Which CMA - Certified Mortgage Advisor prep book is actually worth buying in 2026?

[medstudent_mk]

I've been comparing the main study guides and I'm confused about which one to get. There are at least 4 options and the reviews on Amazon are all over the place.

Books I'm considering:

• The official publisher guide (~$55)
• Barron's equivalent if there is one
• Cheaper third-party study guide on Amazon
• Going book-free and only using online practice tests

I've been doing the free practice questions at https://practicetestgeeks.com/cma-certified-mortgage-advisor and honestly they've been more useful than I expected. Part of me wonders if I even need a book at this point.

What did you use? Was a book essential or can you get by without one?

 

[CertNerd42]

+1 to everything here. I had the exact same experience with the scenario questions — that tip about asking "what would an experienced professional do" is genuinely useful.

 

[NursingProSarah]

Bookmarked. I've been looking for a realistic comparison like this for weeks. Most of what I found online was either from prep companies with an obvious sales angle or was 3+ years old.