Meagan Hollman
Upon graduating from a certified medical assisting college, you’re ready to take the Medical Assistant Certification Exam. Being hired at a medical practice is not contingent upon passing this exam, but it will give you a professional competitive edge and possibly a higher starting salary. This test is designed to prove that you know your stuff and deserve better wages, so read these study tips and go pass it!
You learned a TON of medical terminology and clinical procedures at your medical assisting college. Flash cards are a great way to review it all. If you get an answer wrong, don’t put it in the back or else it will fall to your brain’s wayside. Stick it in the middle of the deck so your brain goes back to it sooner. Studying is all about repetition, so go through your flashcards as many times as it takes for you to get 100%.
Quiz each other. One of the best ways to learn something is to try to teach it. If you don’t quite understand a term or procedure, have your Study Buddy teach it to you, and then recite it back.
You don’t want to walk into a test suddenly feeling like you’re on an alien planet. Learn everything about the test itself before you take it. The Medical Assistant Certification Exam will cover everything you learned at your medical assisting college from anatomy and physiology to insurance billing to basic diagnostic testing. Take practice tests designed to look exactly like the exam so being shocked by the unknown won’t be a concern.
Draw pictures and diagrams. Create acronyms like R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) to help you remember everything from office equipment to patient preparation.
Don’t let your brain get burnt out. If you’re feeling sleepy, take a break. Get out of the chair and walk around. Drink some water. Eat a healthy snack. Do some stretches. The key is to let your brain focus on something menial while the information you just studied is percolating. After the break, do a quick recap and then move on to something new.
Cramming is completely ineffective. Again, when it comes to studying, repetition is key! Hopefully you did well in all of your medical assisting college courses, so all you really need to do is review everything you’ve already learned. Just don’t do it the night before or your brain will completely shut down during the test and you’ll be a sitting duck.
