About the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Examination
The RMA examination is administered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT). For more
information regarding the RMA examination, visit the AMT’s web site, http://www.amt1.com.
Examination Format and Content
The RMA exam consists of 210 four-option multiple choice questions in Administrative, Clinical,
and General content areas. The subject material includes the following:
General Medical Assisting Knowledge:
 Anatomy and physiology
 Medical terminology
 Medical law
 Medical ethics
 Human relations
 Patient education
Administrative Medical Assisting Knowledge:
 Insurance
 Financial bookkeeping
 Medical receptionist, secretarial, clerical
Clinical Medical Assisting Knowledge:
 Asepsis
 Sterilization
 Instruments
 Vital signs and measurements
 Physical examinations
 Clinical pharmacology
 Minor surgery
 Therapeutic modalities
 Laboratory procedures
 Electrocardiography (ECG)
 First aid and emergency response
Application Process
Candidates should read all instructions carefully before completing the application form.
Applications may be downloaded either in print or fill-in format from the AMT’s web site,
http://www.amt1.com. You may also contact the AMT registrar to obtain an application, at:
American Medical Technologists, 10700 W. Higgins Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018; telephone
(847) 823-5169; fax (847) 823-0458.
All AMT registration examination tests are available in paper-and-pencil format or computerized
formats at over 200 locations in the United States, its territories, and Canada. Tests may be
scheduled daily except Sundays and holidays.
A Registered Medical Assistant Candidate Handbook is available for download on the AMT’s
web site. A hard copy of this handbook may also be obtained by contacting the AMT. RMA
Practice Examinations are also available for order at the AMT’s web site.
Eligibility Categories and Requirements
The following criteria have been established for applicants sitting for the RMA examination. The
application fee is $90.
1. Applicant shall be of good moral character and at least 18 years of age.
2. Applicant shall be a graduate of an accredited high school or acceptable equivalent.
3. Applicant must meet one of the following requirements:
A. Applicant shall be a graduate of a:
1. Medical assistant program that holds programmatic accreditation by (or is in a postsecondary school or college that holds institutional accreditation by) the Accrediting
Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or the Commission on Accreditation of
Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP) OR,
2. Medical assistant program in a post-secondary school or college that has institutional
accreditation by a Regional Accrediting Commission or by a national accrediting
organization approved by the United States Department of Education. That program
must include a minimum of 720 clock hours (or equivalent) of training in medical
assisting skills (including a clinical externship) OR,
3. Formal medical services training program of the United States Armed Forces.
B. Experience
Applicant shall have been employed in the profession of Medical Assisting for a minimum of five
(5) years, no more than two (2) years of which may have been as an instructor in a postsecondary
medical assistant program.
4. Applicants applying under 3A or 3B must take and pass the AMT certification examination for
Registered Medical Assistant (RMA).
5. The AMT Board of Directors has further determined that applicants who have passed a
generalist medical assistant certification examination offered by another medical assisting
certification body (provided that exam has been approved for this purpose by the AMT Board of
Directors) and who have been working in the medical assisting field for the past three out of five
years and who have met all other AMT training and experience requirements, may be considered
for RMA (AMT) certification without further examination.