Free CMA Practice Test California 2026 — AAMA Exam Prep Guide

California has more medical assistants employed than any other state — approximately 95,700 as of the BLS May 2024 OEWS release. Here is what every California CMA candidate needs to know: • Certification is voluntary at the state level. California does not license medical assistants, but the state Medical Board regulates what MAs may and may not do (e.g., MAs may not diagnose, may not administer intravenous medications, and may only give injections under specific supervision rules). • Recognized certifications in California: CMA (AAMA), CCMA (NHA), RMA (AMT), NCMA (NCCT). Employers frequently list one or more of these as preferred or required. • Exam vendor: PSI, with test centers throughout the state • Exam format: 200 questions, 160 minutes • Passing score: 405 on a 200-800 scaled range • Annual mean wage in California: approximately $50,900 (BLS May 2024) — 7th highest in the country • Top employers: Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, Dignity Health / CommonSpirit, Providence, Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, UCSF Health, Stanford Health Care, Scripps, Sharp HealthCare • Registry: no state MA registry exists (unlike CNA), but AAMA maintains a national CMA credential holder registry

Medical assistants in California are not state-licensed. There is no California-issued MA license. What California does regulate is scope of practice — specifically, what tasks an MA may perform under physician or authorized supervisor delegation. The California Business and Professions Code and Medical Board regulations spell out the limits. Because the state does not license MAs, the market has adopted the CMA (AAMA), CCMA (NHA), RMA (AMT), and NCMA (NCCT) credentials as de facto standards. Large California health systems generally require or strongly prefer one of these credentials. Small physician offices may hire uncertified MAs, particularly recent graduates of accredited programs. The CMA (AAMA) certification is a national credential, so passing the exam in California qualifies you to work in any state. To sit for the AAMA CMA exam, you must be a graduate or completing student of a program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES, or qualify under one of AAMA's alternative eligibility categories.

The AAMA exam is delivered by PSI and is identical nationwide — California candidates take the same exam as candidates in every other state. AAMA's official Content Outline divides the exam into three domains: • Clinical Competency — approximately 59% of the exam. Safety and infection control, patient intake and clinical workflow, procedures and examinations, and pharmacology. • Administrative — approximately 23%. Billing, coding, insurance, appointment scheduling, and health information management. • General — approximately 18%. Communication and legal-ethical issues. California candidates should give extra attention to legal-ethical questions related to scope of practice and to HIPAA/patient privacy. California has its own Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) that layers on top of federal HIPAA and shows up in employer training — while the AAMA exam is national, the scope-of-practice discipline California employers expect is stringent.

The CMA (AAMA) exam is delivered by PSI at test centers throughout California: • Los Angeles (multiple locations) • San Diego • San Francisco and the Bay Area (Oakland, San Jose, Fremont) • Sacramento • Fresno • Bakersfield • Riverside and San Bernardino • Anaheim and Orange County • Ventura • Redding Live Remote Proctored testing is also available, allowing you to take the exam from home with a webcam-monitored setup that meets AAMA and PSI requirements. Verify current test center availability at aama-ntl.org after you receive your Scheduling Permit. Los Angeles and Bay Area test centers fill up weeks in advance. Once your AAMA exam application is approved and your Scheduling Permit arrives, schedule your PSI appointment immediately.

1. Confirm eligibility. Graduate (or be within 30 days of completion) of a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited medical assistant program. AAMA also offers educator and alternative pathways. 2. Apply through the AAMA Candidate Portal at aama-ntl.org. You will select a 90-day testing window during application. 3. Pay the exam fee: $125 for AAMA active or student members, $250 for non-members. If you plan to sit within 12 months, joining as a student member first is usually cheaper. 4. Wait for your Scheduling Permit email from AAMA (typically 2-4 weeks after application). 5. Schedule your PSI appointment. Pick a California test center or elect Live Remote Proctored testing. Popular California centers fill up quickly. 6. Study. Take a diagnostic practice test, remediate weaknesses, and complete at least two full-length timed practice tests before your appointment.

Recommended study approach: 1. Take a full diagnostic practice test before you open any study guide. Use your topic score breakdown to allocate study time by weakness. 2. Focus on the Clinical Competency domain first — 59% of the exam. Master infection control, vital signs, injection technique, EKG lead placement, and CLIA-waived lab procedures. 3. Do not skip the Administrative domain. ICD-10 basics, CPT basics, insurance types, and HIPAA are worth roughly 45 questions on the exam. Missing these is a common failure pattern. 4. Study legal-ethical carefully. California scope-of-practice questions are strict — MAs may not diagnose, may not perform IV therapy, and are limited in medication administration authority. The exam will test scope questions that align with these principles. 5. Take at least two full-length 200-question timed practice tests in the last two weeks before your appointment. Target 75-80% raw score to give yourself a cushion above the 405 scaled pass mark. CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free CMA practice test covering all 8 topic areas from the AAMA Content Outline — no signup required.

California is the highest-employment state for medical assistants and the 7th highest-paying. The BLS May 2024 OEWS release reports: • Annual mean wage: approximately $50,900 • Hourly mean wage: approximately $24.47 • Employment: approximately 95,700 medical assistants High-paying California metros for MAs include San Jose, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and Vallejo — all of which cross $55,000 annual mean wage. Los Angeles and San Diego pay near the state mean. Major employers include Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, Dignity Health / CommonSpirit, Providence, Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, UCSF Health, Stanford Health Care, Scripps Health, and Sharp HealthCare. Large FQHCs (Federally Qualified Health Centers) throughout the state also hire heavily. Certification typically adds 5-15% to base pay in California, particularly at the large health systems above.

**Does California require CMA certification to work as a medical assistant?** No. California does not license medical assistants and does not require certification. However, most large employers strongly prefer or require CMA (AAMA), CCMA, RMA, or NCMA certification. **How much does the CMA (AAMA) exam cost in California?** $125 for AAMA members and $250 for non-members — the fee is the same nationwide. **What is the passing score for the CMA exam?** 405 on a scaled range of 200-800. **Where can I take the CMA exam in California?** At PSI test centers throughout the state (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Fresno, and others) or via Live Remote Proctored delivery from home. **How much do CMAs make in California?** Approximately $50,900 annual mean wage (BLS May 2024). San Jose, San Francisco, and Santa Rosa metros pay above $55,000. **How soon can I retake the CMA exam if I fail in California?** There is no waiting period. Up to 6 attempts within any rolling 12-month period, each requiring a new application and fee.