The National Association of Medical Assistants (NASM) is a national organization that offers certification to medical assistants who wish to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. The NASM exam is a comprehensive test that covers all aspects of medical assisting, from patient care to medical billing and coding.
What Does the NASM Certification Do for You?
The National Academy of Sports Medicine aims to offer future personal trainers with scientifically accurate information, and that appears to be its top priority in offering a program for certification. And, in light of a rise in online learning, it even has an option to study digitally.
The NASM certification is one of the most highly-respected PT certifications you can get, and some would even consider obtaining the NASM certification as pretty fiscally lucrative.
However, because of the high standards that the NASM has, it does have some prerequisites that must be fulfilled before you take the final exam. You must have a high school diploma or GED to take the exam, and you must also be certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certified.
While you don’t need to be CPR and AED certified before enrolling in a NASM program, you must be certified in both of them before you take the final exam.
The NASM covers a number of different subjects in its certification exam, and being strongly knowledgeable in all of them is highly advisable in order to pass on the first attempt.
The exam covers the following subjects or domains:
- Professional Development and Responsibility
- Client Relations and Behavioral Coaching
- Basic and Applied Sciences and Nutritional Concepts
- Assessments
- Exercise Technique and Training Instruction
- Program Design
With that said, here are six tips that will help you pass the NASM exam:
Know the material inside and out.
The best way to prepare for the NASM exam is to know the material inside and out. Review your notes from class, read your textbook, and take practice quizzes. Be sure to focus on the topics that will be covered on the exam.
According to PT Pioneer, the NASM is comprised of 120 questions, and 20 of these are research questions that don’t count toward your final score. You have two hours to complete these 120 questions, giving you about a minute to answer each question on average.
With a pass rate of 65%, it’s considered one of the more difficult PT certification exams. While it is plausible to pass the exam (which requires a score of 70% or higher in order to pass) on your first try, it is still pretty difficult. This is why it’s extremely valuable to prepare thoroughly for the exam.
Make a study schedule and stick to it.
One of the most important things you can do is to make a study schedule and stick to it. Figure out how much time you need to devote to studying each day or week, and then make sure you stick to that schedule.
Find a study partner or group.
Another great way to prepare for the exam is to find a study partner or group. This way, you can bounce ideas off of each other and help each other when one person gets stuck.
Use practice exams.
It’s also a great idea to complete as many practice tests as you feasibly can before the final exam, as this can assist you in becoming even more familiar with the exam’s format. Additionally, practice tests can help you get a better idea of the kinds of questions and question layouts that will appear on the test.
Practice exams are an excellent way to get familiar with the format of the actual exam and to see what topics you need to focus on studying. There are many different practice exams available online, so be sure to find one that closely resembles the actual NASM exam in terms of content and format.
Use Your Favorite Memory Techniques
If you know what study techniques work the best for helping you with memorization, it would be a great idea to utilize them while you’re preparing for the NASM exam. It’s been recommended by Trainer Academy, for example, to use mnemonics and flashcards to help you study for the pieces of information you find the most difficult.
Relax and don’t get too stressed out.
It’s important not to get too stressed out about taking the NASM exam. Yes, it’s important to do well, but try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Just do your best and remember that everyone learns differently – so what works for someone else might not work for you.
Conclusion
The National Association of Medical Assistants (NASM) offers certification to medical assistants who wish to demonstrate their knowledge and skills through an examination process. These tips will hopefully give healthcare professionals and medical students the guidance they need when taking on this challenge! Thanks for reading!
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