Testing

Taking examinations involves more than a period of preparation and a short period of thinking and writing. A wise candidate begins to prepare for the testing long before the test day arrives. Here are some important suggestions to help you prepare for and take the California Certified Medical Assistant exam.

1. Read the outline(s) for the exams you are taking. Make certain you are knowledgeable about each item on the outline. When you discover a topic you need to study, read about it and make notes to help you remember the information.
2. Study often so that you won’t need to “burn the midnight oil” just before the exam. You want to be alert and at your best on exam day.
3. Review intelligently by regularly setting aside some time to go over the material you studied earlier.
4. Test yourself before exam day. Some people find it helpful to write down information they know about each topic on the outline. A Review Guide of quizzes is available for $40. Many candidates find this very helpful.
5. Study with others. Take turns questioning each other on what you think might be included on the exam. You will find everyone learns from this exercise.
6. Gather your materials a few days before the exam and place them where you’ll find them easily so you remember to take them with you on your test day.
7. Familiarize yourself with the test site, whether online or in-person, in order to ensure that you can find it easily on the morning of your exam.

Resources to Help You Prepare

• Review Guide ($40)
• Practice Test Booklet ($15)
• Medical Math and Dosage Calculations Workbook ($15)

You will find the process very easy. It is simply a point and click of a mouse. You will begin with a computer tutorial to help you feel more comfortable. It will show you how to move about the exam (you can review your answers). You can only move around the current exam where you are working. For example, once you leave the basic exam, you cannot return.

Pearson VUE testing centers provide computer-based test services for academic assessment, professional licensure and certification. To ensure security and uniformity for all testing candidates, Pearson test center environments are standardized. Pearson test centers provide the resources necessary for secure administration of the exam, including video and audio monitoring and recording, and use of digital cameras to record the identity of examinees. At the beginning of the exam, you will be required to agree that both audio and video may be recorded in the testing room while you take the test. If you do not agree, you will not be allowed to complete the test and will forfeit your fee.

Rules

• Any violation of the testing policies and regulations outlined in this handbook may result in dismissal from the testing center and forfeiture of fees.
• Test center staff monitor all test sessions for the exam. You must follow the instructions of test center staff.  
• Test center staff are not authorized to answer questions regarding exam content, test software, or scoring. 
• You may not bring any personal belongings into the test area, including, but not limited to, the following:
  • Mechanical or electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, personal digital assistants [PDAs], calculators [will be provided upon request at the testing center], smart watches, electronic paging devices, recording/filming devices or radios) Use of electronic devices while at the test center will not be permitted.
  • Outerwear (e.g., coats, jackets, headwear or gloves)
  • Book bags, backpacks, handbags, briefcases or wallets
  •  Books, notes, written materials or scratch paper
  • Food, candy, gum, or beverages
• You will be provided with a locker for your personal items. Keep in mind that the storage lockers are small and that all stored mechanical or electronic devices must be turned off. Personal items and their contents may be subject to inspection.
• When checking in, you will be asked to present eyeglasses to the test center administrator for inspection. Smart eyewear will not be permitted in the examination room under any circumstances.
• No breaks are offered. The majority of people will finish the exam in under the allowed time. You can choose to let your time run down on an exam for a quick break. Remember that the next exam will automatically load and the next timer will start once you click out of the module, so you don't want to be gone long.

If you wish to withdraw or cancel your application you must do so in writing to CCBMA.  Your application fee minus a $60 processing fee will be refunded.  If you wish to cancel your exam you must do in writing to CCBMA no less than 15 days prior to your scheduled exam or the must-test-by-date indicated on your authorization letter. You must contact Pearson VUE directly to have your scheduled appointment removed from their system. If you meet these deadlines, you will receive a refund of the application fee paid minus a $60 processing charge. Cancellation requests must meet these criteria or no refund will be given. 

If your application is denied by CCBMA, you will receive a letter and a refund of your application fee minus a $60 processing charge.

Failing to appear for a scheduled test, arriving more than 15 minutes after the scheduled start time, refusing admission to the exam, or changing the exam date without providing 24 hours’ notice will result in forfeiture of the entire fee and will be considered as an attempt. There will be no refund.

To reschedule the exam, do so by directly contacting Pearson VUE, our testing company, at the phone number found on the eligibility letter. You must test by the date that is specified in your eligibility letter.

If you fail to schedule an authorized examination by the "must-test-by" date indicated on your authorization letter, you will forfeit all fees paid and will not be entitled to a refund.

You will know your preliminary test results before you leave the test site. Once certified, your certificate, wallet card and pin will be mailed to you. You can expect these items within 4 weeks.

CCMA Credentials

Those who pass the basic and at least one specialty earn the following designations:

• Basic & clinical (CCMA-C)
• Basic & administrative (CCMA-A)
• Basic & both specialties (CCMA-AC)

In the event that you fail the CACMA exam, you may retake it an unlimited number of times after 15 days have elapsed since the previous examination date.  A retake application and fee must be submitted for each examination attempt.  

Grounds for denial of certification/recertification or revocation of credentials:

1. Certification or recertification obtained by fraudulent or deceptive means.
2. Falsifying information including use of the certification mark when it has not been earned or when it has expired.
3. Cheating by copying answers or permitting another to copy answers from the exam. This includes reproduction of exam materials or any portion thereof.
4. Violation of the "CCMA Core Values" or any laws related to the medical assisting practice which may include, but are not limited to:
   1. Possession, use or distribution of a controlled substance or drug. 
   2. Self-prescribing a controlled substance or drug.
   3. Authorizing any prescription not prescribed by a physician.
   4. Sexual or discriminatory harassment.
   5. Performing work duties that are outside the medical assistant "Scope of Practice".
   6. Breach of non-disclosure agreement.

Possible Disciplinary Penalties

1. Denial of certification or recertification
2. Reprimand
3. Temporary suspension/revocation of credentials
4. Permanent suspension/revocation of credentials

Appeals Process

1. An appeal of a denial of certification/ recertification by an applicant may be made in writing within 60 days of notification of the decision of the California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants.
2. A California Certified Medical Assistant (CCMA) holding credentials that have been suspended or revoked may appeal the decision of the California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants in writing within 60 days of the notification.
3. CCBMA may communicate to consider the appeal in person, by telephone or by other electronic means.
4. All decisions of the California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants are final.