CMA Practice Test — Tennessee 2026

Tennessee does not license medical assistants at the state level. The Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners regulates physicians, but medical assistants are not a licensed profession in Tennessee. MAs work under physician supervision with no state certification requirement. The AAMA CMA credential is voluntary in Tennessee — but HCA Healthcare (one of the largest for-profit hospital systems in the US, headquartered in Nashville), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Ascension Saint Thomas all list CMA (AAMA) or CCMA (NHA) as a preferred qualification. Tennessee's lower cost of living means absolute salaries are below the national average, but the certification premium as a percentage of base pay is comparable to higher-cost states — and Nashville's rapidly growing healthcare sector is creating consistent demand for certified MAs. Certified MAs in Tennessee earn $4,000–$5,500 more per year than uncertified MAs in comparable roles.

CertPrepAcademy offers a free CMA practice test in AAMA style — 35 questions for a quick warm-up or 70 questions for a full simulation — with detailed explanations for every answer. No account required. Start immediately — your progress is saved automatically. For targeted prep, use the topic quizzes to drill individual domains: Clinical Patient Care, Pharmacology, Administrative, Anatomy & Physiology, and more.

The CMA exam is administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of AAMA. Schedule at any Pearson VUE testing center in Tennessee through the AAMA candidate portal at aama-ntl.org after eligibility is confirmed. Major Pearson VUE testing center locations in Tennessee: Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, Jackson. Eligibility: graduate of a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited medical assisting program only. Must be 18+ with a high school diploma or equivalent. Photo ID required.

Tennessee's certified MA salaries reflect the state's lower cost of living relative to coastal states — but the certification premium is proportionally meaningful. Nashville offers the highest pay in the state, boosted by HCA Healthcare's corporate presence and competitive labor market. The CMA credential adds $4,000–$5,500 per year over uncertified MA pay in Tennessee.

Tennessee's healthcare market is anchored by HCA Healthcare in Nashville, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and a network of regional health systems serving the state's major metros. Nashville in particular has become one of the most active healthcare markets in the South. Top Tennessee employers where CMA is listed or accepted: • HCA Healthcare — headquartered in Nashville; the largest for-profit hospital system in the US with multiple hospitals and surgery centers in Nashville, Knoxville, and across Tennessee; CMA or CCMA listed as preferred in most MA postings. • Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville-based academic medical center; CMA preferred in specialty outpatient and physician practice MA roles. • Ascension Saint Thomas — major Catholic health system with hospitals in Nashville, Memphis, and Murfreesboro; CMA and CCMA accepted interchangeably. • Ballad Health — dominant health system in the Tri-Cities area (Bristol/Johnson City/Kingsport); CMA preferred in outpatient MA roles. • Regional One Health — Memphis safety-net academic medical center; CMA and CCMA both accepted. • LifePoint Health — Brentwood-based health system with hospitals across rural Tennessee; CMA accepted in most MA postings.

No. Tennessee does not license medical assistants. There is no state board exam, no mandatory certification, and no registration requirement for MAs. You work under the supervision of a licensed physician. Most major Tennessee employers — including HCA Healthcare, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Ascension Saint Thomas — prefer or require CMA (AAMA) or CCMA (NHA) certification, but that is an employer standard, not Tennessee state law.

No. The CMA exam is a national exam administered by AAMA through Pearson VUE. The same 200-question exam is used in all 50 states. Tennessee has no state-specific MA exam or content. You schedule through aama-ntl.org. Pearson VUE has testing centers in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Murfreesboro.

Nashville is one of the strongest MA job markets in the South. HCA Healthcare's Nashville headquarters means the city has an outsized concentration of hospital and outpatient facility management relative to its population — and HCA's growth strategy consistently adds outpatient sites that require certified MAs. Vanderbilt University Medical Center adds an academic medical center presence. Nashville's growing population (one of the fastest-growing major metros in the US) drives continuous demand for primary care and specialty practice MAs. For a CMA looking to maximize job options and advancement in the Southeast, Nashville is the top market in Tennessee by a significant margin.