118 of 150. An elderly patient with very low body fat requires a routine subcutaneous insulin injection in the abdominal area. Which of the following supply configurations should the medical assistant select?

30-gauge, 5/16-inch needle on a calibrated insulin syringe

23-gauge, 1.0-inch needle on a standard 3-mL syringe

25-gauge, 5/8-inch needle on a standard 3-mL syringe

27-gauge, 1/2-inch needle on a tuberculin 1-mL syringe

127 of 150. A patient is placed on strict NPO status for an upcoming surgery but takes a daily antihypertensive medication to manage severe high blood pressure. The patient asks the medical assistant how to handle this medication on the morning of the procedure. Which of the following is the best instruction?

Advise the patient to take the medication with a small water sip.

Direct the patient to skip the medication to maintain strict NPO status.

Tell the patient to take the medication with a large morning beverage.

Instruct the patient to take the medication with a small dry cracker.

128 of 150. A patient requires a bandage for a large, weeping abrasion on their left lower leg. After applying a non-adherent sterile pad, how should the medical assistant apply the conforming roller gauze?

Wrap gently from the ankle up to the knee.

Wrap firmly from the knee down to the ankle.

Wrap tightly in a circular motion over the pad.

Wrap loosely from the mid-calf down to the foot.

130 of 150. A 7-year-old patient weighing 22 kg begins experiencing throat tightness after eating a peanut butter cracker in the waiting room. The provider orders an epinephrine auto-injector.

Administer a 0.15 mg dose into the anterolateral thigh.

Administer a 0.3 mg dose into the deltoid muscle.

Administer a 0.15 mg dose into the deltoid muscle.

Administer a 0.3 mg dose into the anterolateral thigh.

139 of 150. An MA is processing a CPOE order for a PET scan for a patient with a recent oncology diagnosis. The system flags the order as requiring insurance verification before transmission. What is the most appropriate next step for the MA?

Initiate the prior authorization process before finalizing the radiology order transmission.

Transmit the order immediately to prevent any delay in patient care.

Ask the patient to pay out of pocket for the imaging procedure.

Change the diagnosis code to bypass the insurance verification system flag.

How many questions are on the exam?

You will face 180 total questions on test day. You have exactly 180 minutes to complete the entire assessment.

Are all 180 questions graded?

No. Only 150 questions actually count toward your final grade. The remaining 30 are unscored pretest items used by the NHA to evaluate future test material.

How do I know which questions are unscored?

You cannot tell them apart. The unscored pretest questions blend seamlessly into the rest of the test. Treat every item as if it counts toward your grade.

What is a scaled score?

A scaled score converts your raw number of correct answers into a standardized scale from 0 to 500. This process ensures fairness if one test version is slightly harder than another.

Do I lose points for guessing?

You do not lose points for incorrect answers. Your scaled score is based only on the number of questions you answer correctly. Never leave a question blank.

Which exam section is the most important for passing?

Clinical Patient Care is the largest domain. It makes up approximately 56 percent of the 150 scored questions. You must perform well in this area to reach the 390 passing mark.

What other topics do I need to study?

The test also covers Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science, Anatomy and Physiology, Patient Care Coordination and Education, Administrative Assisting, Communication and Customer Service, and Medical Law and Ethics.

How many questions do I need to get right to get a 390?

Because the NHA uses a scaled scoring system, there is no exact raw number. However, a 390 out of 500 equals approximately 78 percent of the 150 scored items.

When will I get my test results?

The timeline for receiving your results depends on how you tested. Review the official NHA candidate handbook for exact reporting timelines.

What happens if I fail the exam?

You can retake the test if you do not reach the 390 passing score. For specific waiting periods and retake limits, consult the NHA certification guidelines.

How can I make sure I pass on the first try?

Focus your study time on the heavily weighted Clinical Patient Care domain. We offer 2325 practice questions to help you prepare for the exact format and difficulty of the real thing.

CCMA Passing Score and Grading Breakdown

To pass the CCMA exam, you must earn a scaled score of 390 out of 500, which is roughly 78 percent. The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) calculates this based on your performance across 150 scored questions.

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How many questions are on the exam?: You will face 180 total questions on test day. You have exactly 180 minutes to complete the entire assessment.
Are all 180 questions graded?: No. Only 150 questions actually count toward your final grade. The remaining 30 are unscored pretest items used by the NHA to evaluate future test material.
How do I know which questions are unscored?: You cannot tell them apart. The unscored pretest questions blend seamlessly into the rest of the test. Treat every item as if it counts toward your grade.
What is a scaled score?: A scaled score converts your raw number of correct answers into a standardized scale from 0 to 500. This process ensures fairness if one test version is slightly harder than another.
Do I lose points for guessing?: You do not lose points for incorrect answers. Your scaled score is based only on the number of questions you answer correctly. Never leave a question blank.
Which exam section is the most important for passing?: Clinical Patient Care is the largest domain. It makes up approximately 56 percent of the 150 scored questions. You must perform well in this area to reach the 390 passing mark.
What other topics do I need to study?: The test also covers Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science, Anatomy and Physiology, Patient Care Coordination and Education, Administrative Assisting, Communication and Customer Service, and Medical Law and Ethics.
How many questions do I need to get right to get a 390?: Because the NHA uses a scaled scoring system, there is no exact raw number. However, a 390 out of 500 equals approximately 78 percent of the 150 scored items.
When will I get my test results?: The timeline for receiving your results depends on how you tested. Review the official NHA candidate handbook for exact reporting timelines.
What happens if I fail the exam?: You can retake the test if you do not reach the 390 passing score. For specific waiting periods and retake limits, consult the NHA certification guidelines.
How can I make sure I pass on the first try?: Focus your study time on the heavily weighted Clinical Patient Care domain. We offer 2325 practice questions to help you prepare for the exact format and difficulty of the real thing.

Test yourself: CCMA questions

Tap an answer — get instant feedback + the full rationale. The app has all 2,300+, timed and scored.

Question 1

25 of 150. An MA is preparing to apply a pediatric urine collection bag to a 10-month-old infant for a routine urinalysis. After cleaning the perineal area, what is the appropriate next step to ensure proper adhesion and prevent leakage?

▸ Why B is the answer

When applying a pediatric urine collection bag, the medical assistant must ensure the perineal area is completely dry after cleansing. Option B is correct because moisture prevents adhesion, causing the bag to leak or detach before a sufficient sample is collected. Option A is incorrect because barrier creams leave a greasy residue that completely inhibits the adhesive from sticking to the infant's skin. Option C is incorrect and potentially harmful; surgical tape can cause skin tears on delicate infant skin and is not the standard method for securing these bags. Option D is incorrect because a warm compress does not aid in adhesion and could potentially irritate the skin or compromise the adhesive material. Achieving a clean, dry surface is the most critical step for a successful pediatric urine collection.

🔑 Key takeaway

The skin must be completely dry before applying a pediatric urine bag to ensure proper adhesive seal.

Question 2

26 of 150. A pediatric patient presents with a fever and a diffuse maculopapular rash, prompting the provider to evaluate for a suspected measles infection. When determining which staff member should obtain the patient's vital signs, which approach is best?

▸ Why A is the answer

Measles is a highly contagious virus that requires airborne precautions. According to infection control guidelines, healthcare facilities should prioritize assigning staff members who have documented immunity to care for patients with known or suspected measles, varicella, or disseminated zoster. Option B is incorrect because a recent booster does not guarantee immediate or confirmed immunity, as antibody development takes time. Options C and D are incorrect because surgical masks and face shields only protect against large droplets and splashes; they do not filter the small aerosolized particles characteristic of airborne transmission.

🔑 Key takeaway

Staff with documented immunity should be prioritized to care for patients with highly contagious airborne diseases.

Question 3

27 of 150. A patient experiencing chemotherapy-induced nausea is referred for complementary therapy and asks how the needles work to relieve their symptoms. Which of the following is the most accurate explanation the medical assistant can provide?

▸ Why D is the answer

Acupuncture utilizes solid, fine needles to stimulate specific anatomical points, which is clinically believed to alter nerve signaling and trigger the release of natural neurotransmitters, effectively reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea. Realigning vertebrae describes the mechanism of chiropractic adjustments, not acupuncture. Breaking down scar tissue is a goal of deep tissue massage. Acupuncture needles are solid and do not deliver any medication, microscopic or otherwise.

🔑 Key takeaway

Acupuncture involves stimulating specific anatomical points to modulate nerve signaling and relieve symptoms like nausea.

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CCMA · Exam Simulator

118 of 150. An elderly patient with very low body fat requires a routine subcutaneous insulin injection in the…

A) 23-gauge, 1.0-inch needle on a standard

B) 25-gauge, 5/8-inch needle on a standard

C) 27-gauge, 1/2-inch needle on a tuberculi

D) 30-gauge, 5/16-inch needle on a calibrat

Submit Answer

✓ CORRECT

D) 30-gauge, 5/16-inch needle on a calibrated insulin

💡 KEY TAKEAWAY

Emaciated patients require ultra-short needles for subcutaneous injections to prevent accidental intramuscular delivery.

WHY

Patients with very low body fat have a thin layer of subcutaneous tissue, increasing the risk of accidentally injecting into the muscle. A 5…