CMAA Practice Exam | 110 QUESTIONS | WITH
ALL ANSWERS CORRECT 2026/2027 National
Health career Association (NHA) Certified Medical
Administrative Assistant Examination.
Instructions: This practice exam contains 110 questions covering all seven CMAA domains.
Select the best answer for each question. Time limit: 2 hours 10 minutes (standard NHA exam
timing).
DOMAIN 1: MEDICAL OFFICE PROCEDURES & ADMINISTRATION (22 Questions)
1. (Multiple-Choice) The medical assistant is the first to arrive at the clinic on Monday
morning. Which task should be completed FIRST before unlocking the front door?
A. Retrieve voicemail messages from the weekend
B. Disengage the security alarm system
C. Turn on all computer workstations
D. Prepare the reception area coffee station
Answer: B [CORRECT] — The security alarm must be disengaged immediately upon entry to
prevent triggering the monitoring system. This is a safety and security priority before any
other opening duties. Failure to properly disarm the alarm could result in emergency services
dispatch and office lockdown protocols.
2. (Multiple-Choice) Which of the following is the FINAL step in the office closing procedure
sequence?
A. Secure all petty cash in the locked safe
B. Forward incoming calls to the answering service
C. Set the security alarm system
D. Lock all exterior doors
Answer: D [CORRECT] — Locking exterior doors is always the final step in the closing sequence
to ensure all staff have exited and the premises are physically secured. The standard sequence
is: secure cash/files → forward phones → set alarm → lock doors. The alarm is set before the
final exit, but door locking completes the process.
,3. (Scenario-Based) The office closes at 5:00 PM. At 4:55 PM, a patient calls requesting an
urgent prescription refill. The provider has already left for the day. What is the appropriate
closing procedure action?
A. Leave the office open until the patient arrives to pick up the prescription
B. Document the request, notify the on-call provider per protocol, and proceed with standard
closing procedures
C. Keep the phones active until 6:00 PM to handle the refill
D. Ask the patient to call back tomorrow morning
Answer: B [CORRECT] — Standard closing procedures must not be delayed for non-emergent
requests. The appropriate action is to follow established after-hours protocols by
documenting the request and contacting the on-call provider. The office should close on
schedule while ensuring patient care continuity through proper on-call notification
procedures.
4. (True/False) The medical assistant should check and restock examination rooms before
turning on the EHR system during opening procedures.
Answer: FALSE [CORRECT] — EHR system activation is a higher priority than room restocking
because the EHR requires time to boot up and sync, and providers may need immediate
access to patient schedules and records. The standard opening sequence prioritizes security,
communication systems, EHR activation, and then physical area preparation.
Sub-Topic: Office Supply and Inventory Management (3 questions)
5. (Multiple-Choice) The clinic uses 200 sterile gauze pads per week. The supplier requires 5
business days for delivery. If the clinic maintains a PAR level of 600 gauze pads and currently
has 150 on hand, how many days until the reorder point is reached?
A. 5 days
B. 7 days
C. 11 days
D. 15 days
Answer: C [CORRECT] — At 200 pads per week (40 per day), the current inventory of 150 will
reach the reorder point of 600 in (600-150)/40 = 11.25 days. The reorder point must account
for the 5-day lead time plus safety stock. Understanding PAR levels and reorder calculations
prevents stockouts of critical medical supplies.
,6. (Select-All-That-Apply) Which of the following are essential components of an effective
inventory management system? (Select all that apply)
A. Establishing PAR levels for all supplies
B. Monitoring expiration dates on medical supplies
C. Using just-in-time ordering for all inventory items
D. Maintaining a physical inventory log separate from the EHR
E. Conducting periodic physical counts to verify electronic records
Answer: A, B, D, E [CORRECT] — PAR levels prevent stockouts, expiration monitoring ensures
patient safety, physical logs provide backup documentation, and periodic counts verify
accuracy. Just-in-time ordering (C) is inappropriate for critical medical supplies where
stockouts could compromise patient care; it is better suited for non-critical office supplies.
7. (Multiple-Choice) A shipment of influenza vaccines arrives with an expiration date of 6
months from today. Where should this information be documented?
A. Only on the packing slip filed with accounts payable
B. In the vaccine inventory log with lot numbers and expiration dates
C. In the general office supply spreadsheet
D. On the provider's desk for immediate use
Answer: B [CORRECT] — Vaccines require meticulous tracking of lot numbers and expiration
dates in a dedicated inventory log for patient safety, recall management, and compliance with
CDC Vaccines for Children (VFC) program requirements if applicable. Expired vaccines must
never be administered and require proper disposal documentation.
Sub-Topic: Mail Processing and Distribution (3 questions)
8. (Multiple-Choice) A letter arrives marked "CONFIDENTIAL - LABORATORY RESULTS"
addressed to Dr. Martinez. What is the first step the medical assistant should take?
A. Open the envelope and scan the results into the patient's EHR
B. Date-stamp the envelope and deliver it unopened to Dr. Martinez
C. Open the envelope, review the results, and route to the appropriate nurse
D. Place it in the general mail bin for end-of-day sorting
, Answer: B [CORRECT] — Confidential medical correspondence addressed to a specific
provider must be date-stamped upon receipt (establishing the legal record of receipt date)
and delivered unopened to the addressee. Only authorized personnel may open confidential
medical mail; the medical assistant should not open mail addressed specifically to the
provider unless authorized by office policy.
9. (Multiple-Choice) Incoming mail should be sorted and distributed according to which
priority order?
A. Personal mail, patient correspondence, insurance payments, laboratory results
B. Laboratory results, patient correspondence, insurance payments, personal mail
C. Insurance payments, laboratory results, patient correspondence, personal mail
D. Patient correspondence, laboratory results, insurance payments, personal mail
Answer: B [CORRECT] — Laboratory results require immediate provider review for timely
patient care decisions. Patient correspondence (urgent referrals, complaints) follows, then
insurance payments (revenue cycle), and finally personal mail. This prioritization ensures
clinical needs are addressed before administrative and personal items.
10. (True/False) All incoming mail should be scanned and uploaded to the EHR before physical
distribution to staff.
Answer: FALSE [CORRECT] — Not all mail requires EHR scanning. Only patient-related
documentation (lab results, referrals, insurance correspondence) should be scanned into the
EHR. Personal staff mail, junk mail, supply catalogs, and general administrative
correspondence should be sorted and distributed or discarded without EHR upload. Scanning
non-patient mail creates unnecessary electronic clutter and privacy concerns.
Sub-Topic: Telephone Techniques and Triage (4 questions)
11. (Multiple-Choice) A patient calls reporting chest pain and shortness of breath. The medical
assistant should:
A. Schedule the patient for the next available appointment tomorrow
B. Advise the patient to take an aspirin and rest
C. Instruct the patient to call 911 immediately and then notify the on-call provider
D. Ask the patient to drive to the emergency room immediately
Answer: C [CORRECT] — Chest pain with shortness of breath constitutes a potential life-
threatening emergency. The medical assistant must never attempt to manage emergent
ALL ANSWERS CORRECT 2026/2027 National
Health career Association (NHA) Certified Medical
Administrative Assistant Examination.
Instructions: This practice exam contains 110 questions covering all seven CMAA domains.
Select the best answer for each question. Time limit: 2 hours 10 minutes (standard NHA exam
timing).
DOMAIN 1: MEDICAL OFFICE PROCEDURES & ADMINISTRATION (22 Questions)
1. (Multiple-Choice) The medical assistant is the first to arrive at the clinic on Monday
morning. Which task should be completed FIRST before unlocking the front door?
A. Retrieve voicemail messages from the weekend
B. Disengage the security alarm system
C. Turn on all computer workstations
D. Prepare the reception area coffee station
Answer: B [CORRECT] — The security alarm must be disengaged immediately upon entry to
prevent triggering the monitoring system. This is a safety and security priority before any
other opening duties. Failure to properly disarm the alarm could result in emergency services
dispatch and office lockdown protocols.
2. (Multiple-Choice) Which of the following is the FINAL step in the office closing procedure
sequence?
A. Secure all petty cash in the locked safe
B. Forward incoming calls to the answering service
C. Set the security alarm system
D. Lock all exterior doors
Answer: D [CORRECT] — Locking exterior doors is always the final step in the closing sequence
to ensure all staff have exited and the premises are physically secured. The standard sequence
is: secure cash/files → forward phones → set alarm → lock doors. The alarm is set before the
final exit, but door locking completes the process.
,3. (Scenario-Based) The office closes at 5:00 PM. At 4:55 PM, a patient calls requesting an
urgent prescription refill. The provider has already left for the day. What is the appropriate
closing procedure action?
A. Leave the office open until the patient arrives to pick up the prescription
B. Document the request, notify the on-call provider per protocol, and proceed with standard
closing procedures
C. Keep the phones active until 6:00 PM to handle the refill
D. Ask the patient to call back tomorrow morning
Answer: B [CORRECT] — Standard closing procedures must not be delayed for non-emergent
requests. The appropriate action is to follow established after-hours protocols by
documenting the request and contacting the on-call provider. The office should close on
schedule while ensuring patient care continuity through proper on-call notification
procedures.
4. (True/False) The medical assistant should check and restock examination rooms before
turning on the EHR system during opening procedures.
Answer: FALSE [CORRECT] — EHR system activation is a higher priority than room restocking
because the EHR requires time to boot up and sync, and providers may need immediate
access to patient schedules and records. The standard opening sequence prioritizes security,
communication systems, EHR activation, and then physical area preparation.
Sub-Topic: Office Supply and Inventory Management (3 questions)
5. (Multiple-Choice) The clinic uses 200 sterile gauze pads per week. The supplier requires 5
business days for delivery. If the clinic maintains a PAR level of 600 gauze pads and currently
has 150 on hand, how many days until the reorder point is reached?
A. 5 days
B. 7 days
C. 11 days
D. 15 days
Answer: C [CORRECT] — At 200 pads per week (40 per day), the current inventory of 150 will
reach the reorder point of 600 in (600-150)/40 = 11.25 days. The reorder point must account
for the 5-day lead time plus safety stock. Understanding PAR levels and reorder calculations
prevents stockouts of critical medical supplies.
,6. (Select-All-That-Apply) Which of the following are essential components of an effective
inventory management system? (Select all that apply)
A. Establishing PAR levels for all supplies
B. Monitoring expiration dates on medical supplies
C. Using just-in-time ordering for all inventory items
D. Maintaining a physical inventory log separate from the EHR
E. Conducting periodic physical counts to verify electronic records
Answer: A, B, D, E [CORRECT] — PAR levels prevent stockouts, expiration monitoring ensures
patient safety, physical logs provide backup documentation, and periodic counts verify
accuracy. Just-in-time ordering (C) is inappropriate for critical medical supplies where
stockouts could compromise patient care; it is better suited for non-critical office supplies.
7. (Multiple-Choice) A shipment of influenza vaccines arrives with an expiration date of 6
months from today. Where should this information be documented?
A. Only on the packing slip filed with accounts payable
B. In the vaccine inventory log with lot numbers and expiration dates
C. In the general office supply spreadsheet
D. On the provider's desk for immediate use
Answer: B [CORRECT] — Vaccines require meticulous tracking of lot numbers and expiration
dates in a dedicated inventory log for patient safety, recall management, and compliance with
CDC Vaccines for Children (VFC) program requirements if applicable. Expired vaccines must
never be administered and require proper disposal documentation.
Sub-Topic: Mail Processing and Distribution (3 questions)
8. (Multiple-Choice) A letter arrives marked "CONFIDENTIAL - LABORATORY RESULTS"
addressed to Dr. Martinez. What is the first step the medical assistant should take?
A. Open the envelope and scan the results into the patient's EHR
B. Date-stamp the envelope and deliver it unopened to Dr. Martinez
C. Open the envelope, review the results, and route to the appropriate nurse
D. Place it in the general mail bin for end-of-day sorting
, Answer: B [CORRECT] — Confidential medical correspondence addressed to a specific
provider must be date-stamped upon receipt (establishing the legal record of receipt date)
and delivered unopened to the addressee. Only authorized personnel may open confidential
medical mail; the medical assistant should not open mail addressed specifically to the
provider unless authorized by office policy.
9. (Multiple-Choice) Incoming mail should be sorted and distributed according to which
priority order?
A. Personal mail, patient correspondence, insurance payments, laboratory results
B. Laboratory results, patient correspondence, insurance payments, personal mail
C. Insurance payments, laboratory results, patient correspondence, personal mail
D. Patient correspondence, laboratory results, insurance payments, personal mail
Answer: B [CORRECT] — Laboratory results require immediate provider review for timely
patient care decisions. Patient correspondence (urgent referrals, complaints) follows, then
insurance payments (revenue cycle), and finally personal mail. This prioritization ensures
clinical needs are addressed before administrative and personal items.
10. (True/False) All incoming mail should be scanned and uploaded to the EHR before physical
distribution to staff.
Answer: FALSE [CORRECT] — Not all mail requires EHR scanning. Only patient-related
documentation (lab results, referrals, insurance correspondence) should be scanned into the
EHR. Personal staff mail, junk mail, supply catalogs, and general administrative
correspondence should be sorted and distributed or discarded without EHR upload. Scanning
non-patient mail creates unnecessary electronic clutter and privacy concerns.
Sub-Topic: Telephone Techniques and Triage (4 questions)
11. (Multiple-Choice) A patient calls reporting chest pain and shortness of breath. The medical
assistant should:
A. Schedule the patient for the next available appointment tomorrow
B. Advise the patient to take an aspirin and rest
C. Instruct the patient to call 911 immediately and then notify the on-call provider
D. Ask the patient to drive to the emergency room immediately
Answer: C [CORRECT] — Chest pain with shortness of breath constitutes a potential life-
threatening emergency. The medical assistant must never attempt to manage emergent
