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NHA Certified Medical Administrative Assistant Exam Guide
(Updated September 2022)
Overview
This document is designed to give instructors guidance on preparing students to become certified medical administrative assistants.
The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) provides an industry certification that can be taken by high school students. NHA’s certificate is called
the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA).
This document is based on the 2021 version of the NHA CMAA exam.
Outline
In this guide, you will find:
1. NHA CMAA exam eligibility requirements
2. Certification exam topic outline
3. AES modules recommended for CMAA exam prep
4. An in-depth crosswalk of HealthCenter21 to the NHA Test Plan
5. Additional resources for NHA CMAA exam prep
1. Eligibility Requirements for the NHA CMAA Exam
To sit for the NHA CMAA exam, students must have all of the following:
1. A high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency
2. Successful completion of a training program or work experience including:
a. Training Program: Complete a medical administrative training or education program offered by an accredited or state-recognized
institution or provider within the last 5 years
or
b. Work experience: 1-year of supervised work experience in the medical administrative assistant field within the last 3 years
High school students may earn provisional certificates prior to graduation. Key information to note includes:
1. High school students who meet eligibility requirements must register for the exam within 12 months before graduation
2. A provisional certificate expires 12 months from the exam date
3. After graduation, graduates may apply to convert the active provisional certificate to a full certificate
2. NHA CMAA Exam Topic Outline
The NHA CMAA exam measures student knowledge by asking questions across seven domains:
1. Scheduling: 16 Questions
2. Patient Encounter: 21 Questions
3. Communication and Professionalism: 21
4. Foundational Knowledge: 10
5. Medical Law, Ethics, and Compliance: 17
6. Billing and Revenue Cycle: 11
7. Medical Practice Administrative Procedures and Logistics: 14
Total: 110
For more details on the NHA CMAA exam content, see www.nhanow.com
3. HealthCenter21 Modules Recommended for CMAA Exam Prep
HealthCenter21 has many modules that will help your students pass the CMAA exam. The chart below is an overview of the HealthCenter21
modules that help prepare students for the exam:
Medical Office Assistant
• Accounting
• Appointments
• Health Information Technology
• EHR Simulation
• Insurance and Coding
• Medical Office Assistant
• Medical Records
• Office Environment
• Office Equipment
• Telephone Etiquette
• Written Communication
Health Care Foundations
• Communications
• Legal and Ethical Responsibilities
• Medical Terminology
• Safety Precautions
Patient Care Technician
• The Health Assistant
• Special Populations
NOTE: The modules listed are strictly based on alignment with the CMAA test plan and do not depict a teaching sequence for a specific course. These
recommendations are a starting point to help you develop your syllabus and teaching plan.
NHA Certified Medical Administrative Assistant Crosswalk
Standards come from: https://info.nhanow.com/hubfs/Test%20Plans/nha-certified-medical-administrative-assistant-cmaa-test-plan.pdf
STANDARD/ Test requirement
AES Module / Unit / Lesson
1. Scheduling
Evaluate different types of patient
scheduling
Identify the patient (e.g., the same last name,
same first AND last name, same date of
birth).
Appointments/Unit 1: Introduction to Appointments/
Lesson 2: Appointment Books
Interpret the purpose of the visit.
Appointments/Unit 1: Introduction to Appointments/
Lesson 2: Appointment Books
Arrange the procedures in the scheduling
book.
Appointments/Unit 1: Introduction to Appointments/ Lesson
2: Appointment Books
Knowledge of wave booking
Appointments/Unit 2: Scheduling Systems/Lesson 1:
Systems
Knowledge of double-booking
Appointments/Unit 2: Scheduling Systems/Lesson 1:
Systems
Knowledge of modified wave
Appointments/Unit 2: Scheduling Systems/Lesson 1:
Systems
Knowledge of stream/time-specific
Appointments/Unit 2: Scheduling Systems/Lesson 1:
Systems
Knowledge of open booking
Appointments/Unit 2: Scheduling Systems/Lesson 1: Systems
High
Knowledge of cluster or categorization
booking
Appointments/Unit 2: Scheduling Systems/Lesson 1: Systems
Medium
Determine scheduling needs of the facility,
as well as new and established patients
Knowledge of how to input new patient
information
Appointments/Unit 3: Routine Appointments/Lesson 1: New
Patients
Identify type of service needed by the
patient.
Appointments/Unit 3: Routine Appointments/Lesson 1: New
Patients
Appointments/Unit 3: Routine Appointments/Lesson 2:
Established Patients
EHR Simulation/Unit 1: Scheduling Appointments/all lessons
Knowledge of availability on the provider’s
schedule (e.g., physician and nurse)
Appointments/Unit 3: Routine Appointments/Lesson 1: New
Patients
Appointments/Unit 3: Routine Appointments/Lesson 2:
Established Patients
EHR Simulation/Unit 1: Scheduling Appointments/all Lessons
Obtain referrals.
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 1: Physician
Consultations
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 2: Outpatient
Appointments
Knowledge of appointment intervals
Appointments/Unit 3: Routine Appointments/Lesson 1: New
Patients
Appointments/Unit 1: Introduction to Appointments/
Lesson 2: Appointment Books
EHR Simulation/Unit 1: Scheduling Appointments/all Lessons
Knowledge of physicians’ preferences, needs,
and schedule matrix
Appointments/Unit 2: Scheduling Systems/Lesson 1:
Systems
Appointments/Unit 3: Routine Appointments /Lesson 1:
New Patients
EHR Simulation/Unit 1: Scheduling Appointments/all Lessons
Knowledge of block scheduling
Appointments/Unit 2: Scheduling Systems/Lesson 1:
Systems
Knowledge of nurses’ preferences, needs,
and schedule
Identify dates and times when the schedule
needs to be blocked out for the facility.
Appointments/Unit 1: Introduction to Appointments/ Lesson
2: Appointment Books
High
Follow protocol for no-show, missed,
canceled, or follow-up appointments
Knowledge of fees
Appointments/Unit 5: Managing Appointments/ Lesson 1
Reschedule Appointments
Knowledge of follow-up procedures for no-
show, missed, and canceled appointments
Appointments/Unit 5: Managing Appointments/ Lesson 1
Reschedule Appointments
Knowledge of office policies related to
charges for missed appointments
Appointments/Unit 5: Managing Appointments/ Lesson 1
Reschedule Appointments
Check with physician to determine if a patient
can be seen.
Reschedule for later appointments.
Appointments/Unit 5: Managing Appointments/ Lesson 1
Reschedule Appointments
Knowledge of how to document a no-show,
missed, or canceled appointment
Appointments/Unit 5: Managing Appointments/ Lesson 1
Reschedule Appointments
Send out notifications for no-show and
missed appointments.
Appointments/Unit 5: Managing Appointments/ Lesson 1
Reschedule Appointments
Arrange for diagnostic testing and
procedures
Call for pre-authorization for testing and
procedures.
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 4: The
Assistant’s Role
Check for referrals prior to appointment.
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 2: Outpatient
Appointments
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/ Lesson 2: Outpatient
Appointments
Insurance and Coding/ Unit 1: Insurance / Lesson 5:
Referrals and Preauthorization
Knowledge of participating or non-
participating facilities to arrange for
diagnostic testing and procedures
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 2: Outpatient
Appointments
Verify patient billing address for scheduling
needs.
Appointments/Unit 3: Routine Appointments/Lesson 1: New
Patients
Appointments/Unit 3: Routine Appointments/Lesson 2:
Established Patients
Assistant/Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 2:
Outpatient Appointments
Verify best method of contact for scheduling
appointments.
Appointments/Unit 3: Routine Appointments/Lesson 1: New
Patients
Appointments/Unit 3: Routine Appointments/Lesson 2:
Established Patients
Assistant/Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 2:
Outpatient Appointments
Provide patient with instructions for pre-
testing or diagnostic procedures.
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 2: Outpatient
Appointments
Schedule pre-admission testing.
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 2: Outpatient
Appointments
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 3: Hospitalization
Ensure patient has the correct address of the
facility.
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 2: Outpatient
Appointments
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 3: Hospitalization
High
Ensure patient has the correct name of the
referred physician.
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 2: Outpatient
Appointments
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 3: Hospitalization
High
Document information in patient chart.
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 1: Physician
Consultations
High
Follow-up with patient to ensure compliance
with physician’s instructions.
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 3: Hospitalization
High
Confirm future appointments
Follow HIPAA guidelines (e.g., what should or
should not be disclosed when scheduling and
confirming future appointments).
Medical Office Assistant/ Health Information Technology/
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA)/Lesson 1: Introduction to HIPAA and HIT
Medical Office Assistant/Unit 3: Legal Responsibilities/
Lesson 1: Introduction to HIPAA
Medical Office Assistant/Unit 3: Legal Responsibilities/
Lesson 2: The Privacy Rule
Instruct patient to bring insurance and
identification to the appointment.
Verify patient’s insurance is participating with
physician’s office.
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 4: The
Assistant’s Role
Knowledge of how to document a no-show,
missed, or canceled appointment
Appointments/Unit 5: Managing Appointments/ Lesson 1
Reschedule Appointments
Check for referrals prior to appointment.
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 2: Outpatient
Appointments
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 5: Referrals
and Pre-Authorization
Inform patient of co-pay requirement.
Appointments/Unit 3: Routine Appointment/ Lesson 1: New
Patients
Appointments/ Unit 3: Routine Appointment/ Lesson 2:
Established Patients
2. Patient Intake
Confirm demographic information with
patient
Maintain appropriate demographic data (e.g.,
address, phone number, date of birth,
insurance information).
Appointments/Unit 1: Introduction to Appointments/Lesson
2: Appointment Books
Check that the patient’s Protected Health
Information (PHI) has been entered.
Health Information Technology/ Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA)/Lesson 1: Introduction to
HIPAA and HIT
Appointments/Unit 1: Introduction to Appoints/Lesson 2:
Appointment Books
Confirm the patient’s advanced directives.
Legal and Ethical Responsibilities/Unit 3: Advance Directives
and Client Rights/Lesson 1: Advance Directives
Knowledge of special needs in regards to
special paperwork (e.g., visually impaired
patients, language barrier patients)
Special Populations/Unit 5: Physically and Developmentally
Impaired Patients/Lesson 1: Physically Impaired
Communications/ Unit 3: Communication Barriers/Lesson 2:
Cultural Barriers
Ensure demographic form is signed.
Appointments/ Unit 3: Routine Appointments/Lesson 1:
New Patients
Knowledge of best method of contact for
confirming demographic information
Appointments/Unit 1: Introduction to Appointments/Lesson
2: Appointment Books
High
Verify insurance information
Verify coverage benefits.
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 4: The
Assistant’s Role
Verify co-pay.
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 4: The
Assistant’s Role
Review insurance card.
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 4: The
Assistant’s Role
Review form of photo identification.
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 4: The
Assistant’s Role
Verify changes in coverage.
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 4: The
Assistant’s Role
Verify whether patient has secondary and/or
tertiary coverage.
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 4: The
Assistant’s Role
Knowledge of the Birthday Rule
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 4: The
Assistant’s Role
High
Verify policyholder.
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 4: The
Assistant’s Role
High
Determine which laboratory is the appropriate
facility for a patient to use.
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 2: Outpatient
Appointments
High
Determine benefit information.
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 4: The
Assistant’s Role
High
Identify the difference between the guarantor
and the patient, if it exists.
Accounting/ Unit 2: Billing and Collections/Lesson 3: Billing
and Credit
High
Knowledge of basic coding (e.g., ICD, CPT)
Insurance and Coding/Unit 3: Coding/All Lessons
High
Ability to communicate with insurance
company
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 4: The
Assistant’s Role
High
3. Office Logistics
File medical records
Knowledge of filing systems (e.g., electronic,
alphabetical procedures, terminal digit
procedures [such as primary, secondary, and
tertiary])
Medical Records/Unit 2: Filing Equipment and
Systems/Lesson 1: Filing Equipment and Supplies
Medical Records/Unit 2: Filing Equipment and
Systems/Lesson 2: Filing Systems and Processes
Ability to cross-reference charts
Medical Records/Unit 3: Alphabetical and Numerical
Filing/Lesson 4: Cross References
Basic knowledge of scanning documents
Office Equipment/Unit 2: Other Equipment/ Lesson 2:
Automation
Basic knowledge of correlation of charts (e.g.,
labs categorized under laboratories,
prescriptions categorized under
Prescriptions)
Medical Records/Unit 1: Medical Records/Lesson 1:
Introduction to Medical Records
Basic knowledge of EHR/EMR (Electronic
Health Records/Electronic Medical Records)
Medical Records/Unit 1: Medical Records/Lesson 1:
Introduction to Medical Records
Perform financial procedures
Collect copayments.
Accounting/Unit 2: Billing and Collections/Lesson 2:
Payment Methods
Create statements (e.g., office visit invoices,
pre-invoices).
Accounting/Unit 2: Billing and Collections/Lesson 1: Patient
Invoice
Create receipt for payment.
Accounting/Unit 2: Billing and Collections/ Lesson 2:
Payment Methods
Knowledge of basic financial terminology
(e.g., copay, deductibles, co-insurance, fee
schedule)
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 1:
Introduction to Insurance
Use of petty cash
Office Environment/ Unit 3: Managing the Office Facility/
Lesson 5: Handling Emergencies
Basic knowledge of bookkeeping system (e.g.,
double- or single-entry)
Accounting/ Unit 3: Bookkeeping / Lesson 2: Bookkeeping
Systems
Complete day sheet
Accounting/ Unit 3: Bookkeeping / Lesson 1: Bookkeeping
Components
Accounting/Reinforce Activity: Accounting Department
Scenario
High
Evaluate mail deliveries
Sort and distribute mail.
Written Communication/Unit 1: Process Incoming Mail/
Lesson 1: Processing Incoming Mail
Knowledge of different classes of mail (e.g.,
registered, certified, first-class, priority,
FedEx, USPS)
Written Communication/Unit 4: Outgoing Mail/Lesson 3:
Mailing Mail
Verify contents of package against package
slip.
Office Equipment/Unit 4: Supplies/Lesson 2: Purchasing
4. Compliance
Follow HIPAA guidelines
Ensure patient’s privacy and security of
protected health information.
Health Information Technology/ Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA)/Lesson 1: Introduction to
HIPAA and HIT
Accounting/Unit 1: Introduction to Accounting/Lesson 1:
Responsibilities
Medical Office Assistant/Unit 3: Legal Responsibilities/all
lessons
Ensure charts are properly secured (e.g.,
displayed with personal information
covered).
Accounting/Unit 1: introduction to Accounting/Lesson 1:
Responsibilities
Medical Office Assistant/Unit 3: Legal Responsibilities/all
lessons
Use a HIPAA-compliant sign-in sheet.
Knowledge of what information is not private
for authorities and health departments (e.g.,
child abuse, STDs/STIs, gunshot wounds, HIV)
Medical Office Assistant/Unit 3: Legal Responsibilities/all
lessons
Knowledge of record release forms
Medical Office Assistant/Unit 3: Legal Responsibilities/
Lesson 2: The Privacy Rule
Knowledge of who can access patient’s chart
Health Information Technology/ Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA)/Lesson 1: Introduction to
HIPAA and HIT
Proper use of passwords
Health Information Technology/ Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA)/Lesson 1: Introduction to
HIPAA and HIT
Medical Office Assistant/Unit 3: Legal Responsibilities/Lesson
1: Introduction to HIPAA
High
Knowledge of peer-to-peer information
Health Information Technology/ Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA)/Lesson 1: Introduction to
HIPAA and HIT
High
Follow HIPAA guidelines for covered and non-
covered entities.
Health Information Technology/ Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA)/Lesson 1: Introduction to
HIPAA and HIT
Accounting/Unit 1: introduction to Accounting/Lesson 1:
Responsibilities
High
Knowledge of appropriate discussion of
medical information (e.g., when and where)
Health Information Technology/ Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA)/Lesson 1: Introduction to
HIPAA and HIT
High
Knowledge of proper verification of medical
information (e.g., what to release and what
not to release when and where)
Health Information Technology/ Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA)/Lesson 1: Introduction to
HIPAA and HIT
High
Knowledge of proper verification of medical
information (e.g., what to release and what
not to release when verifying information)
Health Information Technology/ Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA)/Lesson 1: Introduction to
HIPAA and HIT
High
Knowledge of penalties for violating HIPAA
practices
Health Information Technology/ Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA)/Lesson 1: Introduction to
HIPAA and HIT
High
Document release of information (e.g., when
and to whom information can be released)
Accounting/Unit 1: introduction to Accounting/Lesson 1:
Responsibilities
High
Knowledge of PHI standards
Health Information Technology/ Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA)/Lesson 1: Introduction to
HIPAA and HIT
High
Follow OSHA guidelines
Adhere to OSHA guidelines.
Office Environment/Unit 3: Managing the Office
Facility/Lesson 5: Handling Emergencies
High
Knowledge of MSDS
Safety Precautions / Unit 3: Environmental Safety/Lesson 3:
Chemical Safety
High
Knowledge of how to report an OSHA incident
Safety Precautions / Unit 3: Environmental Safety/Lesson 3:
Chemical Safety
High
Knowledge of the evacuation plans and
emergency procedures
Office Environment/Unit 3: Managing the Office Facility/
Lesson 3: Evacuation Plans
High
Follow the Center for Medicare/Medicaid
Services (CMS) guidelines
Report Medicare/Medicaid fraud
Insurance and Coding/Unit 4: Claims/Lesson 4: Legal Issues
High
Awareness of consequences of fraud
Insurance and Coding/Unit 4: Claims/Lesson 4: Legal Issues
High
Knowledge of the difference between
Medicare and Medicaid
Insurance and Coding/Unit 2: Government Programs/Lessons
1 and 2
High
Recognize the CMS-1500 form
Insurance and Coding/Unit 4: Claims/Lesson 1: The Claim
Form
High
Recognize the UB04
Insurance and Coding/Unit 4: Claims/Lesson 1: The Claim
Form
Medium
5. Patient Education
Explain the Patients’ Bill of Rights
Explain to patient that medical decisions are
made by physicians.
The Health Assistant/Unit 6: Patient Rights and Code of
Ethics/Lesson 2: Patient and Resident Rights
Explain to patient that he/she has the right to
go to a medical specialist.
The Health Assistant/Unit 6: Patient Rights and Code of
Ethics/Lesson 2: Patient and Resident Rights
Explain to patient that he/she has the right to
keep the same physician through a procedure
or treatment.
The Health Assistant/Unit 6: Patient Rights and Code of
Ethics/Lesson 2: Patient and Resident Rights
Knowledge of who owns the medical record
Medical Records/Unit 1: Medical Records/Lesson 1:
Introduction to Medical Records
Knowledge of disability practices (e.g., ADA
compliance)
Office Environment/Unit 1: Office Environment and
Reception/Lesson 3: Accommodations
Compare and contrast different forms of
consent (e.g., implied consent, verbal consent,
written consent, verbal consent, written
consent,
expressed consent, implied minor consent).
The Health Assistant/Unit 6: Patient Rights and Code of
Ethics/Lesson1: Informed Consent
Legal and Ethical Responsibilities/Unit 1: Civil and Criminal
Law/Lesson 3: Civil Law and Contracts
High
Knowledge of basic medical law and ethics
(e.g., assault and battery, patient
abandonment)
The Health Assistant/Unit 6: Patient Rights and Code of
Ethics/Lesson 3: Ethics
Legal and Ethical Responsibilities/Unit 1: Civil and Criminal
Law/Lesson 2: Civil Law and Torts
High
Explain to a patient that he/she has the right
to be seen by another physician
The Health Assistant/ Unit 6: Patient Rights and Code of
Ethics/Lesson 2: Patient and Resident Rights
High
Explain the patients’ insurance
responsibilities
Explain the difference between copayments
and coinsurance.
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 1:
Introduction to Insurance
Explain deductibles.
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 1:
Introduction to Insurance
Explain allowed amounts.
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 1:
Introduction to Insurance
Basic knowledge of insurance practices
Insurance and Coding/Unit 1: Insurance/Lesson 1: Insurance
Explain the difference between federal and
private insurance.
Insurance and Coding/ Unit 1: Insurance/ Lesson 2: Types of
Insurance
Explain an Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN)
Insurance and Coding/Unit 2: Government Programs/Lesson
1: Medicare
Knowledge of the contents of an Explanation
of Benefits (EOB)
Insurance and Coding/Unit 4: Claims/Lesson 2: Claims
Processing
High
Explain pre- and post-instructions for testing
and procedures
Provide written documentation on procedure
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 2: Outpatient
Appointments
Reiterate to the patient the physician’s
instructions
Appointments/Unit 4: Referrals/Lesson 2: Outpatient
Appointments
6. General Office Policies and
Procedures
Perform office opening and closing
procedures
Check internal and external messages (e.g.,
phones, emails, faxes).
Office Environment/Unit 3: Managing the Office
Facility/Lesson 1: Opening and closing
Check that charts are prepared and ready for
the day (or next day).
Office Environment/Unit 3: Managing the Office
Facility/Lesson 1: Opening and closing
Check that the amount of petty cash for the
day is correct.
Office Environment/Unit 3: Managing the Office
Facility/Lesson 5: Handling Emergencies
Direct and redirect phones to and from
answering service to office.
Office Environment/Unit 3: Managing the Office
Facility/Lesson 1: Opening and closing
Ensure day sheets are balanced.
Office Environment/Unit 3: Managing the Office
Facility/Lesson 1: Opening and closing
Ensure equipment is turned on at open and off
at close.
Office Environment/Unit 3: Managing the Office
Facility/Lesson 1: Opening and closing
High
Clean up reception area.
Medical Office Assistant/Office Environment/Unit 3:
Managing the Office Facility/Lesson 1: Opening and closing
High
Back up data.
Order supplies.
Office Equipment/Unit 4: Office Supplies/Lessons 1 and 2:
Managing and Purchasing
Greet patients upon arrival
Greet patients with a positive attitude.
Office Environment/Unit 1: Office Environment and
reception/ Lesson 1: Office Environment
Medical Office Assistant/ Unit 2: Professional Traits/ Lesson
1: Professional and Personal Qualities
Identify type of visit (e.g., sick or well).
Appointments/Unit 1: Introduction to Appointments/Lesson
2: Appointment Books
Identify type of patient (i.e., new or existing).
Appointments/Unit 3: Routine Appointments/Lesson 1: New
Patients
Appointments/Unit 3: Routine Appointments/Lesson 2:
Established Patients
Ensure front office is free of obstacles.
Office Environment/Unit 1: Office Environment and
reception/ Lesson 1: Office Environment
Acknowledge patients upon arrival.
Medical Office Assistant/Unit 2: Professional Traits/Lesson
2: Verbal Communication
Notify patients of wait time.
Appointments/Unit 2: Scheduling Systems/Lesson 1: Systems
High
Apply telephone etiquette
Introduce facility and self.
Telephone Etiquette/Unit 1: Basic Telephone
Communication/Lesson 2: Answering an Incoming Call
Identify type of caller.
Telephone Etiquette/Unit 1: Basic Telephone
Communication/Lesson 2: Answering an Incoming Call
Identify caller’s need.
Telephone Etiquette/Unit 1: Basic Telephone
Communication/Lesson 2: Answering an Incoming Call
Check on callers with extended hold times.
Telephone Etiquette/Unit 1: Basic Telephone
Communication/Lesson 3: Handling Multiple Calls
Create correspondences
Knowledge of templates
Written Communication/Unit 3: Types of Written
Communications/Lesson 4: Form Letters
Knowledge of word processing
Written Communication/Unit 3: Types of Written
Communications/Lesson 2: Business Letters
Knowledge of different types of letters
Written Communication/Unit 3: Types of Written
Communication/Lesson 2: Business Letters
Knowledge of different types of
correspondences
Written Communication/Unit 3: Types of Written
Communication/Lesson 2: Business Letters
Create letters.
Written Communication/Unit 3: Types of Written
Communication/Lesson 2: Business Letters
Use proper greetings and salutations.
Written Communication/Unit 3: Types of Written
Communication/Lesson 2: Business Letters
High
Apply proper postage.
Office Equipment/Unit 2: Other Equipment/Lesson 2:
Automation
High
Obtain required signatures (e.g., who should
sign the correspondence?).
Written Communication/Unit 3: Types of Written
Communication/Lesson 2: Business Letters
Demonstrate basic computer skills
Knowledge of e-mail system (e.g., Microsoft
Outlook)
Written Communication/Unit 2: Written
Communication/Lesson 1: Written Communication
Knowledge of word processing (e.g.,
Microsoft Word)
Office Equipment/Unit 1: Computers/Lesson 2: Computer
Operations
Knowledge of spreadsheets (e.g., Microsoft
Excel)
Knowledge of internet (e.g., social media,
web searching)
Use of hardware (e.g., copiers, fax machines,
scanners)
Office Equipment/Unit 2: Other Equipment/Lesson 1:
Telecommunications
Office Equipment/Unit 2: Other Equipment/ Lesson 2:
Automation
Basic HIPAA regulations for the use of the
computer
Medical Office Assistant/ Unit 3: Legal Responsibilities/
Lesson 1: Introduction to HIPAA
Health Information Technology/ Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA)/Lesson 1: Introduction to
HIPAA and HIT
High
Accounting/Unit 1: introduction to Accounting/Lesson 1:
Responsibilities
Skills at computer software
Office Equipment/Unit 1: Computers/Lessons 1 and 2
EHR Simulation/All Units/All Lessons
High
7. Basic Medical Terminology
Use medical terminology to communicate
with patients and physicians.
Basic knowledge of pronunciation
Medical Terminology/ Unit 2: Word Parts: Suffixes and
Prefixes/ Lesson 1: Suffixes
Medical Terminology/ Unit 2: Word Parts: Suffixes and
Prefixes/ Lesson 2: Prefixes
Medical Terminology/Unit 2: Word Parts: Suffixes and
Prefixes/ Lesson 3: Combining Word Parts
Basic knowledge of spelling
Medical Terminology/Unit 1: Word Parts: Roots/ Lesson 1:
Word Parts
Medical Terminology/Unit 1: Word Parts: Roots/ Lesson 2:
Word Roots
Medical Terminology/Unit2: Word Parts: Suffixes and
Prefixes/ Lesson 1: Suffixes
Medical Terminology/ Unit2: Word Parts: Suffixes and
Prefixes/ Lesson 2: Prefixes
Medical Terminology/Unit 2: Word Parts: Suffixes and
Prefixes/ Lesson 3: Combining Word Parts
Basic knowledge of the meaning of terms
Medical Terminology/ Unit: Word Parts: Roots/ Lesson 1:
Word Parts
Medical Terminology/ Unit: Word Parts: Roots/ Lesson 2:
Word Roots
Recognize abbreviations and acronyms used
to complete administrative duties
Identify the meaning of abbreviations and
acronyms (e.g., HX, Pt, H&P, Dx, SOAP, HIPAA,
CC, Rx, PHI, CDC, AMA, HMO, PPO).
Medical Terminology/ Unit 3: Abbreviations/ Lesson 1:
General Abbreviations
Use of abbreviations and acronyms to
complete basic administrative duties
Medical Terminology/ Unit 3: Abbreviations/Lesson 1:
General Abbreviations
Use word parts (i.e., prefixes, roots, suffixes)
to define medical terminology
Basic knowledge of prefixes (e.g., a-, an-, pre-,
post-, hyper-, hypo-, peri-, endo-, exo-)
Medical Terminology/Unit 2: Word Parts: Suffixes and
Prefixes/Lesson 2: prefixes
Basic knowledge of roots (e.g., cardi/o,
vascul/o, gastr/o, nephr/o, hepat/o)
Medical Terminology/ Unit 1: Word Parts: Roots/ Lesson 2:
Word Roots
Basic knowledge of suffixes (e.g., -logy, -it is, -
osis, -pathy, -ist, -graph)
Medical Terminology/Unit 2: Word Parts: Suffixes and
Prefixes/Lesson 1: Suffixes
Additional Resources for NHA CMAA Exam Prep
AES curriculum does not cover 100% of the information students need to pass the NHA CMAA exam, instructors will need to include additional
supplementary resources.
Resources from NHA
• Video - What It’s Like to Take an NHA Certification
• PDF – 2021 NHA CMAA Test Plan
How Health Science Teachers Use HealthCenter21 for CMAA Exam Prep
• School District of Osceola County, FL - HealthCenter21 Prepare Students for NHA CMAA Certification
• Royal Palm Beach High School, FL – 100% Pass Rates on the NHA CMAA Exam
• New Smyrna Beach High School, FL – HealthCenter21 Helps with CMAA Exam Prep & More