NCMA Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: B

5 mL: 5 mL delivers only 250 mg, the strength per 5 mL, which is less than the 400 mg ordered.

8 mL: Correct. (Desired ÷ Have) × Quantity = (400 ÷ 250) × 5 mL = 1.6 × 5 = 8 mL.

3.1 mL: This inverts the ratio (250 ÷ 400 × 5) and would underdose the patient.

10 mL: 10 mL would deliver 500 mg, which is more than the 400 mg ordered.

Dose formula: (D ÷ H) × Q. Check: is the answer larger or smaller than the stock volume, as the ordered dose suggests?

Answer: C

Somatic tremor from muscle movement: Somatic tremor produces irregular, jagged spikes and usually happens when the patient is tense, cold or shivering.

Wandering baseline from poor electrode contact: A wandering baseline drifts up and down slowly; it does not create a thick band of regular spikes.

Alternating current (60-cycle) interference: Correct. Electrical interference from nearby equipment or poor grounding produces regular, uniform spikes that thicken the baseline.

Interrupted baseline from a broken lead wire: A broken lead wire causes a flat or interrupted line, not a band of regular spikes.

AC interference = regular fine spikes (check grounding and unplug nearby devices); somatic tremor = irregular spikes; wandering baseline = slow drift (lotion, breathing, loose electrodes).

Answer: D

24.1; normal weight: This underestimates the result; 198 × 703 ÷ 4,900 is about 28.4.

31.6; obesity: This overestimates the BMI; obesity begins at 30, and this patient's BMI is about 28.4.

2.8; underweight: This misplaces the decimal; adult BMI values are usually between about 15 and 50.

28.4; overweight: Correct. 198 × 703 = 139,194; 70² = 4,900; 139,194 ÷ 4,900 ≈ 28.4, in the 25–29.9 overweight range.

BMI (US units) = lb × 703 ÷ in². Categories: under 18.5 underweight; 18.5–24.9 normal; 25–29.9 overweight; 30 or more obesity.

Answer: D

ICD-10-CM: ICD-10-CM codes report diagnoses (why the service was needed), not supplies or equipment.

CPT Category III: CPT Category III codes are temporary codes for emerging technologies and procedures.

ICD-10-PCS: ICD-10-PCS reports inpatient hospital procedures, not office supplies.

HCPCS Level II: Correct. HCPCS Level II alphanumeric codes report supplies, durable medical equipment, ambulance services and some drugs.

ICD-10-CM = diagnoses; CPT (HCPCS Level I) = procedures and services; HCPCS Level II = supplies, DME, drugs, ambulance.

Answer: B

Cover the entry with correction fluid and write the right value: Correction fluid hides the original entry, which can look like tampering with a legal record.

Draw one line through it, write the correction, date and initial: Correct. The original stays readable, and the correction is dated and initialed (with a reason if policy requires).

Black out the entry completely so it cannot be misread later: Blacking out an entry destroys the original record and is not acceptable.

Remove the page and rewrite the whole note neatly on a new sheet: Removing pages from a medical record can be seen as altering or destroying records.

Paper record correction: single line through the error, keep it legible, write the correction, add the date and initials. EHRs use amendment functions with an audit trail.

Answer: B

Informed consent: Informed consent requires discussing risks, benefits and alternatives, usually with a signature for invasive procedures.

Implied consent: Correct. The patient's actions show agreement to a routine, low-risk procedure without written or spoken consent.

Expressed written consent: Written consent means a signed form; no form was signed here.

Emergency consent: Emergency (presumed) consent applies when a patient cannot consent in a life-threatening situation.

Implied consent: shown by action for routine care. Informed consent: risks, benefits and alternatives explained, usually signed for invasive procedures.