AAMA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield AAMA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A patient calls with questions about a procedure scheduled for tomorrow. The MA should: → Answer within scope of practice and route clinical questions to the provider
2. A CMA (AAMA) who allows her credential to lapse must do which of the following to reinstate it? → Retake and pass the CMA (AAMA) certification examination
3. Which action should a medical assistant take first when a patient experiences a generalized tonic-clonic seizure in the office? → Protect the patient from injury and time the seizure
4. A CMA (AAMA) earns CEUs through an AAMA-approved online self-study program. Under which category do these credits fall? → Category 4: Self-Study Programs
5. Earning CEUs for CMA (AAMA) recertification can be accomplished through which of the following activities? → Attending AAMA-approved continuing education seminars
6. A physician orders 500 mg of amoxicillin. The available suspension is 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the medical assistant prepare? → 10 mL
7. Intentionally billing for a more complex and expensive service than what was actually performed is an example of which fraudulent practice? → Upcoding
8. The term 'idiosyncratic reaction' to a drug refers to: → An unexpected abnormal reaction unique to an individual
9. The Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) is used in a medical office primarily to: → Look up drug information including dosages, interactions, and contraindications
10. When a patient is experiencing a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, the medical assistant should FIRST: → Clear the area and protect the patient from injury
11. In the SOAP method of charting, a patient's complaint of a headache would be documented in which section? → S - Subjective
12. What color tube is used to collect a specimen for a complete blood count (CBC)? → Lavender (EDTA)
13. Under AAMA policy, which of the following is an approved source of CEUs for CMA (AAMA) recertification? → AAMA-approved educational programs, college courses, and professional seminars
14. Which of the following would constitute practicing medicine beyond a medical assistant's scope? → Independently diagnosing a patient's rash without physician direction
15. How often must a CMA credential be renewed? → Every 5 years
16. Which route of administration provides the fastest onset of drug action? → Intravenous
17. A patient taking warfarin reports starting to take aspirin daily. The medical assistant should recognize this as a concern because: → Aspirin increases bleeding risk when combined with warfarin
18. A patient is scheduled for a fasting blood glucose test. The patient states they had a small snack two hours ago. What is the correct action? → Reschedule the test and advise the patient on fasting requirements
19. A patient's insurance denied a claim stating 'not medically necessary.' What is the coder's BEST first step? → Review the documentation and verify correct diagnosis codes support medical necessity
20. A CMA (AAMA) wants to recertify using only examination rather than CEUs. Which statement is accurate regarding this pathway? → The exam can be taken at any point during the active credential period
21. What does the term 'sanitization' mean in the context of instrument processing? → Reducing microbial count to a safe level and removing debris
22. Which of the following is an early sign of shock that a medical assistant should recognize? → Tachycardia and pallor
23. A medical assistant receives a certified letter that requires a signature. Who should sign for it? → Any authorized office staff member
24. How many electrodes are placed on a patient for a standard 12-lead ECG? → 10 electrodes
25. What is one of the main reasons medical assistants pursue licensure or certification? → To meet employer and state healthcare regulations
26. What is the correct ratio of chest compressions to rescue breaths for single-rescuer adult CPR? → 30:2
27. When coding an office visit, the level of Evaluation and Management (E/M) service is primarily determined by: → Medical decision making and/or total time on the date of encounter
28. Before performing a spirometry test, the patient should be instructed to: → Avoid smoking for at least 4 hours and bronchodilators as directed
29. The order of draw for venipuncture requires blood cultures to be collected: → First, before any other tubes
30. Which of the following is the preferred injection site for an intramuscular (IM) injection on an infant? → Vastus lateralis