Physician Assistant Certification
A presentation provided by
Presentation Outline
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A brief overview of NCCPA
Introduction to initial certification and PANCE
Overview of the certification maintenance process
When things go wrong
Resources
Q&A
A Brief Overview of NCCPA
What is NCCPA?
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The only national certifying body for physician assistants
Founded in 1975
Independent not-for-profit organization
Headquartered near Atlanta, Georgia
Staff of 33
Governed by a Board of Directors: appointees from 14
organizations, 2 public members, & 4 PA directors-atlarge
NCCPA’s Mission
NCCPA assures that certified physician
assistants meet professional standards of
knowledge and skills.
Initial Certification
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Graduation from a PA program accredited by
ARC-PA (Accreditation Review Commission on
Education for the Physician Assistant)
– Students must graduate or complete program
requirements before taking the exam
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Successful completion of the Physician Assistant
National Certifying Exam (PANCE)
Initial Certification
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PANCE is offered Year long
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Students often have the results of their exam
within a week
PANCE - What’s it like?
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Eligibility requirements must be met
Advance registration and $425 fee payment is
required.
Pearson Vue Testing Centers
360 multiple-choice questions that assess basic
medical and surgical knowledge
PANCE - Content Blueprint
• Questions cover
• 7 categories of knowledge/skills areas and
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18
18
16
14
14
10
10
100%
Knowledge & Skills in:
Pharmaceutical Therapeutics
Formulating Most Likely Diagnosis
History Taking & Performing Physical Exams
Using Lab & Diagnostic Studies
Clinical Intervention
Health Maintenance
Applying Basic Science Concepts
PANCE - Content Blueprint
• 13 categories of diseases/disorders/assessments
%
16
12
10
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6
Diseases, Disorders & Medical Assessments of the:
Cardiovascular System
Pulmonary System
Gastrointestinal/Nutritional System
Musculoskeletal System
Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat
Reproductive System
Neurologic System
Urinary/Renal System
PANCE - Content Blueprint
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6
6
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3
3
100%
Diseases, Disorders & Medical Assessments of the:
(cont.)
Psychiatric/Behavioral System
Endocrine System
Dermatological System
Hematologic System
Infectious Diseases
Apply at www.nccpa.net
Exam Selection
Enter Identifying Information
Applicant Background
Scheduling Permit Information
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When you apply, you’ll be notified that electronic
scheduling permits are available.
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When you’ve completed the application process (including payment),
we’ll notify you exactly when you should expect to receive your
permit.
Timing for receipt of your permit depends on when you apply for
which administration.
When your permit is available, we’ll notify you again by
e-mail with instructions on how to print your permit at
www.nccpa.net.
Your scheduling permit includes all of the information you’ll
need to schedule your exam.
Additional Options & Information
Exam Policies & Procedures
Exam Payment
Application Confirmation & Authorization
PANCE Application Received
My Record Page
Jane Alexandra Doe
1234567
12000 Findley Road
Duluth, GA 30097
nccpa@nccpa.net
What to Expect on Test Day
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Six-hour exam
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Arrive 30 minutes early.
Bring your driver’s license and scheduling
permit!
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Four 90-minute blocks of 90 questions
Note: The name on your driver’s license must match the
name on your scheduling permit.
Do not bring any other personal belongings.
PANCE - Test Taking Strategies
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Answer every question. (You won’t lose points
for incorrect answers.)
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Mark those that you’re not sure about, and review
them if you have time at the end of the 90question block. (Computer assists in review of
skipped & marked items.)
After the Exam
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Do not discuss the test with others.
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Sharing exam questions or even general subject
matter with others constitutes “irregular
behavior”—or cheating. It’s just not worth it!
If you had any problems at the testing center, be
sure to document the situation in writing and
contact NCCPA within 3 days of your exam.
Accessing Your Scores
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New in 2006! NCCPA will provide electronic, online
score reports.
When we receive your scores (about two weeks after
your test date), we’ll e-mail instructions for accessing
your score report in your secure record online.
To ensure immediate access, be sure NCCPA has your
current e-mail address by signing in to your record
and clicking the Make Corrections link.
Receiving Your Scores
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Passing rate for first time takers: around 90%
If you don’t get that good news after your first
attempt, keep in mind two key policies:
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You may attempt PANCE up to six times within six
years of your program completion.
You are limited to being able to take PANCE one time
in any 90-day period or up to three times in a calendar
year, whichever is fewer.
Scores to State Licensing Boards
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Web portals provide participating state licensing
boards direct, secure access to PANCE scores within
24 hours of NCCPA’s receiving them.
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Most states already have portals.
Additional portals are created at the request of the state
licensing boards.
You can request your scores be sent to any other
board by completing the form at the end of the
PANCE application process.
Overview of Certification
Maintenance
Certification Maintenance
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6-year certification maintenance cycle
comprised of 3 two-year blocks
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Log 100 hours of CME every two years
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At least 50 Category I (Preapproved) hours
Pass a recertification exam in year 5 or year 6
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Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam (PANRE) or
Pathway II
CME Earning Requirements
Defining the Terminology
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Category I CME –The activity or provider is
preapproved by the AAPA, ACCME, AAFP,
AMA or AOA.
How do you know it’s Category I? Some clues:
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Certificate upon completion that makes reference to
one of the sponsors.
Someone paid for you to participate.
Any doubt? Contact the provider.
Defining the Terminology
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Category II (Elective) CME – Any other
educational or self-learning activity pursued
outside of your employment.
Some examples:
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reading medical journals
postgraduate coursework
precepting
even time spent studying for PANRE
Review of the Requirements
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100 CME hours
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at least 50 Category I hours
There is no requirement for Category II CME.
You may choose to earn the remaining 50 hours
through either Category I or Category II activities.
First-Time Loggers
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Start earning the day your certificate is issued.
Finish by June 30 the year your certificate expires
or…
If your first certificate is issued after June 30, you
have until the day of certificate expiration
(December 31). This is a one-time only extension.
Returning Loggers
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Start earning May 1 of the beginning cycle year
(May 1, 2005 for the 2005-2007 cycle).
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Finish by June 30 the year your certificate expires.
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Current policy allows you to continue earning after June 30
if you pay a late processing fee.
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The 26-month window includes a two-month period during
the ending/beginning cycle year during which you may apply
CME to either the cycle that is ending or the cycle that is just
starting.
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Final deadline: certificate expiration date (Dec. 31)
CME Logging
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Log your CME online as you earn it at NCCPA’s
Web site ($80), or use our paper form ($95).
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CME must be logged by June 30 of the certificate
expiration year to avoid late processing fees (unless
you get the first-time logger exception we talked
about earlier). The final deadline is Dec. 31.
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Save your Category I CME documentation in case
you are audited.
Recertification
PANRE
PANRE
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Pearson Vue testing
centers
Computerized
No reference material
5 hours to complete
$300
Tips for Maintaining Your Certification
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Notify NCCPA of all address changes.
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Know how to access your personal certification
record online – it’s your one-stop resource for
your certification information.
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Read all NCCPA correspondence.
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Understand the requirements.
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Don’t procrastinate.
More Tips for Maintaining
Your Certification
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Log CME as you earn it.
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Save your Category I CME documentation.
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Take personal responsibility for your certification.
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Get information about certification from the
source.
Remember that certification is often your ticket to
practice—so take it seriously!
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When Things Go Wrong
The Appeals Process
 The Disciplinary Process
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The Appeals Process
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Did you have a problem at the testing center?
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Were you unable to meet CME requirements or
take an exam due to unusual or severe extenuating
circumstances?
The Appeals Process
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Should an unusual circumstance arise, document
the situation and put your request in writing to
NCCPA as soon as possible.
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Within three days for exam grievances
Appeals & grievances staff reviews each case.
Adverse staff decisions may be appealed to the
Review Panel.
NCCPA Disciplinary Policy
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Specifies consequences for irregular behavior
(which we discussed earlier) and falsely
representing oneself as certified.
Provides for the denial or revocation of
certification based on
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Loss of licensure due to documented gross
incompetence or unethical conduct
Conviction of or pleading no contest to a felony
offense
Court decision that finds a PA mentally incompetent
Resources
NCCPA Resources
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NCCPA Connect: www.nccpa.net
– online access to your certification record
– exam application, CME logging, exam results,
address changes
NCCPA News (quarterly e-newsletter)
E-mail: nccpa@nccpa.net
Or call: (678) 417-8100
More Resources
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American Academy of Physician Assistants
(AAPA)
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Source for Category I CME, job bank, books, journals,
annual conference, state chapters, information about
review courses
www.aapa.org or (703) 836-2272
Licensure Resources
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Check with your state board to see whether they
have a PANCE Web Portal.
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Or, download a Release of Information form from
NCCPA’s Web site to request your scores be sent to
a particular state board.
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Visit AAPA’s Web site (www.aapa.org) for stateby-state information about licensure requirements.
Questions?