The certified medical assistant (CMA) exam is not required but more and more doctors are requiring that their medical assistants be certified. The exam costs either $125 or $250, depending on whether or not you've completed the required programs. You must apply to take the test a few months before you wish to do it and then schedule an exam date. The exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions
. and you are allowed 3 hours and 15 minutes to finish it. The exam covers everything listed in the Content Outline for the exam, such as medical terminology, first aid, pharmacology, office practices, etc. For more information visit http://www.aama-ntl.org/becomeCMA/how.aspx.
