Free CMA Practice Test Virginia 2026 — AAMA Exam Prep Guide

Virginia has a strong healthcare workforce anchored by DC-metro spillover in Northern Virginia and by academic medical centers in Richmond, Charlottesville, and Norfolk. Here is what Virginia CMA candidates need to know: • Certification is voluntary at the state level. Virginia does not license medical assistants. The Virginia Board of Medicine governs physician delegation to unlicensed clinical staff. • Recognized certifications in Virginia: 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 Virginia: approximately $45,700 (BLS May 2024) — above the national median, with Northern Virginia metros paying substantially more • Top employers: Inova Health System, VCU Health, Sentara Healthcare, Carilion Clinic, Valley Health, University of Virginia Health, HCA Virginia Health System, Bon Secours Mercy Health • Certification typically adds 5-15% to base pay at large health systems, with Northern Virginia metros at the top of that range

Virginia does not license medical assistants at the state level. Medical assistants in Virginia work under physician supervision. The Virginia Board of 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). Virginia's flagship systems — Inova Health System (Northern Virginia), VCU Health (Richmond), Sentara Healthcare (Hampton Roads), University of Virginia Health (Charlottesville), and Carilion Clinic (Roanoke) — commonly list one of these credentials as preferred or required. The CMA (AAMA) exam is a national credential. Passing in Virginia qualifies you to work as a CMA anywhere in the country, including the neighboring DC and Maryland markets, where many Northern Virginia CMAs work.

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. Virginia's academic medical centers (VCU Health, UVA Health) and integrated systems (Inova, Sentara, Carilion) run standardized clinical protocols aligned with AAMA's Clinical Competency domain. CMAs graduating from Northern Virginia and Richmond programs frequently report their programs mirror the AAMA Content Outline closely.

The CMA (AAMA) exam is delivered by PSI at test centers across Virginia: • Richmond • Norfolk / Virginia Beach • Roanoke • Fairfax • Falls Church • Charlottesville • Lynchburg • Fredericksburg • Newport News Live Remote Proctored testing is also available. Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Falls Church) and Richmond test slots fill up quickly — schedule your PSI appointment as soon as your Scheduling Permit arrives. Northern Virginia candidates may also test at PSI locations in the DC and Maryland suburbs.

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 Virginia 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. 3. Do not skip Administrative. ICD-10 basics, CPT basics, insurance types, and HIPAA account for approximately 45 exam questions. Virginia's mix of TRICARE (large military and federal population), commercial insurance, and Medicaid managed care makes strong Administrative-domain knowledge useful on the job as well as on the exam. 4. Study legal-ethical carefully. Virginia Board of 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.

Virginia pays above the national median for medical assistants, with a significant Northern Virginia premium: • Annual mean wage: approximately $45,700 (BLS May 2024) • Hourly mean wage: approximately $21.97 • Employment: high Higher-paying Virginia metros include the Northern Virginia portion of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria MSA (Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun counties), Richmond, and Charlottesville. Northern Virginia metro wages regularly exceed $52,000 and rival Washington state metro wages. Rural southwest Virginia metros pay closer to $39,000-$42,000. Major Virginia employers include Inova Health System (Northern Virginia's dominant employer), VCU Health, Sentara Healthcare, Carilion Clinic, Valley Health, University of Virginia Health, HCA Virginia Health System, and Bon Secours Mercy Health. Northern Virginia CMAs also frequently commute to jobs at DC-area systems (MedStar, GW, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic). Certified CMAs typically earn 5-15% more than uncertified peers, and Northern Virginia metro roles at Inova and DC-adjacent systems tend to sit at the top of that range.

**Does Virginia require CMA certification?** No. Virginia does not license medical assistants. Most large Virginia health systems strongly prefer or require CMA (AAMA), CCMA, RMA, or NCMA certification. **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 Virginia?** At PSI test centers in Richmond, Norfolk, Roanoke, Fairfax, Falls Church, Charlottesville, and other cities, or via Live Remote Proctored delivery. **How much do CMAs make in Virginia?** Approximately $45,700 annual mean wage (BLS May 2024). Northern Virginia metros pay well above the state mean and rival the highest-paying metros in the country. **Can medical assistants give injections in Virginia?** Under physician delegation, yes. Specific medications and routes depend on delegating physician authorization and Virginia Board of Medicine rules. **How soon can I retake the CMA exam if I fail in Virginia?** No waiting period. Up to 6 attempts within any rolling 12-month period.