That walk out of the testing center. You’re replaying questions, second-guessing answers, and a knot of dread forms in your stomach. If you’re here, you’re likely facing a tough reality: the possibility of failing your medical assistant certification exam. It’s a devastating feeling, but it’s not the end of your career. You have options. This guide will walk you through exactly how many times can you take the medical assistant exam, breaking down the retake policies so you can create a clear plan for success. Let’s turn this setback into a comeback.
The Short Answer: How Many Times Can You Take the Medical Assistant Exam?
Let’s get straight to the point, because you need clarity right now. The number of allowed attempts depends on your certifying body. For the most common credential, the CMA (AAMA), the policy is quite specific.
You can attempt the CMA (AAMA) exam a maximum of four times.
This includes your initial attempt. So, you have three opportunities to retake it after a failing score. Other organizations like AMT (for the RMA) and NHA (for the CCMA) have similar policies, but with important variations in waiting periods and costs. We’ll dive into those details next.
Key Takeaway: The four-attempt limit (for AAMA and AMT) is a ceiling, not a sentence. Each attempt is a learning opportunity that gets you closer to your goal.
AAMA CMA (AAMA) Retake Policy Explained
The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) is the gold standard for the CMA credential. Their retake policy is designed to give you time to seriously improve your knowledge before trying again. Here’s what you need to know if you didn’t pass the CMA (AAMA) exam.
Attempt Limit and Waiting Periods
As mentioned, you get four total attempts. What’s crucial are the mandatory waiting periods in between.
- After the 1st or 2nd attempt: You must wait 30 days before you can test again.
- After the 3rd attempt: You must wait 180 days (approximately six months) before your final, fourth attempt.
These waiting periods are non-negotiable. They exist to encourage you to rethink your study strategy, not just cram the same information.
Retake Fees
Unfortunately, each attempt comes with a cost. As of the latest information, the fee for a CMA (AAMA) exam retake is the same as the initial application fee for most candidates.
Pro Tip: Always check the official AAMA website for the most current fee schedule. These prices can change, and you’ll want to budget correctly for your next attempt.
AMT RMA Retake Policy Explained
If you’re pursuing the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential through the American Medical Technologists (AMT), the policy is a bit different. Understanding these nuances can help you plan effectively.
Attempt Limit and Waiting Periods
Like the AAMA, AMT allows you to retake the exam. However, their waiting period is more straightforward.
- After any failed attempt: You must wait 45 days before you are eligible to retest. This waiting period applies whether it’s your first retake or your third.
The AMT also sets a limit on the number of attempts within a specific timeframe, generally requiring re-application if you don’t pass after a certain period.
AAMA vs. AMT Retake Policy: At a Glance
To make this crystal clear, here is a side-by-side comparison of the most important details. This will help you quickly see which path best fits your situation.
| Feature | AAMA (CMA) | AMT (RMA) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Attempt Limit | 4 total attempts | Up to 4 attempts (re-application may be required) |
| Waiting Period After Fail | 30 days (after 1st/2nd) 180 days (after 3rd) | 45 days (after any fail) |
| Focus of Credential | Broad, administrative & clinical(*) | Broad, administrative & clinical(*) |
| Score Report Detail | Yes, by content area | Yes, by content area |
| Best For | Those who need more time to restudy after multiple fails | Those who prefer a consistent, shorter waiting period |
() Note: While both are comprehensive, individual exam emphasis may vary slightly based on their specific competency outlines.*
Clinical Pearl: The longer waiting period after the third AAMA attempt is a signal. It’s the organization telling you that a major study overhaul, not just a quick review, is absolutely necessary for success.
What Happens After a Failing Score?
Imagine you open that email. You see your score report. The word “FAIL” hits you like a physical blow. Take a moment. It’s okay to be disappointed. But once that feeling passes, you need to shift your mindset. Your official score report is not a final judgment—it’s a roadmap that tells you exactly where to go next.
The report will break down your performance by content area (e.g., Administrative, Clinical, General). You’ll see a scaled score for each, showing whether you were below, near, or above the passing standard in that domain. Do not ignore this data!
- Your Goal: Zero in on the areas where you were “below” the passing standard. These are your weak spots.
- Your Action: These weak spots must become the primary focus of your new study plan.
Let’s say your report shows you aced the administrative questions but bombed the clinical section on pharmacology and infection control. Now you know exactly where to concentrate your energy.
Common Mistake: Treating the retake like you treated the first attempt—doing the same practice questions and reading the same chapters. Your failing score just told you that strategy doesn’t work. You must change your approach.
Your Action Plan: How to Prepare for Your Next Attempt
Okay, you’ve got your score report, you’ve allowed yourself to feel the frustration, and you understand the waiting period. Now, let’s build a plan. This is not about studying harder; it’s about studying smarter.
Your CMA Exam Retake Prep Checklist
Use this checklist to ensure you’re covering all your bases before scheduling your next exam.
- [ ] Grieve and Regroup: Acknowledge the failure. Talk about it with a trusted friend or mentor. Don’t bottle it up. Give yourself a few days to process before hitting the books.
- [ ] Deeply Analyze Your Score Report: Don’t just look at the final number. Identify the 2-3 content areas where you performed the worst. Write them down. These are your non-negotiable priorities.
- [ ] Create a New Study Plan: Throw out your old schedule. If it didn’t work once, it won’t work again.
- Dedicate 60% of your study time to your weakest areas.
- Use a variety of resources: visual aids (YouTube, anatomy apps), auditory aids (podcasts), textbooks, and practice questions from different sources.
- [ ] Find New Resources: If you only used one review book, buy another one. Look for an online course that explains concepts differently. Research shows that diversified learning methods improve knowledge retention. Research from the Journal of Applied Learning Technology highlights the effectiveness of multimodal learning for complex subjects like medical science.
- [ ] Explain It to Someone Else: This is a powerful technique. Can you clearly explain the steps of a urinalysis or the purpose of a CBC to a friend or family member? If you can’t teach it, you don’t know it well enough. This reveals the gaps in your understanding.
- [ ] Schedule Your Exam (When Eligible): Mark your calendar for the exact date you become eligible. Book your exam for a date shortly after that. Having a firm deadline creates accountability and keeps you motivated.
Pro Tip: Consider finding a study group with other CMAs who are retaking the exam. You can quiz each other, share resources, and offer mutual support. There’s immense power in shared experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
We know you still have questions. Here are some of the most common concerns we hear about retaking the exam.
Q1: Do I have to re-apply for eligibility after a failed attempt? For the AAMA, generally not for your first or second retake. Your eligibility is typically still active. However, if you fail three times and want to attempt the fourth, you must contact the AAMA and may need to show proof of completing a new medical assisting program or significant continuing education. Always check the current aama exam retake rules on their official site.
Q2: Will employers see that I failed the exam on a background check? No. Employers only see whether you are currently certified (pass) or not. The certifying body does not reveal your testing history or the number of attempts. Your certification status is simply “CMA (AAMA)” or “none.” This is your journey, and the outcome is what matters professionally.
Q3: How long are my exam application credits good for if I keep failing? This is a critical point. For the AAMA, you generally have 12 months from the date of your initial approval to take and pass the exam. If you exhaust your attempts within that period but don’t pass, you typically have up to five years from your program graduation date to reapply and start the process over again. Check your specific certifying body’s policy, as this can vary.
Conclusion & Final Encouragement
Failing the cma exam is a hurdle, not a wall. While cma exam attempt limits exist, they are designed with saving graces: waiting periods for strategic restudy and detailed score reports for precise improvement. Your next steps are clear: analyze your detailed report, build a new and targeted study plan, and use the waiting period to truly master your weak areas. You have the knowledge; you just need to refine how you apply it. You can do this.
Have you gone through the retake process? Share your experience or a tip that helped you finally pass in the comments below—your story could be the encouragement someone else needs!
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