Exam tomorrow?
Your Last-Minute CMA Study Plan
You don't need to memorize everything tonight. You need to find your one weak spot, patch it, and sleep. Here's the plan.
Step 1 — Do this right now (10 min)
Take a quick topic quiz to find your weak spot
20 questions. 10 minutes. Pick the topic you're least confident about and run the quiz — your score tells you exactly where to spend the next hour.
Step 2: Study your weakest topic only
Focus where the exam weight is heaviest. Procedures & Physical Examinations is 20% of the test — if you're shaky there, start there.
Procedures & Physical Examinations
20% of examVital signs, physical exams, specimen collection, EKG
Safety & Infection Control
16% of examStandard precautions, PPE, asepsis, OSHA standards
Clinical Workflow & Patient Interaction
13% of examPatient intake, triage, documentation
Legal & Ethical Considerations
11% of examHIPAA, patient rights, scope of practice
Pharmacology & Medication Administration
10% of examDrug names, dosage calculations, routes of administration
Professional Communication
10% of examTherapeutic communication, patient education
Billing, Coding & Insurance
10% of examICD-10, CPT codes, insurance verification
Scheduling & Health Information
10% of examAppointment scheduling, EHR management
Step 3: Lock in the key facts
EKG lead placement and injection basics appear often. Memorize these cold — then print the full reference card.
Hand hygiene
- Wash 20 seconds
- Before AND after every patient contact
- Before putting on gloves
- After removing gloves
Report to provider immediately
- Critical lab values
- Chest pain or difficulty breathing
- Allergic reaction signs
- Patient refusal of treatment
Needle safety
- Never recap a used needle
- Activate safety device immediately after use
- Dispose directly into sharps container
HIPAA quick rules
- Minimum necessary standard
- No PHI discussion in public areas
- Patient has right to access own records
Step 4: Sleep. For real.
A rested brain recalls information faster and makes fewer careless errors. Cramming past midnight costs more than it gains. Set your alarm, lay out your ID and confirmation, and sleep.
Morning of the exam
- Eat breakfast — even something small.
- Arrive 15 minutes early to PSI so you can settle in.
- Read each question twice before choosing an answer.
- Skip questions you're unsure of and come back — mark them.
- Remember the 4-segment structure — pace yourself per segment, not just overall.
- When in doubt, choose the most patient-centered, protocol-following option.