Free CMA Practice Test Massachusetts 2026 — AAMA Exam Prep Guide

Massachusetts is one of the highest-paying states in the country for medical assistants, anchored by the Boston academic medical center cluster — one of the densest concentrations of world-class hospitals anywhere. Here is what Massachusetts CMA candidates need to know: • Certification is voluntary at the state level. Massachusetts does not license medical assistants. The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine governs physician delegation to unlicensed clinical staff. • Recognized certifications in Massachusetts: CMA (AAMA), CCMA (NHA), RMA (AMT), NCMA (NCCT) • Exam vendor: PSI • Exam format: 200 questions, 160 minutes, passing score 405 on a 200-800 scale • Annual mean wage in Massachusetts: approximately $50,300 (BLS May 2024) — one of the highest in the nation • Top employers: Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Tufts Medicine, Lahey Health, Boston Children's Hospital, UMass Memorial Health, Steward Health Care, Cambridge Health Alliance • Certification typically adds 5-15% to base pay at large health systems, with Boston-area academic medical centers at the top of that range

Massachusetts does not license medical assistants at the state level. Medical assistants in Massachusetts work under physician supervision. The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine defines what tasks a licensed physician may delegate to unlicensed clinical staff, including medical assistants. Because the state does not license MAs, employers rely on national credentials: CMA (AAMA), CCMA (NHA), RMA (AMT), and NCMA (NCCT). Boston's academic medical centers — Mass General Brigham (which includes Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital), Beth Israel Deaconess, Tufts Medicine, and Boston Children's Hospital — commonly list CMA (AAMA) specifically as preferred or required, given AAMA's status as the credential most closely tied to CAAHEP/ABHES-accredited training programs. The CMA (AAMA) exam is a national credential. Passing in Massachusetts qualifies you to work as a CMA anywhere in the country.

The AAMA exam is delivered by PSI and is the same nationwide. AAMA's Content Outline distributes the 180 scored questions across three domains: • Clinical Competency — approximately 59%. 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. Massachusetts academic medical centers run some of the most rigorous standardized clinical protocols in the country. CMAs training in Boston-area programs often report their coursework maps directly to the AAMA Content Outline — good preparation for exam success. The state's near-universal insurance coverage (via MassHealth and commercial plans through the Health Connector) also makes solid preparation on Administrative-domain content useful on the job.

The CMA (AAMA) exam is delivered by PSI at test centers across Massachusetts: • Boston (multiple locations) • Woburn • Waltham • Brockton • Worcester • Springfield • Lawrence • Cape Cod / Hyannis Live Remote Proctored testing is also available. Greater Boston test slots fill up quickly, particularly in spring and fall graduation season — schedule your PSI appointment as soon as your Scheduling Permit arrives. Western Massachusetts candidates may also test at nearby PSI locations in Connecticut or upstate New York if MA slots are full.

1. Confirm eligibility. Graduate (or be within 30 days of completion) of a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited medical assistant program. 2. Apply through the AAMA Candidate Portal at aama-ntl.org. Select your 90-day testing window. 3. Pay the exam fee: $125 for AAMA members, $250 for non-members. 4. Wait for your Scheduling Permit email from AAMA. 5. Schedule your PSI appointment at a Massachusetts test center or via Live Remote Proctored delivery. 6. Study using a diagnostic-first approach, targeted remediation on weak topics, and at least two full-length timed practice tests.

Recommended study plan: 1. Take a full 200-question diagnostic practice test before opening study materials. Use the topic breakdown to allocate study time. 2. Prioritize Clinical Competency — 59% of the exam. Focus on infection control, vital signs, injection technique, EKG lead placement, and CLIA-waived lab procedures. Boston academic medical centers set a high standard for clinical technique — MA students who train there often carry that discipline into their exam prep. 3. Do not skip Administrative. ICD-10 basics, CPT basics, insurance types (MassHealth, commercial through the Health Connector, Medicare), and HIPAA account for approximately 45 exam questions. 4. Study legal-ethical carefully. Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine delegation rules make scope-of-practice a real-world discipline — the AAMA exam tests this well. 5. Take at least two full-length timed practice tests in the last two weeks. Target 75-80% raw correct rate. CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free CMA practice test covering all 8 topic areas from the AAMA Content Outline.

Massachusetts is one of the highest-paying states for medical assistants: • Annual mean wage: approximately $50,300 (BLS May 2024) • Hourly mean wage: approximately $24.18 • Employment: high Higher-paying Massachusetts metros include Boston-Cambridge-Newton and Framingham. Boston metro wages regularly exceed $52,000 and rank among the highest MA wages in the country. Western Massachusetts metros (Springfield, Pittsfield) pay closer to $46,000-$48,000, still above the national mean. Major Massachusetts employers include Mass General Brigham (by far the largest — includes MGH, Brigham and Women's, Newton-Wellesley, and North Shore Medical Center), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Tufts Medicine, Lahey Health, Boston Children's Hospital, UMass Memorial Health, Steward Health Care, and Cambridge Health Alliance. Boston-area community health centers also hire heavily and offer strong wage floors. Certified CMAs typically earn 5-15% more than uncertified peers, and Boston-area academic medical center roles at Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Deaconess, and Boston Children's tend to sit at the top of that range.

**Does Massachusetts require CMA certification?** No. Massachusetts does not license medical assistants. Most large Massachusetts health systems strongly prefer or require CMA (AAMA), CCMA, RMA, or NCMA certification, and Boston academic medical centers frequently prefer CMA (AAMA) specifically. **How much does the CMA (AAMA) exam cost?** $125 for AAMA members and $250 for non-members. **Where can I take the CMA exam in Massachusetts?** At PSI test centers in Boston, Woburn, Waltham, Brockton, Worcester, Springfield, and other cities, or via Live Remote Proctored delivery. **How much do CMAs make in Massachusetts?** Approximately $50,300 annual mean wage (BLS May 2024). Boston metro pays above the state mean and is among the highest-paying MA metros in the country. **Can medical assistants give injections in Massachusetts?** Under physician delegation, yes. Specific medications and routes depend on delegating physician authorization and Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine rules. **How soon can I retake the CMA exam if I fail in Massachusetts?** No waiting period. Up to 6 attempts within any rolling 12-month period.