NHA CCMA CERTIFICATION EXAM –
COMPLETE PREPARATION GUIDE
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
Exam Review
NHA CCMA CERTIFICATION EXAM – COMPLETE PREPARATION GUIDE
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Exam Review
2025/2026 Edition
Total Questions: 150+ practice questions with rationales
Exam Format: 180 multiple-choice questions (150 scored, 30 pretest)
Time Limit: 3 hours (180 minutes)
Passing Score: 390 (scaled score 200-500)
SECTION 1: EXAM OVERVIEW & TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES
QUICK REFERENCE: EXAM DOMAINS & WEIGHTING
| Domain | Percentage | Approx. Questions |
|--------|-----------|-------------------|
| 1. Foundational Knowledge & Basic Science | 10% | 15-18 |
| 2. Anatomy & Physiology | 10% | 15-18 |
1
,| 3. Clinical Patient Care | 55% | 83-90 |
| 4. Patient Care Coordination | 8% | 12-14 |
| 5. Administrative Assisting | 12% | 18-22 |
| 6. Communication & Customer Service | 5% | 8-10 |
| 7. Medical Law & Ethics | 5% | 8-10 |
KEY TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES:
1. TIME MANAGEMENT: You have approximately 1 minute per question.
Mark difficult questions and return to them later.
2. PROCESS OF ELIMINATION: Eliminate clearly wrong answers first to
increase your odds of guessing correctly.
3. READ CAREFULLY: Look for "except," "not," "most likely," and "first."
These words change what the question is asking.
4. CLINICAL JUDGMENT: For scenario questions, ask: "What is the priority?"
(Safety → Airway → Patient dignity)
5. TRUST YOUR PREPARATION: Your first instinct is often correct.
Avoid changing answers unless you are absolutely sure.
SECTION 2: FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE & BASIC SCIENCE
2
,QUESTION 1: A patient is diagnosed with "hypertension." The prefix "hyper-"
means:
A) Below normal
B) Above normal / excessive
C) Slow
D) Fast
Correct Answer: B) Above normal / excessive
Rationale: "Hyper-" means excessive or above normal. "Hypo-" means below
normal.
"Tachy-" means fast. "Brady-" means slow.
QUESTION 2: Which of the following is the normal fasting blood glucose range
for an adult?
A) 50-70 mg/dL
B) 70-100 mg/dL
C) 100-125 mg/dL
D) 126-150 mg/dL
Correct Answer: B) 70-100 mg/dL
Rationale: Normal fasting blood glucose is 70-100 mg/dL. Prediabetes is
100-125 mg/dL. Diabetes is ≥126 mg/dL on two separate tests.
QUESTION 3: The suffix "-itis" means:
A) Surgical removal
B) Inflammation
C) Tumor
D) Study of
3
, Correct Answer: B) Inflammation
Rationale: "-itis" indicates inflammation (e.g., appendicitis = inflammation
of the appendix). "-ectomy" means surgical removal. "-ology" means study of.
QUESTION 4: Which of the following is the normal adult respiratory rate?
A) 6-10 breaths/minute
B) 12-20 breaths/minute
C) 22-28 breaths/minute
D) 30-40 breaths/minute
Correct Answer: B) 12-20 breaths/minute
Rationale: Normal adult respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths per minute.
Bradypnea is <12 breaths/minute; tachypnea is >20 breaths/minute.
QUESTION 5: A patient is prescribed a medication to be taken "PO." This
means:
A) By mouth
B) By injection
C) By rectum
D) Under the tongue
Correct Answer: A) By mouth
Rationale: "PO" (per os) means by mouth. "Sublingual" means under the
tongue.
"PR" means per rectum. "IM" means intramuscular.
4
COMPLETE PREPARATION GUIDE
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
Exam Review
NHA CCMA CERTIFICATION EXAM – COMPLETE PREPARATION GUIDE
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Exam Review
2025/2026 Edition
Total Questions: 150+ practice questions with rationales
Exam Format: 180 multiple-choice questions (150 scored, 30 pretest)
Time Limit: 3 hours (180 minutes)
Passing Score: 390 (scaled score 200-500)
SECTION 1: EXAM OVERVIEW & TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES
QUICK REFERENCE: EXAM DOMAINS & WEIGHTING
| Domain | Percentage | Approx. Questions |
|--------|-----------|-------------------|
| 1. Foundational Knowledge & Basic Science | 10% | 15-18 |
| 2. Anatomy & Physiology | 10% | 15-18 |
1
,| 3. Clinical Patient Care | 55% | 83-90 |
| 4. Patient Care Coordination | 8% | 12-14 |
| 5. Administrative Assisting | 12% | 18-22 |
| 6. Communication & Customer Service | 5% | 8-10 |
| 7. Medical Law & Ethics | 5% | 8-10 |
KEY TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES:
1. TIME MANAGEMENT: You have approximately 1 minute per question.
Mark difficult questions and return to them later.
2. PROCESS OF ELIMINATION: Eliminate clearly wrong answers first to
increase your odds of guessing correctly.
3. READ CAREFULLY: Look for "except," "not," "most likely," and "first."
These words change what the question is asking.
4. CLINICAL JUDGMENT: For scenario questions, ask: "What is the priority?"
(Safety → Airway → Patient dignity)
5. TRUST YOUR PREPARATION: Your first instinct is often correct.
Avoid changing answers unless you are absolutely sure.
SECTION 2: FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE & BASIC SCIENCE
2
,QUESTION 1: A patient is diagnosed with "hypertension." The prefix "hyper-"
means:
A) Below normal
B) Above normal / excessive
C) Slow
D) Fast
Correct Answer: B) Above normal / excessive
Rationale: "Hyper-" means excessive or above normal. "Hypo-" means below
normal.
"Tachy-" means fast. "Brady-" means slow.
QUESTION 2: Which of the following is the normal fasting blood glucose range
for an adult?
A) 50-70 mg/dL
B) 70-100 mg/dL
C) 100-125 mg/dL
D) 126-150 mg/dL
Correct Answer: B) 70-100 mg/dL
Rationale: Normal fasting blood glucose is 70-100 mg/dL. Prediabetes is
100-125 mg/dL. Diabetes is ≥126 mg/dL on two separate tests.
QUESTION 3: The suffix "-itis" means:
A) Surgical removal
B) Inflammation
C) Tumor
D) Study of
3
, Correct Answer: B) Inflammation
Rationale: "-itis" indicates inflammation (e.g., appendicitis = inflammation
of the appendix). "-ectomy" means surgical removal. "-ology" means study of.
QUESTION 4: Which of the following is the normal adult respiratory rate?
A) 6-10 breaths/minute
B) 12-20 breaths/minute
C) 22-28 breaths/minute
D) 30-40 breaths/minute
Correct Answer: B) 12-20 breaths/minute
Rationale: Normal adult respiratory rate is 12-20 breaths per minute.
Bradypnea is <12 breaths/minute; tachypnea is >20 breaths/minute.
QUESTION 5: A patient is prescribed a medication to be taken "PO." This
means:
A) By mouth
B) By injection
C) By rectum
D) Under the tongue
Correct Answer: A) By mouth
Rationale: "PO" (per os) means by mouth. "Sublingual" means under the
tongue.
"PR" means per rectum. "IM" means intramuscular.
4
