The Specialty Certified Medical Assistant (SCMA) exam is taken by medical assistants who want a credential from CertiTrek Group. This page gives you free practice sets on infection control, clinical procedures, laboratory work, pharmacology, law and ethics, and office administration, plus worked explanations, a study plan and the official fee, time limit and passing score. Start the practice test when you are ready.
The SCMA takes about 2 hours and costs $195[1] (CertiTrek Group, verified Oct 25, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Time limit | 120 minutes[1] | CertiTrek Group · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Passing score | 70% or higher[1] | CertiTrek Group · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $195 exam voucher[1] | CertiTrek Group · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Validity | Annual; lapses if renewal not met[1] | CertiTrek Group · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Renewal | 6 CEUs and $89 every year[1] | CertiTrek Group · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE test centers[2] | CertiTrek Group · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Eligibility | Recommended: CAAHEP/ABHES MA program + 1 year experience, IMA, military, or 3+ years in the specialty[1] | CertiTrek Group · Oct 25, 2026 |
| Score release | Certificate mailed within three weeks of passing[3] | CertiTrek Group · Oct 25, 2026 |
According to CertiTrek Group, “For becoming Specialty Certified Medical Assistant you must pass an online exam with a score of 70% or higher.”[1]
The SCMA is a certification from CertiTrek Group for medical assistants who work in a specialty setting. You buy an exam voucher for $195, then use it to book a date at a Pearson VUE test center near you. The exam lasts 120 minutes, and the official site states that you need a score of 70% or higher to pass.
CertiTrek Group recommends one of these backgrounds: a medical assistant program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES plus 1 year of on-the-job experience, IMA, military experience, or 3+ years of work in the specialty. Requirements can change, so check the eligibility information on specialtycma.com before you pay for a voucher.
After you pass, a certificate is mailed to you within three weeks. The credential is annual. To renew, you document 6 approved CEUs and pay $89 each year. If the renewal requirement is not met, the certification becomes invalid.
We have not verified the number of exam questions, the topic weights or the retake rules, so this page does not state them. Read the certification process guide and the FAQ on the official site for those details.
Prepare for the Specialty Certified Medical Assistant exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: Which of the following is considered normal oxygen saturation (SpO2) in a healthy adult?
Answer: C. 95-100%
Explanation:
The correct answer is 95-100%. This is the range expected in a healthy adult breathing room air, so a reading inside it needs no action on its own.
The other options are all lower than normal. 90-94% is below the healthy range and should make you recheck the probe placement and the patient's condition. 85-89% and 75-84% are lower still and point to poor oxygenation that needs prompt attention from the clinician.
Rule to remember: know the normal range first, then treat anything under it as a reason to recheck and report, not to ignore. Also remember that a poor waveform, cold fingers or nail polish can give a false low reading, so check the patient as well as the number.
Question: What bleach-to-water ratio is recommended for disinfection?
Answer: B. 1:10
Explanation:
The correct answer is 1:10, one part bleach to ten parts water. This dilution is strong enough to disinfect surfaces without being needlessly harsh.
The other ratios are wrong for different reasons. 1:15 is weaker than the standard dilution, so it may not disinfect reliably. 2:5 and 5:5 are far stronger than needed, which wastes product, irritates skin and airways, and damages equipment and surfaces.
Rule to remember: disinfectant strength is a set standard, not a judgment call. Too weak fails to kill organisms, and too strong creates its own safety problems. Mix fresh, label the container, and follow the facility's policy and the product instructions for contact time.
Question: When assisting in a gynecology office, the specialty MA prepares a liquid-based cervical cytology (ThinPrep) sample. After collecting the sample, the brush/spatula should be:
Answer: B. Rinsed in the liquid-based vial and discarded
Explanation:
The correct answer is to rinse the brush or spatula in the liquid-based vial and discard it. In liquid-based cytology the cells are transferred into the preservative fluid, and the lab processes them from there.
Air-drying and mailing the device is wrong because the cells would dry out and the sample would be unusable. Placing it in formalin is wrong because formalin is a tissue fixative for biopsy specimens, not the medium for this test. Smearing on a glass slide and fixing describes the conventional Pap smear method, which is a different collection technique.
Rule to remember: match the collection method to the container the lab supplies. With a liquid-based kit, the cells go into the vial, not onto a slide.
Start by reading the official certification process guide and the exam information on specialtycma.com, so you know the fee, the time limit and the passing score before you plan your time.
Then take a short mixed set such as SCMA Basic to find out where you stand. Do not worry about the score at this stage. Write down the topics where you guessed or got answers wrong.
Next, work through the topic sets that match those gaps, for example infection control and safety, clinical procedures and patient care or pharmacology and medication administration. After every question, read the explanation even if you were right, and say the rule in your own words.
Keep a short list of facts you keep missing and review it each day. Then practise under test conditions: set a timer for 120 minutes, work without notes, and aim for 70% or higher on a mixed set such as SCMA MCQ. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to build understanding, not to predict the exam.
The exam voucher costs $195, according to the official CertiTrek Group site. You use the voucher to book your exam at a Pearson VUE test center. Fees can change, so confirm the current price on specialtycma.com before you buy.
You need a score of 70% or higher. The official site describes the exam as an online exam, and you take it at a Pearson VUE test center with your voucher. Check the official certification process guide for how scoring is reported.
The exam duration is 120 minutes. We have not verified the number of questions, so this page does not give one. When you practise, set a timer for the same length of time so that pacing feels familiar on test day.
CertiTrek Group recommends a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited medical assistant program plus 1 year of experience, IMA, military experience, or 3+ years of work in the specialty. Confirm the current requirements on specialtycma.com before you register.
Renewal is annual. You document 6 approved CEUs and pay an $89 renewal fee each year. If the renewal requirement is not met, the certification becomes invalid, so keep track of your CEUs and your renewal date.
After you pass, the official FAQ says a certificate will be mailed to you within three weeks. If it has not arrived after that time, contact CertiTrek Group through the official site.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.