RMA Exam

The RMA exam is a computer-based exam delivered by Pearson VUE, either at a Pearson VUE test center or at a Pearson VUE site at your school. You apply to AMT first. When AMT approves your application, it posts an Authorization to Test letter in your AMT account, and you then schedule your appointment with Pearson VUE.

You qualify through one of five routes. Every route ends with the same requirement: you must pass the RMA exam to become certified.

Create an account on the AMT website, choose the RMA application, select your eligibility route, upload the required documents and pay the $150 fee. The fee is not refundable. After AMT approves your application, your Authorization to Test letter appears in your AMT account. Create a separate Pearson VUE account and schedule your exam online or by phone. If you test at your school, your instructor gives you the date and time. Your application stays active for one year.

To reschedule or cancel without a fee, contact Pearson VUE at least one full business day before your appointment. If you cancel late or miss the appointment, you lose the testing fee and must pay a retesting fee.

The following table shows the official RMA content outline. The outline gives the number of questions for each work area but not for the content areas inside them.

This work area tests the knowledge every medical assistant uses all day: the structure and function of the body systems and their common diseases, nutrition and wellness, medical word parts, abbreviations and spelling, consent, HIPAA, scope of practice, advance directives, ethics, and professional communication with patients of every age and culture and with coworkers and vendors.

This work area covers insurance terms and plan types, explanations of benefits, the HIPAA code sets (ICD-10-CM, CPT and HCPCS), referrals and prior authorizations, scheduling, telephone etiquette and triage, written communication, health records and release of information, supplies and equipment, computer systems and office safety.

This is the largest work area. It covers medical and surgical asepsis and the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, examination instruments, CLIA waived testing and specimen collection, minor surgical procedures, vital signs and measurements, positioning and specialty exams, visual acuity, 12-lead ECGs, medication administration and dosage calculation, heat and cold therapy, assistive devices, and first aid and emergency response.

Every question is a four-option multiple-choice question with one best answer. Expect these styles:

Your raw score is converted to a scaled score from 0 to 100, and a scaled score of 70 passes. The scaled score is not the percentage of questions you answered correctly. Scaled scores place every form (version) of the exam on a common scale, so the passing standard is the same no matter which form you take. A blank question cannot earn credit, so choose one answer for every question; marking more than one answer for a question counts as wrong.

Your score appears on the screen when you finish, and the test center gives you a printed score report. If you do not pass, the report marks each content area with a plus (satisfactory) or a minus (needs work). Results are also sent to AMT within 48 hours.

If you do not pass, you may retest no sooner than 45 days after your previous attempt. You may take the RMA exam a maximum of four times, and each retake requires a retesting fee (currently $150). You retake the entire exam, so use your score report to focus your study on the weak areas.

AMT issues your RMA (AMT) certification, and you may use the RMA credential after your name. Keep your contact details current in your AMT account and keep a copy of your score report.

AMT certification runs on a three-year cycle. You pay an annual fee each year ($75 for the RMA) and earn 30 Certification Continuation Program (CCP) points in each three-year cycle, about 10 points per year. CCP points come from continuing education, college courses, presentations and similar activities. You do not send proof unless AMT selects you for an audit, so keep your certificates.