CCMA Medical Assistant study guide
CCMA Medical Assistant, administered by NHA (National Healthcareer Association), is mapped here as 7 topic areas; the heaviest are Clinical Patient Care (54%), Administrative Assisting (13%) and Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science (10%).
About this course: No one's born knowing the order of draw. Build your clinical knowledge one concept at a time.
CCMA Medical Assistant at a glance
- Questions
- 180
- Time allowed
- 3 hours
- Passing standard
- scaled 390 of 200–500 (this scaled passing score applies to ALL NHA exams)
- Format
- multiple choice
- Standard / edition
- CCMA Summary Test Plan based on the 2016 Job Analysis Study
- Administered by
- NHA (National Healthcareer Association)
Source: CCMA Summary Test Plan based on the 2016 Job Analysis Study, NHA (National Healthcareer Association). Confirm current details with the exam owner before you book.
Topic areas and weights
| Topic area | Weight | Concepts | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science | 10% | 0 | Section below |
| Anatomy and Physiology | 8% | 0 | Section below |
| Clinical Patient Care | 54% | 0 | Topic page |
| Patient Care Coordination and Education | 5% | 3 | Section below |
| Administrative Assisting | 13% | 6 | Section below |
| Communication and Customer Service | 5% | 4 | Section below |
| Medical Law and Ethics | 5% | 0 | Topic page |
Topic guides at a glance
Clinical Patient Care
54% of the course blueprint, 0 concepts. Watch for: The light-blue coag tube does not need to be full. WRONG — It MUST fill to the line — the 9:1 blood-to-citrate ratio is required; under-filled = rejected.
Medical Law and Ethics
5% of the course blueprint, 0 concepts. Watch for: A medical assistant can independently triage or diagnose a patient. WRONG — The MA may NOT diagnose or independently triage; they work under provider supervision (scope of practice).
Study plan in this course
- Phlebotomy: Order of Draw — 4 cards · free
- Injections and Pharmacology Basics: Injections Pharmacology — 6 cards · free
- Vital Signs: Ranges and Reporting: Vital Signs — 5 cards · free
- Infection Control, Asepsis, and PPE: Asepsis Ppe Infection Control — 13 cards · full course
- 12-Lead EKG: Placement and Rhythms: Ekg — 4 cards · full course
- Medical Terminology and Foundational Science: Foundational Terminology — 5 cards · full course
- Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology: Anatomy Physiology — 4 cards · full course
- Administrative: Coding, Billing, and Insurance: Administrative Coding Billing — 6 cards · full course
- Medical Law, Ethics, and HIPAA: Law Ethics — 4 cards · full course
- Communication and Customer Service: Communication — 4 cards · full course
- Patient Care Coordination and Education: Patient Care Coordination — 3 cards · full course
- Current Exam Information — 5 cards · full course
Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science
Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science carries 10% of the CCMA Medical Assistant blueprint used in this course, the third-largest of its 7 weighted areas. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Foundational Terminology.
Key terms for Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science
NPO
How Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science connects to other areas
- Basic Pharmacology Routes and Drug Classes links to Injection Angles by Route ID SubQ IM — Clinical Patient Care
- Basic Pharmacology Routes and Drug Classes links to SubQ and ID Injection Specifics — Clinical Patient Care
- Medical Terminology Roots/Prefixes/Suffixes links to Standard Precautions — Clinical Patient Care
- Medical Terminology Roots/Prefixes/Suffixes links to Body Organization and Organ Systems — Anatomy and Physiology
- Health Care Systems and Settings links to Scope of Practice MA Cannot Diagnose or Prescribe — Medical Law and Ethics
Official references for Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science
- Standard medical-terminology texts
- Standard MA / nutrition texts
- Standard MA / psychology texts
- Standard MA texts
- Standard pharmacology texts
In the app this area comes with 5 memory cards and 7 module-quiz questions in the full course.
Anatomy and Physiology
Anatomy and Physiology carries 8% of the CCMA Medical Assistant blueprint used in this course, the 4th-largest of its 7 weighted areas. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Anatomy Physiology.
How Anatomy and Physiology connects to other areas
- Cardiovascular Physiology and Cardiac Conduction links to Adult Pulse Heart Rate Normal Range — Clinical Patient Care
- Cardiovascular Physiology and Cardiac Conduction links to Adult Blood Pressure Categories AHA — Clinical Patient Care
- Cardiovascular Physiology and Cardiac Conduction links to 12-Lead Precordial Chest Lead Placement V1-V6 — Clinical Patient Care
- Cardiovascular Physiology and Cardiac Conduction links to Limb Lead Placement and AHA Color Codes — Clinical Patient Care
- Cardiovascular Physiology and Cardiac Conduction links to Shockable vs Non-Shockable Cardiac Rhythms — Clinical Patient Care
- Microbiology Basics and Pathogen Types links to Chain of Infection — Clinical Patient Care
- Body Organization and Organ Systems links to Medical Terminology Roots/Prefixes/Suffixes — Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science
Official references for Anatomy and Physiology
- Standard A&P texts
- Standard A&P / pathophysiology texts
- Standard microbiology texts
In the app this area comes with 4 memory cards and 6 module-quiz questions in the full course.
Patient Care Coordination and Education
Patient Care Coordination and Education carries 5% of the CCMA Medical Assistant blueprint used in this course, the 5th-largest of its 7 weighted areas. It spans 3 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Patient Care Coordination.
What Patient Care Coordination and Education covers
- Care Coordination Referrals and Follow-Up — Standard MA texts
- Patient Education and Teach-Back Method — Standard MA texts
- Health Maintenance and Disease Prevention — Standard MA texts
Key terms for Patient Care Coordination and Education
teach-back
How Patient Care Coordination and Education connects to other areas
- Patient Education and Teach-Back Method links to Scope of Practice MA Cannot Diagnose or Prescribe — Medical Law and Ethics
- Patient Education and Teach-Back Method links to Therapeutic Communication Techniques — Communication and Customer Service
Official references for Patient Care Coordination and Education
- Standard MA texts
In the app this area comes with 3 memory cards and 4 module-quiz questions in the full course.
Administrative Assisting
Administrative Assisting carries 13% of the CCMA Medical Assistant blueprint used in this course, the second-largest of its 7 weighted areas. It spans 6 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Administrative Coding Billing.
What Administrative Assisting covers
- Appointment Scheduling Types — Standard MA administrative texts
- EHR EMR Records and SOAP Note Documentation — Standard MA administrative texts
- ICD-10-CM Diagnosis vs CPT Procedure Coding — Standard MA administrative / coding texts
- Insurance Terms Copay Deductible Coinsurance — Standard MA administrative / insurance texts
- Medical Billing and Claim Cycle — Standard MA administrative / billing texts
- Claims Support Eligibility Prior Auth EOB Appeal — Standard MA administrative texts
Common mistakes in Administrative Assisting
- ICD-10 codes the procedure and CPT codes the diagnosis. WRONG — REVERSED: ICD-10-CM = diagnosis (why); CPT = procedure/service (what).
- A copay and a deductible are the same thing. WRONG — Copay = fixed per-visit fee; deductible = amount paid before insurance pays; coinsurance = a % after the deductible.
Key terms for Administrative Assisting
ICD-10-CM · CPT · copay · deductible · coinsurance
How Administrative Assisting connects to other areas
- EHR EMR Records and SOAP Note Documentation links to Documentation as Legal Record — Medical Law and Ethics
- EHR EMR Records and SOAP Note Documentation links to HIPAA Privacy Rule and PHI Protection — Medical Law and Ethics
Official references for Administrative Assisting
- Standard MA administrative texts
- Standard MA administrative / coding texts
- Standard MA administrative / billing texts
- Standard MA administrative / insurance texts
In the app this area comes with 6 memory cards and 10 module-quiz questions in the full course.
Communication and Customer Service
Communication and Customer Service carries 5% of the CCMA Medical Assistant blueprint used in this course, the 6th-largest of its 7 weighted areas. It spans 4 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Communication.
What Communication and Customer Service covers
- Therapeutic Communication Techniques — Standard MA communication texts
- Telephone Etiquette and Emergency Recognition — Standard MA communication texts
- Cultural Competence and Communication Barriers — Standard MA communication texts
- De-escalation with Upset Patients — Standard MA communication texts
Common mistakes in Communication and Customer Service
- Use a family member to interpret for a non-English-speaking patient. WRONG — Use a qualified medical interpreter, not a family member.
How Communication and Customer Service connects to other areas
- Telephone Etiquette and Emergency Recognition links to Scope of Practice MA Cannot Diagnose or Prescribe — Medical Law and Ethics
- Therapeutic Communication Techniques links to Patient Education and Teach-Back Method — Patient Care Coordination and Education
Official references for Communication and Customer Service
- Standard MA communication texts
In the app this area comes with 4 memory cards and 4 module-quiz questions in the full course.
Official references
- CDC Standard Precautions for All Patient Care
- CDC Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings
- CDC Transmission-Based Precautions
- CDC Sequence for Putting On PPE
- CDC Sequence for Removing PPE
- DEA controlled-substance schedules
- HHS HIPAA Privacy Rule
- Standard MA law/ethics texts
- CDC
- nhanow.com
- nhanow.com NHA 2024 Annual Pass Rates PDF, retrieved: 2026-06-14
- nhanow.com CCMA Summary Test Plan, retrieved: 2026-06-14
- Standard medical-terminology texts
- Standard MA / nutrition texts
- Standard MA / psychology texts
- Standard MA texts