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Failed MHA exam twice — what am I missing in my prep?

by Alex G. 478 views3 replies
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Alex G.OP
May 27, 2026

I'm honestly at my wits' end. I've taken the MHA certification exam twice now and failed both times with scores in the low 60s when I need a 70 to pass. I've got about five years of healthcare admin experience, so it's not like the material is completely foreign to me — but something isn't clicking on the actual test.

My current approach has been reading through the CMPE study guide and watching some YouTube videos, but I don't think that's cutting it. A colleague suggested I try an MHA practice test to get used to the question format, and honestly I think that might be where I'm falling short. I'm spending 8-10 hours a week studying but it feels unfocused.

For anyone who's passed this thing: what were your go-to exam tips? Did you focus more on healthcare law, finance, or operations? My test is rescheduled for late July and I really can't afford a third failure — my employer is covering the fees but the embarrassment alone is killing me. Any honest advice would be appreciated.

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Preethi N.
May 28, 2026
Honestly the question format is half the battle. ACHE and MGMA exams love scenario-based questions where two answers both seem right but one is more strategically sound. The study guide alone won't prepare you for that nuance. I'd carve out at least 15-20 hours specifically doing practice questions and reviewing the rationales — not just checking if you got it right, but understanding WHY the other options were wrong. That shift changed everything for me.
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Sarah M.
May 28, 2026
I was in almost the exact same spot two years ago. What finally got me over the line was switching from passive reading to active recall. Specifically, I found a good MHA practice test bank and did timed sets of 30 questions every other day for six weeks. The finance and reimbursement sections hit harder than I expected — way more Medicare/Medicaid coding logic than I'd prepped for. Once I identified my weak areas through practice tests, I could actually target my studying instead of just re-reading everything.
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Jessica L.
May 28, 2026
July gives you enough runway if you get focused now. Healthcare law and HR compliance showed up way more on my exam than I expected — don't neglect those sections even if operations feels more comfortable. You've got this.

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