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CCBMA Basic Exam: Practice Questions

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CCBMA Basic Exam: Practice Questions

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300
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About these practice questions

These practice questions will help you prepare for the CCBMA Basic Exam.

This practice test contains 300 practice questions covering the six sections of the CCBMA Basic Exam:

  1. Medical terminology
  2. Technical References
  3. Structure and Function of the Human Body
  4. Psychological Aspects of Medical Assisting
  5. Legal and Ethical Issues
  6. Patient Education

All questions have been carefully designed to reflect the questions on the real exam, to help you prepare and get a passing grade.

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Sample practice questions

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Section 1: Medical terminology

1) What is the term for the process by which an organism maintains a stable, balanced internal environment?
  1. Differentiation
  2. Homeostasis
  3. Metabolism
  4. Palpation
2) A blood clot that forms in a vessel and remains there is called:
  1. a hematoma
  2. a thrombus
    A thrombus is a blood clot that forms in a vessel and remains there. Thromboembolism is the wrong answer because this is a clot that travels to another location in the body.
  3. an embolism
  4. an ischemia
3) What does the term "thermolabile" mean?
  1. Changed by heat
    'Thermolabile' means that a substance is changed, deactivated or destroyed by heat. For example, most enzymes are thermolabile because they lose their catalytic activity when they get hot.
  2. Insensitive to heat
  3. Produced by heat
  4. Produces heat
4) What is the term for the study of how the body functions?
  1. Anatomy
  2. Histology
  3. Microbiology
  4. Physiology
    Physiology is the study of how the body works, from how molecules behave in cells to how organs work together.
5) What is the term for substances that prevent blood clotting?
  1. Anticoagulants
    Anticoagulants are substances that prevent blood from clotting.
  2. Coagulants
  3. Platelets
  4. Thrombi
6) What is macrocytosis?
  1. A blood cancer
  2. A high concentration of white blood cells
  3. A platelet deficiency
  4. Abnormally large red blood cells
    Macrocytosis is a condition where red blood cells are larger than normal. It is often associated with vitamin B9 and B12 deficiencies.
7) What is thiamine?
  1. A respiratory stimulant
  2. A vitamin
    Thiamine is the chemical name for vitamin B1.
  3. An amino acid
  4. An antibiotic
8) What is the negative log of hydrogen ion concentration known as?
  1. SG
  2. pH
    pH is the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration.
  3. pKa
  4. the T/S constant
9) Motor neurons are also called:
  1. afferent neurons
    Afferent neurons are also known as sensory neurons. They carry signals into the central nervous system.
  2. association neurons
  3. efferent neurons
    Motor neurons are also known as efferent neurons. They carry signals from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands.
  4. nervous neurons
10) What is the heel bone called?
  1. Calcaneus
    The calcaneus (heel bone) is the largest of the tarsal bones in the foot.
  2. Lamina
  3. Malleolus
  4. Xiphoid process
11) What is the medical term for the bones of the fingers?
  1. Carpals
    The carpals are the wrist bones.
  2. Patellas
    The patellas are the kneecaps.
  3. Phalanges
    The phalanges are the finger bones and toe bones.
  4. Tarsals
    The tarsals are the ankle bones.
12) Bone cells that absorb and remove unwanted bone tissue are called:
  1. chondrocytes
  2. osteoblasts
    Osteoblasts form new bone.
  3. osteoclasts
    Osteoclasts are specialized bone cells that break down and resorb bone tissue.
  4. osteocytes
13) What is the medical term for the shoulder blade?
  1. Clavicle
  2. Patella
  3. Scapula
    The shoulder is made up of three bones: the scapula (shoulder blade), clavicle (collarbone) and humerus (upper arm bone).
  4. Sternum
14) Which type of health record is maintained by the patient?
  1. EHR
    Healthcare providers manage electronic health records (EHRs).
  2. EMR
  3. EPR
  4. PHR
    Patients own and maintain personal health records (PHR).
15) What is a gastrectomy?
  1. An incision into the intestines
  2. An intestinal tumor
  3. The removal of part or all of the stomach
  4. The use of surgery to reshape the intestines
16) Which term means "before eating"?
  1. Antenatal
  2. Postpartum
  3. Postprandial
    Postprandial means "after eating".
  4. Preprandial
    Preprandial means "before eating". For example, a preprandial plasma glucose level is a glucose level before a meal.
17) What is an iatrogenic illness?
  1. An illness caused by medical treatment
    Iatrogenic illnesses are caused by medical treatments. This includes medication side effects, surgery complications, and treatment errors.
  2. An illness that only occurs in old age
  3. An illness triggered by stress
  4. An illness without obvious symptoms
18) What is adipose tissue more commonly known as?
  1. Bone
  2. Cartilage
  3. Fat
    Adipose tissue is more commonly known as fat. Fat stores energy and also serves as insulation and cushioning for the body.
  4. Skin
19) What does hypertrophy mean?
  1. Excess energy
  2. Increase in cell numbers
  3. Increase in size
    Hypertrophy refers to the increase in the size of an organ or tissue due to the enlargement of its component cells.
  4. Underdeveloped
20) Which condition results in a lack of pigment in the skin?
  1. Albinism
    The absence of pigment in the skin is called albinism. People with albinism have pale skin, hair, and eyes. Albinism is caused by low or absent levels of melanin, a pigment that colors skin, hair, and eyes.
  2. Dermatitis
  3. Melanism
  4. Xanthoderma

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About the CCBMA Basic Exam

What is the CCBMA Basic Exam?

The California Certified Medical Assistant (CCMA) exams are exams that test your knowledge of medical assisting. They are designed for entry-level medical assistants.

The exams are set by the California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants (CCBMA), a private non-profit corporation.

There are three CCMA exams: Basic, Administrative and Clinical. The Basic exam tests your knowledge of fundamental principles of medical assisting, such as medical law, medical ethics, human anatomy and physiology, and medical terminology.

To become certified, you must pass:

  1. the Basic examination and
  2. either the Administrative exam or Clinical exam.

Eligibility requirements

To take the exam, you must be at least 18 years old and have CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) certification. You must also meet one of the following requirements:

  • Currently employed as a medical assistant in the United States
  • Graduated from an accredited medical assisting program in the United States in the last year
  • Have worked as a medical assistant in the United States for two years during the last five years
  • Currently employed as a medical assisting instructor in the United States
  • Member of the US military with relevant training

How to apply for the exam

You apply for the exam, you must apply online at the CCBMA website (ccbma.org). Upon approval of your application, CCBMA will send you an email with instructions on how to schedule your exam.

What's the exam like?

The exam takes place several times a year at testing centers across California. On your exam day, you'll need to go to your local Pearson VUE testing center. The staff there will check your identity document to confirm your identity. There will be a locker for you to keep your belongings. Then you'll be shown to a computer where you'll do the exam.

The Basic Exam is two hours long and consists of 175 multiple-choice questions. There are no breaks.

Don't bring calculators to the exam. Calculators will be provided on request at the testing center.

Passing the exam

Passing the exams gives you a CCBMA credential. There are three credentials you can receive:

  • Passing the Basic and Administrative examinations gives you a CCMA-A credential.
  • Passing the Basic and Clinical examinations gives you a CCMA-C credential.
  • Passing the Basic, Administrative and Clinical examinations gives you a CCMA-AC credential.

What if I fail the exam?

If you fail the exam, you can retake it two more times. The retake fee is $105.

If you fail a third time, you can only retake the exam again if you work as a medical assistant. If you don't work as a medical assistant, then you'll no longer be able to retake the exam.

What if I need to cancel my exam?

To cancel your exam, you'll need to write to CCBMA at least 15 days before your exam date. You'll also need to contact Pearson VUE to have your scheduled appointment canceled. After you've canceled your exam, CCBMA will refund you the application fee minus a $50 processing charge.

What if I need to reschedule my exam?

To reschedule the exam, you'll need to contact Pearson VUE at the phone number found on your eligibility letter.

Structure of the exam

The CCMA Basic Exam has six sections:

  • Section A: Medical terminology
  • Section B: Technical references
  • Section C: Structure and function of the human body
  • Section D: Psychological aspects of medical assisting
  • Section E: Legal and ethical issues
  • Section F: Patient education

Sections A, B, and C are together worth 45% of the exam. Section D is worth 5%, Section E is worth 25% and Section F is worth 25%.

Section A: Medical Terminology

The first section of the Basic exam, Medical Terminology, includes the following topics:

  • Definitions
  • Word parts
  • Abbreviations

Section B: Technical References

The second section of the exam, Technical References, includes the following topics:

  • Medical and standard dictionaries
  • PDR
  • Diagnostic/procedural coding books

Section C: Structure and Function of the Human Body

The third section of the Basic exam, Structure and Function of the Human Body, will ask you questions about human anatomy and physiology. Topics in this section include:

  • Organs
  • Anatomical divisions
  • Body planes
  • Body positions and directions
  • Body systems (integumentary, musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, endocrine, sensory)
  • Correct spelling of terms

Section D: Psychological Aspects of Medical Assisting

The fourth section of the Basic exam, Psychological Aspects of Medical Assisting, is worth 5% of the exam and will include questions about:

  • Communication skills
  • Patient relations
  • Professionalism

Section E: Legal and Ethical Issues

The fifth section of the exam, Legal and Ethical Issues, is worth 25% and will ask you questions about:

  • Californian medical assistant regulations
  • Californian medical practice law
  • Drug enforcement administration regulations
  • Consent
  • Professional liability
  • Medical records
  • Confidentiality
  • Patient rights
  • Personal standards, hiring, and termination

Section F: Patient Education

The final section, Patient Education, is worth 25% of the exam and will ask you questions about:

  • Instructions (written and oral)
  • Prescriptions
  • Diagnostic testing
  • Nutrition
  • Fitness