Free National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1While explaining a urinary tract diagram to a patient, a medical assistant points to the tubes carrying urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Which structures are these?

   1. A. Ureters
   2. B. Urethra
   3. C. Renal arteries
   4. D. Renal veins

   Answer: A

   Explanation: NIDDK states, "The urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder through two thin tubes of muscle called ureters, one on each side of your bladder." The ureters carry urine to the bladder; the urethra carries it out, and renal blood vessels carry blood.

   Reference: Your Kidneys & How They Work — Opening description of the urinary tract

2. 2Reusable, heat-tolerant solid surgical forceps enter normally sterile tissue during a minor procedure. Sterilization of these forceps is feasible. What processing level is required before their next patient use?

   1. A. Low-level disinfection
   2. B. Intermediate-level disinfection
   3. C. High-level disinfection
   4. D. Sterilization

   Answer: D

   Explanation: CDC directs, "Before use on each patient, sterilize critical medical and surgical devices and instruments that enter normally sterile tissue or the vascular system or through which a sterile body fluid flows (e.g., blood)." These forceps are critical instruments for which sterilization is feasible. The exception for certain critical endoscopes when sterilization is infeasible does not apply.

   Reference: Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization — Summary of Recommendations — Recommendation 3.a, Indications for Sterilization, High-Level Disinfection, and Low-Level Disinfection

3. 3A medical assistant helps prepare a claim for durable medical equipment supplied for use outside the physician's office. Which national code set primarily identifies such items when they are not included in CPT?

   1. A. ICD-10-CM
   2. B. HCPCS Level II
   3. C. ICD-10-PCS
   4. D. CPT Category I

   Answer: B

   Explanation: CMS describes HCPCS Level II as identifying "products, supplies, and services not included in the CPT® codes". Its examples include DMEPOS for use outside the physician's office. ICD-10-CM classifies diagnoses, ICD-10-PCS inpatient procedures, and CPT primarily professional services and procedures.

   Reference: Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) — HCPCS Level II — definition

4. 4A newly assigned medical assistant has occupational exposure to blood, has completed required training, and has no prior complete hepatitis B series, documented immunity, or medical contraindication. What is the latest working-day deadline after initial assignment for making vaccination available under OSHA?

   1. A. 5 working days
   2. B. 15 working days
   3. C. 30 working days
   4. D. 10 working days

   Answer: D

   Explanation: OSHA requires hepatitis B vaccination to be made available "within 10 working days of initial assignment" for employees with occupational exposure, after the required training and subject to specified exceptions. Those exceptions are excluded in this scenario.

   Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1030 — Bloodborne Pathogens — 29 CFR 1910.1030(f)(2)(i)

5. 5A patient asks which substances normally remain in the blood when fluid first passes through the kidney's glomerular filter. Which answer should the medical assistant give?

   1. A. Water and mineral ions
   2. B. Proteins and blood cells
   3. C. Urea and extra water
   4. D. Glucose and mineral ions

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NIDDK explains, "Larger molecules, such as proteins and blood cells, stay in the blood vessel." Smaller molecules and fluid can enter the tubule; subsequent tubular reabsorption is a different step.

   Reference: Your Kidneys & How They Work — How do my kidneys work? — The glomerulus filters your blood

6. 6A medical assistant is reprocessing reusable instruments after a procedure. Where does thorough detergent cleaning belong in relation to high-level disinfection or sterilization?

   1. A. Before either disinfection or sterilization
   2. B. After either disinfection or sterilization
   3. C. Between disinfection and subsequent sterilization
   4. D. During storage after the sterilization cycle

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC directs, "Meticulously clean patient-care items with water and detergent, or with water and enzymatic cleaners before high-level disinfection or sterilization procedures." Cleaning removes material that would interfere with the later process; it is not postponed until after it.

   Reference: Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization — Summary of Recommendations — Recommendation 2.b, Cleaning of Patient-Care Devices

7. 7A Medicare claim includes a minor procedure and a documented significant, separately identifiable E/M service by the same physician on the same day. Which modifier may be appended to the E/M code when appropriate?

   1. A. Modifier 25
   2. B. Modifier 26
   3. C. Modifier 50
   4. D. Modifier 59

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CMS states, "Modifier 25 may be appended to an Evaluation & Management (E&M) code when reported with another procedure or other service, on the same day of service". The separately identifiable E/M work supports modifier 25. The other modifiers concern a professional component, bilateral procedures, or distinct procedural services rather than this E/M designation.

   Reference: Medicare NCCI FAQ Library — Modifiers, FAQ 5 — How should modifier 25 be reported under the NCCI?

8. 8A medical assistant initially declined employer-provided hepatitis B vaccination but now requests it while still covered by OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard. The assistant has no contraindication. What does the standard require?

   1. A. Make the vaccination available at that time
   2. B. Defer the vaccination until the next annual training
   3. C. Require prescreening as a condition for vaccination
   4. D. Defer the vaccination until an exposure incident occurs

   Answer: A

   Explanation: OSHA states, "If the employee initially declines hepatitis B vaccination but at a later date while still covered under the standard decides to accept the vaccination, the employer shall make available hepatitis B vaccination at that time." Prior declination does not waive future access while the employee remains covered.

   Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1030 — Bloodborne Pathogens — 29 CFR 1910.1030(f)(2)(iii)

9. 9During medication reconciliation, a medical assistant identifies a blood pressure medicine whose therapeutic action is to remove extra water and sodium from the body. Which drug class has this action?

   1. A. Calcium channel blockers
   2. B. Angiotensin receptor blockers
   3. C. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
   4. D. Diuretics

   Answer: D

   Explanation: NHLBI states, "Diuretics remove extra water and sodium (salt) from your body, lowering the amount of fluid in your blood." The other listed antihypertensive classes act primarily by preventing vascular narrowing or altering calcium entry.

   Reference: High Blood Pressure — Treatment — Medicines — common high blood pressure medicines

10. 10Soiled reusable instruments have been left until organic residue dries. What combination of effects should the medical assistant anticipate during subsequent cleaning and reprocessing?

    1. A. Residue becomes easier to remove and reprocessing becomes less effective
    2. B. Residue becomes harder to remove and reprocessing becomes less effective
    3. C. Residue becomes easier to remove and reprocessing becomes more effective
    4. D. Residue becomes harder to remove and reprocessing becomes more effective

    Answer: B

    Explanation: CDC explains, "Dried or baked materials on the instrument make the removal process more difficult and the disinfection or sterilization process less effective or ineffective." Drying therefore makes removal harder and reduces subsequent reprocessing efficacy; the alternatives reverse one or both effects.

    Reference: Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization — Summary of Recommendations — Recommendation 2.b.ii, Cleaning of Patient-Care Devices