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Free CCMA practice · Updated October 2026

CCMA dosage calculations practice questions, with every answer explained

Foundational knowledge is 15 of the 150 scored items on the NHA CCMA. Answer 10 exam style questions on dosage calculations and see exactly which concepts would cost you points on test day.

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Where the CCMA points are150 scored items
General patient care
28
Foundational knowledge
15
Infection control and safety
15
Patient intake and vitals
14
Phlebotomy
12
Care coordination and education
12
Administrative assisting
12
Source: NHA CCMA test plan (2022)You are here ↑
Score 0/0
Q1Liquids

The provider orders 500 mg of an oral suspension. The bottle label reads 250 mg per 5 mL. How many mL should be given?

What these dosage calculations questions test

These questions cover liquids, tablets, weight-based, metric conversions and household conversions. Each one shows the correct answer and why every other option is wrong, so a miss tells you exactly what to review before the CCMA.

LiquidsTabletsWeight-basedMetric conversionsHousehold conversionsInjectablesTime notationSafetyPrescription abbreviationsMeasuring liquid medications

All 10 questions with answers explained

Prefer to read first? Every question from the practice set above, with the correct answer and why each wrong option is wrong.

Q1The provider orders 500 mg of an oral suspension. The bottle label reads 250 mg per 5 mL. How many mL should be given?
  1. 10 mL
  2. 20 mL
  3. 5 mL
  4. 2.5 mL

Answer: A. Use desired ÷ have × quantity: 500 mg ÷ 250 mg × 5 mL = 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL.

Why not B: 20 mL delivers 1,000 mg, double the ordered dose.

Why not C: 5 mL delivers only 250 mg, half the ordered dose.

Why not D: 2.5 mL delivers only 125 mg.

Exam tactic: D / H × Q. Then sanity-check: more than the 'have' amount means more than one quantity.

Q2A provider orders 0.25 mg of a medication. The tablets available are 0.125 mg each. How many tablets should be given?
  1. 1 tablet
  2. 2 tablets
  3. 4 tablets
  4. 1/2 tablet

Answer: B. 0.25 mg ÷ 0.125 mg per tablet = 2 tablets.

Why not A: One tablet is 0.125 mg, half the ordered dose.

Why not C: Four tablets would be 0.5 mg, double the ordered dose.

Why not D: Half a tablet would be 0.0625 mg.

Exam tactic: Ordered ÷ strength per tablet. Decimal errors are the classic trap.

Q3A child weighs 44 lb. The provider orders a medication at 10 mg/kg as a single dose. What is the dose?
  1. 200 mg
  2. 20 mg
  3. 440 mg
  4. 100 mg

Answer: A. Convert pounds to kilograms: 44 lb ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg. Then 20 kg × 10 mg/kg = 200 mg.

Why not B: 20 mg is the weight in kilograms, not the dose.

Why not C: 440 mg uses pounds instead of kilograms.

Why not D: 100 mg does not follow from the weight and order.

Exam tactic: Pounds ÷ 2.2 = kilograms, before multiplying by mg/kg.

Q4How many micrograms (mcg) are in 0.5 mg?
  1. 5,000 mcg
  2. 500 mcg
  3. 5 mcg
  4. 50 mcg

Answer: B. 1 mg = 1,000 mcg, so 0.5 mg × 1,000 = 500 mcg.

Why not A: 5,000 mcg is 5 mg.

Why not C: 5 mcg is 0.005 mg.

Why not D: 50 mcg is 0.05 mg.

Exam tactic: g → mg → mcg: multiply by 1,000 each step down.

Q5How many milliliters are in 1 tablespoon?
  1. 15 mL
  2. 10 mL
  3. 30 mL
  4. 5 mL

Answer: A. One tablespoon is about 15 mL, which equals 3 teaspoons.

Why not B: 10 mL is two teaspoons.

Why not C: 30 mL is about one fluid ounce (2 tablespoons).

Why not D: 5 mL is one teaspoon.

Exam tactic: 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon = 15 mL.

Q6The provider orders 40 mg of a medication for injection. The vial contains 80 mg/mL. How many mL should be drawn up?
  1. 2 mL
  2. 1 mL
  3. 0.25 mL
  4. 0.5 mL

Answer: D. 40 mg ÷ 80 mg × 1 mL = 0.5 mL.

Why not A: 2 mL would deliver 160 mg.

Why not B: 1 mL would deliver 80 mg, double the order.

Why not C: 0.25 mL would deliver 20 mg.

Exam tactic: When the order is smaller than the strength, the answer is less than 1 mL.

Q7How is 12:30 AM written in 24-hour time?
  1. 2430
  2. 0030
  3. 0130
  4. 1230

Answer: B. 12:30 AM is thirty minutes after midnight, written as 0030. 1230 is 12:30 PM (half past noon).

Why not A: 2430 is not a valid 24-hour time.

Why not C: 0130 is 1:30 AM.

Why not D: 1230 is half past noon.

Exam tactic: The midnight hour is 00, the noon hour is 12.

Q8A provider writes an order as '5.0 mg.' Why is this considered an unsafe notation?
  1. The trailing zero can be missed, and the dose misread as 50 mg
  2. Decimal points are not allowed in medication orders
  3. The dose should always be written in grams
  4. The period after mg makes the order legally invalid

Answer: A. A trailing zero after a decimal point is on The Joint Commission's 'Do Not Use' list because the decimal can be missed, turning 5.0 into 50, a tenfold overdose. It should be written '5 mg.' Conversely, a leading zero is required before a decimal: '0.5 mg,' never '.5 mg.'

Why not B: Decimals are allowed; the rules are no trailing zero and always a leading zero.

Why not C: Milligrams are an appropriate unit for this dose.

Why not D: Punctuation after the unit is not the safety concern.

Exam tactic: No trailing zero (5 mg), always a leading zero (0.5 mg).

Q9What does the abbreviation 'NPO' mean on a patient instruction?
  1. Normal physical outcome
  2. Nothing by mouth
  3. Nightly by mouth
  4. No prescription ordered

Answer: B. NPO (nil per os) means nothing by mouth. It is commonly used before procedures or certain tests. The instructions should specify from when and whether sips of water with medications are allowed.

Why not A: This is not a medical abbreviation.

Why not C: NPO is the opposite of taking something by mouth.

Why not D: NPO does not refer to prescriptions.

Exam tactic: NPO = nothing by mouth. PO = by mouth.

Q10How should a liquid medication be read in a clear medicine cup?
  1. At eye level, at the bottom of the meniscus
  2. From above, at the top edge of the liquid
  3. At eye level, at the highest point where the liquid touches the cup
  4. Held tilted, at the average level of the liquid

Answer: A. The cup is placed on a flat surface and read at eye level at the lowest point of the curved surface (meniscus). Reading from above or at the edges gives an inaccurate volume.

Why not B: Viewing from above distorts the reading.

Why not C: The edges of the meniscus rise along the cup wall and overstate the volume.

Why not D: A tilted cup cannot be read accurately.

Exam tactic: Flat surface, eye level, bottom of the meniscus.

Check every CCMA area, not just this one

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More about the CCMA

PassPulse is an independent exam preparation tool. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), American Medical Technologists (AMT) or the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). Exam, credential and product names mentioned on this page are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify the exams described.

These practice questions are written by PassPulse to reflect the published exam content outline. They are not actual exam questions. Questions, answers and explanations may contain errors or be out of date, and they are for exam study only, not for clinical or professional practice: always check facts against the certifying body's official materials, current standards and your employer's policies. Scores and projections on this page are estimates based on a small number of questions and do not predict your result on the real exam. Area weights come from the official outline as of the date shown; always confirm current exam details with the certifying body.
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