Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Provides an overview of the three content categories of the medical assisting credentialing exam. Reviews clinical, administrative, and general knowledge required for taking a medical assisting credentialing exam.

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Describe the value of obtaining a Medical Assisting credential.
2. Identify and summarize credentialing exam content areas. 
3. Establish an individualized study plan to properly prepare for credentialing examination. 

This course is arranged chronologically and employs a modular design. Each week, students should complete all assignments listed in that week's lesson module. These modules will appear directly on the homepage during the week they are due, and are also available by clicking "Content" on the course navigation bar.

Due dates for each week's assignments will be listed within the module itself, as well as in the "course calendar" which is also available on the Content or on the Schedule. Assignments within the modules may direct students to use many of the tools contained in Brightspace, including the Assignment, Discussions, and Quizzes. These tools will be accessible both from within the weekly content modules, as well as from the course navigation bar.

1. Students will take a practice exams throughout the course.  
2. Using the results from each practice exam, students will develop an individualized study plan. The plan will focus study on the areas of weakness. Not all students will have the same study prep plan. 
3. PowerPoint lectures reviewing the Clinical, Administrative, and General content areas will be posted. 
4. Students will complete designated weekly quizzes in assigned content areas. Mastery levels will be provided by faculty.  
5. Students will reflect on whether or not they successfully completed their weekly study plan and discuss potential barriers. 
6. All sections of the CMA (AAMA) content outline will be reviewed and a post test performed during the final week. 
7. Students will submit notification of credentialing exam registration and notify instructor of exam result. 
    

The CMA (AAMA) national credentialing exam content included the following three categories and sections: 

GENERAL

I.A. Psychology

I.B. Communication 

I.C. Professionalism

I.D. Medical Law / Regulatory Guidelines

I.E. Medical Ethics

I.F. Risk Management, Quality Assurance, and Safety

I.G. Medical Terminology 

ADMINISTRATIVE

II.H.  Medical Reception 

II.I. Patient Navigator / Advocate

II.J. Medical Business Practices

II.K. Establishing Patient Medical Records

II.L. Scheduling Appointments 

II.M. Practice Finances

CLINICAL

III.N. Anatomy and Physiology

III.O. Infection Control

III.P. Patient Intake and Documentation of Care

III.Q. Patient Preparation and Assisting the Provider

III.R. Nutrition

III.S. Collecting and Processing Specimens 

III.T. Diagnostic Testing

III.U. Pharmacology

III.V. Emergency Management / Basic First Aid