9 Best CMA Exam Preparation Courses And Study Guides (Updated June 2023)

Studying to become a certified medical assistant can both be stressful and overwhelming. The CMA exam requires a ton of knowledge that can be difficult to organize and interpret. That’s why working with a company that can help you prepare eliminates some of that stress and confusion. That’s why we have composed a list of the best CMA exam preparation courses and study guides for you!

Who Needs to Take a CMA exam?

Anyone wishing to become a Certified Medical Assistant in any health profession will need to consider taking this exam by the American Association of Medical Associates. They can only take this exam after completing a bachelor’s degree at a post-secondary school.

This can be confusing to some because not all states require a post-secondary school to be hired as a medical assistant. In most cases, a CMA accreditation is a signal to doctors, colleagues, and other important figures that you take the profession seriously and want to continue to advance in the field.

Without taking the exam most medical assistants will be stuck in entry-level positions. So those who are ready to take on their dreams and advance in the field.

2. JobTestPrep

JobTestPrep has been helping students reach their goals since 1992. With over 1,000,000 clients seeking to pass an exam to advance their career, JobTestPrep has provided innovative ways to do that through their practice exams. This is especially true when it comes to their AAMA CMA exam.

They provide a few different examples of their test prep questions so students can get a better feel before signing on. Simply put, it’s one of the best CMA exam prep platforms out there!

What’s Included In The JobTestPrep CMA Exam Prep

This company provides an all-inclusive PrepPack which includes three full practice exams containing over 600 questions total. All questions come with a detailed explanation to better understand the material.

Their topics include everything that you will get tested on for the official exam including general, clinical, and administrative sections.

Benefits of Using The JobTestPrep CMA Exam Preparation

JobTestPrep is confident in its material. If users find that there are major discrepancies between the practice tests and the real test they can apply for a money-back guarantee refund. This helps users feel confident they are using the right material to study.

Pricing Of The CMA Prep

There are three separate tiers when it comes to choosing an exam prep method. The basic 1-week option starts at $79.00. Their 1-month plan costs $89.00. And if you are someone who needs extra time you can choose the 3-month premium plan for $99.00.

Our Rating: 4.8 out of 5

3. Mometrix

Mometrix was founded in 2002 and is now one of the world’s largest databases for standardized testing prep. Where it concerns the CMA exam, Mometrix offers an all-comprehensive study guide that gets right to the point.

What’s Included In The Mometrix CMA Exam Preparation

Along with their study guide, Mometrix has a secret weapon. They tell you why answers to questions are right and why the other answers to that question are wrong. Along with helping you decipher what the question is actually asking, they offer a lot of practical test-taking tips.

They also have customer service ready to help seven days a week. While they insist their guide is written in easy-to-interpret and digestible info, it’s always good to be able to reach their team through a variety of ways.

Benefits of Using The Mometrix CMA Exam Preparation

Mometrix offers a jam-packed informational study guide without overloading its students with useless information. This allows for the best results in the shortest amount of time. They also feel confident their students will pass with flying colors due to the fact that they have test subject matter experts creating the study guide for you. This is key in preparation for the CMA exam.

Pricing Of The Mometrix CMA Exam Prep

They sell this package for $39.99.

Our Rating: 4.7 out of 5

4. Kaplan Assistant All-In-One-Guide to CMA & RMA Exams Book

Kaplan’s 7th edition of the Medical Exam Prep book is a great resource for studying when it comes to passing the exam. Kaplan in general has an 80-year track record for being one of the leading education providers in the world.

What’s Included In The Kaplan CMA Exam Prep

This book has a lot to offer including one full-length 300 question practice test and an additional 450+ practice questions. Each one has a detailed explanation for the answer and there are even end-of-chapter quizzes to ensure you are staying on track.

This book most importantly has remained up to date providing important patient case studies as well as conversations about how to communicate with patients and other important factors.

Benefits of Using The Kaplan CMA Prep

One of the best things about using this Kaplan prep is that they start you out with a diagnostic test to highlight which areas need the most help. Then when you go through their quizzes and finally the test you can see where you have improved and what still needs work.

Pricing Of The Kaplan CMA Prep

The paperback version of this book sells for $32.95. The Kindle version is available for $29.99.

Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5

5. Newstone CMA Test Prep Book

Newstone Test Prep seeks to replicate the experience of taking the exam as best they can by not only providing test prep questions that mirror the exam but also the exact amount of questions as well. This book is a hefty 305 pages so there is no shortage of study materials.

What’s Included In The Newstone Book

This book walks users through the process of a question step-by-step. With questions very similar to the exam you will discover not only what the right answers are but why the answer is right. More importantly, there are detailed explanations as to why you got a question wrong.

With a few different practice tests to also go through, this is one of the best CMA exam prep books on the market.

Benefits of Using Newstone CMA Prep

In preparation for the CMA exam, some users love the self-paced option. However, not everyone feels like they can stay organized. But when it comes to using the Newstone CMA study aide, many loved how organized it was. This made staying on track very easy.

Pricing Of The Newstone CMA Prep

The paperback sells for $27.99 while the kind sells for just $9.99.

Our Rating: 4.4 out of 5

6. Test Prep Books CMA Prep Study Guide 5th Edition

Test Prep Books offers one of the best CMA exam preparation avenues out there. Concerning the CMA prep, they offer 165 pages of practice test material. They also receive a near 4.5 rating which is no surprise considering how many students reported passing within a week of picking it up.

What’s Included In The Test Prep Books CMA Prep

This book offers an easy read while providing all the information you need to pass the exam. While the book is not as thick as some of the other ones on the market, they do get right to the point so you don’t read useless information.

They also offer a free DVD to go with the book to make following along a little easier. This helps out those who don’t love reading at their own pace and need a little more structure.

Benefits of Using Test Prep Books

The best tool that this particular book provides is a special focus on breaking down the wording for the questions. Most candidates understand the knowledge but then get tripped on how a question is presented to them. This book points out all the important tips and tricks for staying focused and interpreting the question correctly.

Pricing Of The Test Prep Book CMA Exam 5th Edition

The paperback sells for $27.99.

Our Rating: 4.2 out of 5

7. Ascencia Medical Assistant Study Guide

The Ascensia Medical Assistant Study Guide is more than just a CMA exam prep book. They cover the entire healthcare industry and outlook for those aspiring to advance as a medical assistant. While the book is certainly dedicated to getting certified there are also a lot of other useful findings in there as well.

What’s Included In The Ascencia CMA Prep

There are more than 200 questions in this book with detailed explanations for all of the answers. This helps students understand where they went right or wrong. With the online resources, students can use their flashcards to help them remember the terminology.

Their online section also provides cheat sheets to help memorize the chapters and material a lot easier. The other type of cheat sheets they offer come directly from nurses themselves as they offer their real-world experience and tips for test-takers.

Benefits of Using Ascencia Exam Prep

Unlike some of the other exam books for the CMA, Ascencia offers not only the book but an online portion as well. This helps students study on the go and access their books and materials from anywhere.

Pricing Of The Ascencia Exam Prep

The paperback sells for $20.31.

Our Rating: 4.1 out of 5

8. Test Prep Books Certified Medical Assistant Exam Prep Updated

The updated version of the Test Prep Books Exam Prep has a large focus on the exam itself and not only why certain answers are right but how to make sure you get them right. This is a more comprehensive test-taking book focusing on test-taking strategies specific to the CMA.

What’s Included In The Test Prep Books Prep?

This book has a lot more focus behind taking the test and dissecting its questions. With a section dedicated to tips and tricks to getting the question right, the student can feel a lot more confident about questions they feel more wishy-washy on. Combine this with each section having a comprehensive review and the student is sure to pass.

They also maintain a large section of practice questions and exams that help those studying replicate a real test environment. Each question comes with a full explanation of why it is right or wrong.

Benefits of Using Test Prep Books CMA Exam Prep

This test prep book goes into a full breakdown in each chapter with comprehensive chapter reviews at the end to further engrain the material. With a variety of questions and explanations, those who use this book will feel that everything was covered without missing a beat.

Pricing Of The Test Prep Book CMA Exam 5th Edition

The paperback sells for $29.99.

Our Rating: 4.0 out of 5

9. Trivium CMA Exam Preparation Study Guide

This book updated for 2021 offers a total review and study guide on everything you can expect to see on the exam. With explanations through graphics, real examples, and detailed explanations, it’s easy to follow along without wasting energy on things that don’t matter.

What’s Included In The Trivium CMA Prep

While covering all the topics from infection control to business, this book provides a full review with tons of practice questions to make sure you are understanding the material as you go. They keep scoring in mind which is why there is also an important section dedicated to test-taking tips for those who get nervous.

They lay it out in a non-complicated way to interpret it while also providing you with the details on topics you need to know in order to pass the exam.

Benefits of Using Trivium Test Prep

In this AAMA CMA exam book, it is clearly broken up into digestible chapters that make reviewing or learning the material for the first time easy. Some books throw the questions in with the material mixing it all up but in this book it is easy to separate the concepts out one at a time.

Pricing Of The Trivium Book

The paperback sells for $21.66.

Our Rating: 3.9 out of 5

CMA Exam FAQ

What’s on the CMA exam?

The exam covers 13 topics with 200 multiple choice questions in 160 minutes. The test is divided into three sections with breaks in between.

Here are the topics on the exam:

• Professionalism
• Communication
• Psychology
• Medical Law / Regulatory Guidelines
• Ethics
• Risk Management
• Medical Terminology
• Medical Reception
• Office Administration
• Anatomy and Physiology
• First Aid
• Infection Control
• Diagnostic Testing

How much does the CMA exam cost?

The cost to take the exam varies depending on whether you are a member of AAMA or a student. For members and students, the exam will cost $125. For everyone else, it will cost $250. This does not include any CMA exam preparation or materials. This is solely to sit for the exam.

You can also pay with a variety of methods except for personal checks.

What is the salary of a CMA?

The median salary across the United States was $35.850 for CMAs. This worked out to be a wage of $17.23 an hour. Alaska is the highest state paying on average $45,490 for an annual salary.