Free CMA Practice Test Washington 2026 — AAMA Exam Prep Guide

Washington is the highest-paying state in the country for medical assistants and one of the few states that actively regulates the profession. Here is what Washington CMA candidates need to know: • Washington is one of the only states with mandatory MA credentialing. The Washington Medical Commission requires medical assistants to hold a state credential (Medical Assistant-Certified, Medical Assistant-Registered, Medical Assistant-Phlebotomist, or Medical Assistant-Hemodialysis Technician) issued by the Washington Department of Health. • Recognized national certifications used for MA-Certified: CMA (AAMA), CCMA (NHA), RMA (AMT), NCMA (NCCT). AAMA CMA certification satisfies Washington's national exam requirement for MA-Certified credentialing. • Exam vendor: PSI • Exam format: 200 questions, 160 minutes, passing score 405 on a 200-800 scale • Annual mean wage in Washington: approximately $54,500 (BLS May 2024) — highest in the nation • Employment level: approximately 15,780 medical assistants (BLS May 2024) • Top employers: Providence, MultiCare, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, UW Medicine, Swedish Health Services, Kaiser Permanente Washington, PeaceHealth, EvergreenHealth • Certification and MA-Certified credentialing typically add 10-20% to base pay compared to uncredentialed clinical support roles

Washington is one of a small number of states that actively credentials medical assistants at the state level. The Washington Medical Commission and the Washington Department of Health administer four MA credentials under RCW 18.360: Medical Assistant-Certified (MA-C), Medical Assistant-Registered (MA-R), Medical Assistant-Phlebotomist, and Medical Assistant-Hemodialysis Technician. The MA-Certified credential is the broadest scope and the credential most Washington employers require. To qualify for MA-C, applicants must complete an approved training program, pass a nationally recognized MA certification exam, and apply for the state credential through the Department of Health. Passing the CMA (AAMA) exam satisfies the national exam requirement for MA-C. Because Washington requires state credentialing, holding the CMA (AAMA) is not enough on its own — you must also apply for and receive your MA-C credential from the Washington DOH before you can practice as a medical assistant in Washington. Large Washington systems — Providence, UW Medicine, MultiCare, Kaiser Permanente Washington — commonly hire specifically for MA-C credentialed candidates. The CMA (AAMA) exam is a national credential. Combined with Washington MA-C, it 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. Washington's academic and integrated systems (UW Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Washington, Providence) run standardized clinical protocols closely aligned with AAMA's Clinical Competency domain. Washington MA-C scope-of-practice discipline maps well to the legal-ethical questions in the General domain — Washington CMAs must be precise about what a credentialed MA can and cannot do.

The CMA (AAMA) exam is delivered by PSI at test centers across Washington: • Seattle (multiple locations) • Bellevue • Tacoma • Spokane • Everett • Vancouver • Yakima • Tri-Cities (Kennewick / Pasco / Richland) • Bellingham Live Remote Proctored testing is also available. Seattle and Bellevue test slots fill up quickly — schedule your PSI appointment as soon as your Scheduling Permit arrives.

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 Washington test center or via Live Remote Proctored delivery. 6. After passing the CMA (AAMA) exam, apply to the Washington Department of Health for your MA-Certified credential. Study using a diagnostic-first approach, targeted remediation on weak topics, and at least two full-length timed practice tests before your exam date.

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 a large percentage of missed questions among candidates who fail. 4. Study legal-ethical carefully. Washington's MA-C scope-of-practice framework is one of the most defined in the country — the AAMA exam tests scope-of-practice discipline directly, and this is a domain Washington candidates already know from their training. 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.

Washington is the highest-paying state in the country for medical assistants: • Annual mean wage: approximately $54,500 (BLS May 2024) — highest in the nation • Hourly mean wage: approximately $26.20 • Employment: approximately 15,780 medical assistants (BLS May 2024) Higher-paying Washington metros include Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue and Bellingham. The Seattle metro annual mean is well above the state average and consistently ranks among the highest metro MA wages in the country. Eastern Washington metros (Spokane, Tri-Cities, Yakima) pay closer to $48,000-$51,000, still above the national mean. Major Washington employers include Providence, MultiCare, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, UW Medicine, Swedish Health Services, Kaiser Permanente Washington, PeaceHealth, and EvergreenHealth. Community health center networks throughout Washington also hire heavily. Credentialed MA-Certified CMAs in Washington typically earn 10-20% more than uncredentialed clinical support staff, and the wage floor is high — even entry-level Seattle metro MA roles start well above the national mean.

**Does Washington require CMA certification?** Yes — in effect. Washington requires medical assistants to hold a state credential (most commonly Medical Assistant-Certified, or MA-C) from the Washington Department of Health, and MA-C requires passing a nationally recognized MA certification exam such as the CMA (AAMA). **How much does the CMA (AAMA) exam cost?** $125 for AAMA members and $250 for non-members. Washington MA-C application fees are separate and paid to the Washington Department of Health. **Where can I take the CMA exam in Washington?** At PSI test centers in Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, Spokane, Everett, Vancouver, and other cities, or via Live Remote Proctored delivery. **How much do CMAs make in Washington?** Approximately $54,500 annual mean wage (BLS May 2024) — the highest in the nation. Seattle metro pays above the state mean. **Can medical assistants give injections in Washington?** Yes. Medical Assistant-Certified (MA-C) scope of practice under RCW 18.360 explicitly includes administering injections under physician supervision, along with a defined list of other clinical duties. **How soon can I retake the CMA exam if I fail in Washington?** No waiting period. Up to 6 attempts within any rolling 12-month period.