Transcription
CCBMAAPPLICANT HANDBOOKCALIFORNIA CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANTEXAMINATIONCalifornia Certifying Board for Medical Assistants, Inc.PO Box 1029 Placerville, CA 95667(530)622-1850 Fax (530)622-8254E-mail info@ccbma.orgwww.ccbma.org1
TABLE OF CONTENTSIntroduction . 3About the CCMA Examination . 3What is a CCMA?Code of ConductExamination Information and Policies . 3 - 5Nondiscrimination PolicyEligibility Requirements and Required DocumentationSpecial AccommodationsExam FormatTesting FeesCredentialsApplication ProcessingRelease of InformationGrounds for Denial of EligibilityThe Testing Process . 5 - 7Scheduling with Pearson VueFailure to Schedule or Failure to Show for Scheduled ExamCancellation and Postponement PolicyTest Center PolicyTest Center RegulationsCertificate, Wallet Card and PinRetake ExaminationsRetake Examination FeesRecertification . 7Frequently Asked Questions . 7 - 9Disciplinary Policies and Procedures . 10Grounds for Denial of Certification/Recertificationor Revocation of CCMA credentialsPossible Disciplinary PenaltiesAppeals PolicyResources . 10CCBMAPearson VueApplication Checklist 112
IntroductionConfidentiality: Provide services with full respect ofthe rights of patients and colleagues, and safeguardpatient confidence and privacy in accordance withthe law, including but not limited to HIPAAcompliance requirements.The California Certifying Board for MedicalAssistants (CCBMA) is a private non-profit 501c3corporation that has been administering theCalifornia Certified Medical Assistant (CCMA) examsince 1990. CCBMA is recognized by the MedicalBoard of California as an approved certificationagency.Professionalism with Integrity: Practice theprofession with honesty, integrity andaccountability, respecting all laws and regulationsand avoiding any false, fraudulent or deceptiveactivities.The goals of the California Certifying Board forMedical Assistants (CCBMA) are to provide apathway for California medical assistants todemonstrate professional competency in thespecialty of their choice; to encourage careerdevelopment through continuing education andrecertification; and to continually improve thecertification programs to reflect the changingrequirements of healthcare in California.Improve Knowledge and Skills: Continue to learn,maintaining and improving all knowledge and skillsnecessary for the ever-changing healthcareenvironment.Improve the Health and Well Being of theCommunity: Recognize a responsibility to contributeto the improvement of the community andbetterment of public health.This handbook is intended to be a resource forunderstanding the CCBMA exam application andtesting process. It should be used in conjunctionwith other information available on the CCBMAwebsite.Examination Information and PoliciesNondiscrimination PolicyPlease note that CCBMA policies and fees aresubject to change without notice.The California Certifying Board for MedicalAssistants does not discriminate among applicantsas to age, race, sex, religion or national origin.About the CCMA ExaminationEligibility RequirementsRequired DocumentationThe California Certified Medical Assistantexamination is a comprehensive objectiveexamination of the candidate’s knowledge ofmedical assisting. It is designed for the AdvancedEntry Level medical assistant.It is the responsibility of each applicant to provethey meet eligibility criteria.All applicants must be at least 18 years of age toapply for the certification exam.What is a CCMA?All applicants must provide proof of current CPRcertification.A California Certified Medical Assistant (CCMA) is amedical assistant who has met the qualificationsestablished by the California Certifying Board forMedical Assistants (CCBMA) and has passed acomprehensive objective examination administeredby CCBMA.All applicants must include a copy of a U.S.government issued ID (driver's license, ID card orpassport). The legal name submitted on theapplication must match the U.S. government issuedID/Driver’s License. Name change corrections aftersubmission of the application are subject to a 50.00 fee. All required documentation must beincluded with the completed application.Code of ConductThe following principles are core values for theCCMA applicant and certificant:Applicants for the Clinical specialty examinationmust provide proof of training in administeringinjections and performing skin tests and/or trainingin venipuncture and skin puncture for the purposeof withdrawing blood, as required by the CaliforniaMedical Assistant Regulations, Section 1366.1. Asigned Certificate of Competency for Injectionsand/or Venipuncture or Statement of Proficiencymust be dated within one year preceding theapplication.Professional Standards: Respect and understandthat as a healthcare professional the medicalassistant is dedicated to providing competentsupport, within the scope of practice as set forth bythe Medical Board of California, with compassionand respect for human diversity and dignity.3
An applicant must satisfy at least one of thefollowing requirements:year or served in that capacity for at least two ofthe previous five years.Currently employed as a medical assistant by alicensed physician or podiatrist in the United States. Attach verification of employment, such as acopy of a pay stub or physician-employersigned statement on office letterhead.Attach a signed injection/venipunctureproficiency statement.Special AccommodationsApplicants who require special accommodations onthe day of examination must request suchexceptions in writing and it must be included withthe initial application. Physical disability must becurrently documented by a medical doctor. If youare requesting special accommodations because ofa learning disability, documentation must beprovided from a psychologist dated within the lastyear. CCBMA will make every effort toaccommodate such cases, but it reserves the rightto deny requests that, in the judgment of theBoard, would jeopardize the security of theexamination materials or the integrity of scoresderived from the examination.ORGraduate of an accredited medical assistingprogram in the United States or a programapproved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondaryand Vocational Education, California Department ofConsumer Affairs, within one year preceding theapplication. An accredited medical assistingprogram is training in a secondary, post-secondaryor adult education program in a public schoolauthorized by the Department of Education or in acommunity college program or in a post-secondaryinstitution approved by the Bureau of Private PostSecondary and Vocational Education or Departmentof Consumer Affairs. Exam FormatAttach a photocopy of your certificate ofcompletion.Attach a signed injection/ venipunctureproficiency statement.There are three exams: BASIC, ADMINISTRATIVEAND CLINICAL. Each exam is in English. All newapplicants must take the Basic examination and theAdministrative and/or the Clinical specialty. Youmust pass the Basic examination and at least onespecialty to become certified. Certifying for asecond specialty is optional.ORHave had at least two years employmentcomparable to full time (4160 hours) as a practicingmedical assistant in the United States within thefive years immediately preceding application. Each exam is divided into sections and questionswithin each section are chosen at random from thetest bank. The exams are meant to test theknowledge, skills and abilities of the advanced entrylevel medical assistant.Attach statement from previous employer(s)verifying the number of hours worked in thelast five years.Attach a signed injection/venipunctureproficiency statement.Basic Exam 175 multiple-choice questions Two hour time limitAdministrative Exam 100 multiple-choice questions One hour time limitClinical Exam 125 multiple-choice questions One hour time limit.ORCurrently employed as a medical assistinginstructor in an accredited institution in the UnitedStates. Attach copy of DT214 or proof of currentmilitary employment.Attach a signed injection/ venipunctureproficiency statement.Attach employment verification.Attach injection/ venipuncture proficiencystatement signed by Program Director.Testing FeesORUnited States Military Training. Served in thecapacity of a medical assistant while enlisted oreither separated from the Military within the last4Basic and Clinical SpecialtyBasic and Administrative SpecialtyBasic, Administrative, Clinical Specialties 145 145 185Expired Credential Reactivation Fee 50
Payment may be made in the form of a moneyorder or credit card payment. No personalchecks will be accepted.A 25 administrative fee will be assessed forchargebacks or declined charge payment.Fees include a 50 nonrefundable processingfee.Fees are subject to change without prior notice.The Testing ProcessScheduling with Pearson VueWhen your application is approved by CCBMA, youwill receive a letter outlining the steps to scheduleyour appointment for testing with Pearson Vue, ourtesting company. The letter will include the examsponsor name (CCBMA), an authorization number,the exams authorized, as well as a must-test-bydate. You will need this information whenscheduling. You may schedule on-line (preferredmethod) by going to personVue.com or by callingthe Candidate Services Call Center at (866) 9605609.Credentials Applicants who pass the Basic andAdministrative examinations receive a CCMA-Acredential.Applicants who pass the Basic and Clinicalexaminations receive a CCMA-C credential.Applicants who pass the Basic, Administrativeand Clinical examinations receive a CCMA-ACcredential.You will be required to select a specific test centerlocation when scheduling your exam. There arenumerous sites available. Testing Center locationscan be found by visiting personVue.com/CCBMA.Maps and driving instructions are available for eachtesting center. All sites are open Monday throughFriday, and many are open Saturdays.Application ProcessingYou can download the application from the CCBMAwebsite. Complete the application and mail with therequired attachments and fee to CCBMA.Application packets sent to CCBMA with inadequatepostage will be refused and returned via the USPostal Service.You will receive a confirmation e-mail or letter fromPearson Vue after scheduling. Please review theexam details for accuracy. If any details are notcorrect, contact Pearson Vue immediately at thetelephone number or email provided.When applications arrive in the CCBMA office theyare processed in the order received. Incompleteapplications will cause delays. Please allow up tofour (4) weeks to receive your authorization lettervia email with instructions for scheduling your examwith Pearson VUE.Failure to Schedule or No Show forScheduled ExaminationIf you fail to schedule an authorized examination bythe “must-test-by” date indicated on yourauthorization letter, you will forfeit all fees paid andwill not be entitled to a refund.If you wish to have your application expedited,there is an additional fee of 50. This applies toapplications that have all required documents andpayment.If you fail to appear for a scheduled test (no show),arrive more than 15 minutes after the scheduledstart time for taking the test and are refusedadmission to the exam, or change your exam datewithout providing 24-hour notice, you will forfeit allfees and will not be entitled to any refund. Inaddition, this will be considered as one of the threeattempts to pass the examination.Release of InformationCertification status is a matter of public record andmay be released. Unless otherwise indicated on theexamination application, name, credential, emailand mailing address may be released foreducational and employment opportunities.Cancellation and Postponement PolicyIf you need to reschedule, you must do so bycontacting Pearson Vue at the phone number foundon your authorization letter. You must test by thedate that is specified in your eligibility letter.Grounds for Denial of EligibilityYour application can be denied if one or more of thefollowing applies: If you wish to cancel your exam, you must do so inwriting to CCBMA not less than 15 days prior toyour scheduled exam or the “must-test-by” date asindicated on your authorization letter. You mustcontact Pearson Vue directly to have your scheduledappointment removed from their system. If youmeet these deadlines, you will receive a refund ofthe application fee paid minus a 50 processingFailure to meet eligibility criteriaNonpayment of fees, insufficient fees, or adeclined credit/debit cardFailure to provide supporting documentationFailure to respond to CCBMA contactrequests5
charge. Cancellation requests must meet thesecriteria or no refund will be given. If your application is denied by CCBMA, you willreceive a letter and a refund of your application feeminus a 50 processing charge. Test Center PolicyYou will be provided with a locker for your personalitems. Keep in mind that the storage lockers aresmall and that all stored mechanical or electronicdevices must be turned off. Personal items andtheir contents may be subject to inspection.You are solely responsible for making and keepingyour scheduled appointment date. Arrive at thePearson VUE test center 30 minutes before yourscheduled appointment time. This will give youadequate time to complete the necessary sign-inprocedures. Be prepared to show valid USgovernment issued ID. The ID must include yoursignature and photo, and must match the namesubmitted on your application. If you arrive morethan 15 minutes late for an exam and are refusedadmission, you will forfeit your test fee.When checking in, you will be asked to presenteyeglasses to the test center administrator forinspection. Smart eyewear will not be permitted inthe examination room under any circumstances.Breaks are not scheduled into examination testing.If a break is needed, it is up to the examinee todetermine when to do so. Keep in mind that oncestarted, the test clock cannot be paused andconsecutive exam(s) will begin when you click out(or end) the current exam module or time hasexpired.Test Center RegulationsPearson Professional Testing Centers providecomputer-based test services for academicassessment, professional licensure, andcertification. To ensure security and uniformity forall testing candidates, Pearson test centerenvironments are standardized. Pearson testcenters provide the resources necessary for secureadministration of the exam, including video andaudio monitoring and recording, and use of digitalcameras to record the identity of examinees. At thebeginning of the exam you will be required to agreethat both audio and video may be recorded in thetesting room while you take the test. If you do notagree, you will not be allowed to complete the testand will forfeit your fee.You will be required to agree to the Non-DisclosureAgreement that will be presented at the beginningof your exam. Failure to read/accept the agreementwithin the allotted 5 minutes will result in yourexam ending and forfeiture of your exam fee.Prior to beginning the exam, you will have 10minutes to complete a tutorial. Also, at the end ofthe exam, you will have 5 minutes to complete abrief survey.Any violation of the testing policies and regulationsoutlined in this handbook may result in dismissalfrom the testing center and forfeiture of fees.The time for the Non-Disclosure Agreement, tutorialand survey will not count towards your allottedexam time. The timing of the exam will begin whenthe first exam question appears on the screen.Test center staff monitor all test sessions for theexam. You must follow the instructions of testcenter staff.If a technical issue occurs during the test, youshould notify test center staff immediately.Test center staff are not authorized to answerquestions regarding exam content, test software, orscoring.Upon completion of the exam and survey, you willreceive preliminary results in the form of pass orfail, as well as an analysis of individual testsections. A pass result is not verification of CCMAcertification. CCMA certification is released byCCBMA upon receipt of official testing results.You may not bring any personal belongings into thetest area, including, but not limited to, thefollowing: Outerwear (e.g., coats, jackets, headwear,or gloves)Book bags, backpacks, handbags,briefcases, or walletsBooks, notes, written materials, or scratchpaperFood, candy, gum, or beveragesCertificate, Wallet Card and PinMechanical or electronic devices (e.g.cellular phones, personal digital assistants[PDAs], personal calculators (will beprovided upon request at the testingcenter), watches, electronic paging devices,recording or filming devices, or radios)For passing applicants, a certificate suitable forframing, and a wallet card indicating the CCMAcredential will be mailed from CCBMA. The nameon the certificate and wallet card will be the sameas the name indicated on the application forexamination. The California Certified Medical6
Assistant pin will be included and may be worn aslong as certification remains current.Certified medical assistants granted recertification,either by passing the recertification examination orby completed requirements for continuing educationmethod, will receive a new wallet card, as well asan “active to” sticker to attach to their originalcertificateReplacement certificates, wallet cards and pins areavailable for a fee to actively credentialed medicalassistants by calling the CCBMA office.Retake ExaminationsFrequently Asked QuestionsIn the event a candidate fails one or more portionsof the examination, the failed exam(s) may betaken again. A retake application will be mailed tothe candidate once the official results are recordedby CCBMA. The candidate must submit the newapplication with the appropriate retake fee.Q. Is the examination administered by the State ofCalifornia?A.If a candidate fails the initial exam(s), it may betaken two more times for a maximum of threeattempts. There is a mandatory 30-day waitingperiod between examinations attempts.Q. Do I need to be CPR certified to take theexamination?Retake Examination FeesRetake Basic ExamRetake Clinical ExamRetake Administrative ExamNo. The certification exam is given by theCertifying Board for Medical Assistants.CCBMA is a private non-profit 501c3corporation and is recognized by theMedical Board of California.A. 105 90 90Yes. All applicants must provide proof ofcurrent CPR certification to be eligible to sitfor the examination or qualify forrecertification.Q. What are the eligibility requirements?A candidate that fails the third attempt, must wait90 days before reapplying. A new application withall supporting documentation and fees must besubmitted.A. The applicant must:1. Be currently employed in the capacity ofa medical assistant by a licensedphysician or podiatrist in the UnitedStatesor2. Have graduated from a medicalassisting program in an approvedaccredited institution in the UnitedStates within one year preceding theexaminationor3. Have been employed in the capacity ofa medical assistant comparable to fulltime (4160 hours) within the previousfive years.or4. Be currently employed as a medicalassisting instructor in an approvedaccredited institution in the UnitedStatesor5. United States Military training(separated from the Military within thelast year or served in the capacity of amedical assistant for at least two of theprevious five years.).RecertificationAll California Certified Medical Assistants mustrecertify every five years in order to maintain theiractive status. The purpose of recertification is toprove competency and growth in their specialtyareas as well as the basic category.CCBMA will mail a reminder letter six months priorto the end of active status. The rem
The California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants (CCBMA) is a private non-profit 501c3 corporation that has been administering the California Certified Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam since 1990. CCBMA is recognized by the Medical Board of California as an approved certification
