The Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam is administered by AMT to assess the knowledge and skills of those pursuing RMA certification.
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RMA Eligibility
To be eligible to take this exam, you must meet all of the requirements of one of the five following routes:
You may qualify through this route if you graduated within the past four years, or are scheduled to graduate, from an accredited medical assisting program or a medical assisting program housed within an accredited institution.
The program must include at least:
- 720 hours of instruction
- 160 hours of externship experience
The program or institution must be accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or otherwise approved by AMT.
You may qualify through this route if, within the past four years, you completed an AMT-approved hybrid education and work-experience medical assisting program that meets one of the following requirements:
- 720 total hours of combined didactic and clinical experience, including at least 160 hours of externship experience
- An approved alternative training program of at least 500 hours, including at least 160 hours of externship experience
You must also demonstrate practical competence through a structured competency evaluation covering the skills and knowledge required of a medical assistant.
You may qualify through work experience if you have been employed as a medical assistant for at least three years within the past seven years.
Your experience must include both:
- Clinical medical assisting duties
- Administrative medical assisting duties
You must also provide proof of a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent and hold a valid CPR credential that includes both theoretical instruction and an in-person demonstration of CPR proficiency.
You may qualify through the Military Route if you recently graduated, or are scheduled to graduate, from a formal medical services training program of the United States Armed Forces.
If you have already completed the program, you must have graduated within the past four years.
You may qualify through the Instructor Route if you currently teach in an accredited medical assisting program and have completed a course of instruction in a healthcare discipline related to medical assisting.
Applicants with at least five years of full-time medical assisting teaching experience may qualify based on their teaching experience.
RMA Exam Outline
The RMA exam contains 210 multiple-choice questions and has a time limit of 2 hours.
The exam is split into three work areas:
I. General Medical Assisting (65 questions)
The questions in this area assess your knowledge of medical terminology and what disorders and diseases affect the various systems of the body.
Body Systems
- Structure and function of the systems of the human body
- Disorders and diseases
- Wellness and nutrition
Medical Terminology
- Word parts
- Definitions
- Spelling
- Abbreviations and symbols
- Terminology
Medical Law and Ethics
- Medical law
- Credentialing
- Terminology
- Medical Assistants’ Scope of Practice
- HIPAA regulations
- Medical ethics
- Ethical conduct
- Advance directives
Human Relations
- Patient relations
- Interpersonal relations
II. Administrative Medical Assisting (30 questions)
The questions in this area assess your knowledge of insurance, clerical duties, medical law and ethics, and human relations.
Insurance
- Terminology associated with various insurance types in the medical office
- Explanation of benefits (EOB)
- Coding systems
Clerical
- Administrative responsibilities
- Scheduling procedures
- Oral and written communication
- Maintenance of healthcare information
- Management of supplies and equipment
- Computer applications
- Office safety procedures
III. Clinical Medical Assisting (115 questions)
The questions in this area assess your knowledge of laboratory procedures, instruments, and terminology.
Infection Control
- Terminology
- Bloodborne pathogens
- Universal Precautions
- Medical and surgical aseptic techniques
- Sanitation, disinfection, and sterilization
Diagnostic Instruments
- Identification
- Instrument uses
Laboratory Procedures
- Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA ’88)
- Waived testing
- Terminology
- Laboratory test and quality control program
- Appropriate laboratory testing procedures
- Specimen collection procedures
- OSHA standards
Minor Surgical Procedures
- Supplies
- Procedures
Vital Signs and Measurements
- Terminology
- Blood pressure procedures
- Procedures related to pulse, respiration, blood oxygen saturation, and temperature measurements
Physical Examinations
- Medical history
- Patient positions
- Methods of examination
- Specialty examinations
- Visual acuity
- Electrocardiography (ECG)
- Routine diagnostic tests
Clinical Pharmacology
- Terminology
- Procedures related to medication administration
- Prescriptions
- Drugs
- Calculating basic pharmacological doses
Therapeutic Modalities
- Modalities
- Alternative therapies
- Patient instruction
First Aid and Emergency Response
- First aid procedures
- Legal responsibilities
Check out Mometrix's RMA Study Guide
Get practice questions, video tutorials, and detailed study lessons.
Registration
To register for the RMA exam, you must fill out an application on the AMT website and pay the non-refundable $150 application fee. Once your application is approved, you will receive confirmation of your approval and instructions regarding how to schedule your exam appointment.
If you are taking the exam at your school, all of the scheduling information will be given to you by your instructor. If you are taking the exam at a Pearson VUE testing center, you will need to schedule an appointment with Pearson online or over the phone.
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Test Day
You should arrive 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled appointment time on the day of your exam. Once you arrive, you will be asked to provide your letter of authorization and two forms of valid identification. Once you are approved, you will be asked to sign a digital signature pad, and scan your palm veins for authentication purposes. You will then be asked to leave all personal items in a locker outside the testing room.
Before the exam begins, you may be asked to review and agree to the testing center’s exam rules and nondisclosure agreement.
Scoring
Your final RMA exam score is determined by taking your raw score (the number of RMA questions you answered correctly) and converting it to a scaled score, ranging from 0 to 100. The passing score on this scale is 70.
If you take the computerized exam at a Pearson VUE testing center, your result is displayed on the screen immediately after you finish the exam. You will also receive a printed score report before leaving the testing center.
Retaking the Exam
If you do not pass the exam, you may retake it no sooner than 45 days after the unsuccessful attempt. A retesting fee is required for each additional attempt.
Applicants are limited to four lifetime attempts for any one AMT certification.
Check out Mometrix's RMA Flashcards
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FAQs
Q
How many questions are on the RMA exam?
A
There are 210 multiple-choice questions on the exam.
Q
How long is the RMA exam?
A
The time limit for this exam is 2 hours.
Q
What is the passing score for the RMA exam?
A
To pass the exam, you must achieve a scaled score of at least 70.
Q
How much does the RMA exam cost?
A
The application fee is $150.
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