 2–3 years.
,7. A bylaws document primarily defines:
A. Parking rules
B. Medical staff governance structure
C. Patient billing
D. Pharmacy inventory
B. Medical staff governance structure
Bylaws govern medical staff operations.
8. What is a focus of the Joint Commission standards?
A. Hospital cafeteria menus
B. Patient safety and quality care
C. Employee vacation policy
D. Marketing strategy
B. Patient safety and quality care
Accreditation emphasizes safety and quality.
9. Delegated credentialing refers to:
A. Ignoring credentialing rules
B. Outsourcing credentialing verification to another entity
C. Hiring temporary staff
D. Reducing staff privileges
B. Outsourcing credentialing verification to another entity
Allows trusted organizations to perform credentialing.
10. What is the first step in initial appointment?
A. Grant privileges
B. Application submission
C. Billing setup
D. Schedule surgery
B. Application submission
The process begins with provider application.
11. The main purpose of peer review is:
A. Salary increase
B. Evaluate clinical performance
C. Marketing improvement
D. Office decoration
B. Evaluate clinical performance
Peer review assesses quality of care.
12. Reappointment typically includes:
A. Full re-licensing exam
B. Review of performance and credentials
C. New medical school admission
D. Insurance enrollment only
B. Review of performance and credentials
Ensures ongoing competence.
13. Which is a key source for verifying board certification?
A. Facebook
B. ABMS or specialty boards
C. Hospital cafeteria
, D. Co-worker opinion
B. ABMS or specialty boards
Board certification must be verified at source.
14. A conflict of interest occurs when:
A. A provider works night shift
B. Personal interests may influence decisions
C. A clinic is busy
D. A hospital is new
B. Personal interests may influence decisions
Conflicts can bias credentialing decisions.
15. Credentialing files must be maintained for:
A. 1 year
B. 3 years
C. As per regulatory/legal requirements
D. 6 months
C. As per regulatory/legal requirements
Retention rules vary by regulation.
16. Which body enforces EMTALA?
A. CMS
B. FDA
C. CDC
D. OSHA
A. CMS
CMS oversees EMTALA compliance.
17. EMTALA primarily ensures:
A. Free insurance
B. Emergency treatment regardless of payment
C. Private hospital ownership
D. Staff scheduling
B. Emergency treatment regardless of payment
Patients must be stabilized before transfer.
18. Medical staff categories include:
A. Only physicians
B. Active, courtesy, consulting, etc.
C. Only surgeons
D. Only residents
B. Active, courtesy, consulting, etc.
Different membership categories exist.
19. FPPE stands for:
A. Final performance physician evaluation
B. Focused Professional Practice Evaluation
C. Federal physician program exam
D. Full privilege practice enrollment
B. Focused Professional Practice Evaluation
Used for new or revised privileges.
