NCCPA and Physician Assistant Certification Faculty Name Here Faculty Member’s Title Here

NCCPA has been the only certifying organization for PAs for over 40 years We are an independent, not-for-profit organization NCCPA is committed to helping maximize the safe, productive, and competent practice of medicine by certified PAs Passionate about PAs and the patients you serve Rely on PA practice data to inform our certification programs Publish statistical reports to inform employers, policy makers, the media, patients and others Promote qualifications and roles of certified PAs to various audiences (physicians, employers, state medical boards, public, etc.) About NCCPA

NCCPA’s Responsibility It is critical to our mission to provide a certification/ recertification program that is: Meaningful and relevant; and Provides assurance for patients, employers, state licensing boards, and others regarding PAs’ knowledge and skills. To do this, we must continuously monitor and evolve the certification process because things change: Advances in technology Rapid changes in medicine Changes in the PA profession NCCPA’s Responsibility

Our Underpinning Principles The first concern must be to serve the public’s interest as we work to determine how we most effectively can deliver a recertification exam process that supports delivery of high quality, affordable, accessible health care To support the flexibility PAs have to change specialties during their career span and to work in multiple specialties concurrently, it is important to maintain the generalist nature of the PA-C credential Our Underpinning Principles

Our Stakeholders Public (Primary stakeholder) NCCPA State PA Chapters PA Students PA Programs & Faculty Policy makers Third party payers State licensing agencies Credentialing bodies Employers Physicians State PA Chapters Our Stakeholders

You Can’t Spell NCCPA without PAs PAs are involved in many important aspects of the NCCPA, and we are passionate about the people of the PA profession. You Can’t Spell NCCPA without PAs

About Certified PAs 123,000+ certified PAs at the end of 2017 PAs are a young profession; 55% are under the age of 40 Average starting salary = $94,646 U.S. News and World Report ranked physician assistant as #3 of the 100 Best Jobs of 2018, and The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the PA profession will grow 37% by 2026. About Certified PAs

2018 Board of Directors Composition 11 PAs, 5 physicians and 2 public members 2018 Board of Directors Composition 7 Physician & Public Members 1 nominee from AMA 1 nominee from AOA 1 nominee from ACP 2 physician Directors-at-Large 2 public members 11 PA Members 7 PA Directors-at-Large 1 nominee from AAPA 1 nominee from PAEA 1 nominee from FSMB President/CEO

PA Involvement in Exam Development Process 70 PA item writers serve on item writing committees, writing questions that appear on PANCE, PANRE and the CAQ exams NCCPA hosted 22 PA team meetings to develop and validate exam questions, review exam forms, set passing standards, and explore advancements to the question generation process PA Involvement in Exam Development Process

PA Involvement in Exam Development Process Exam Development Cycle Item Development Form Development Form Review Exam Administration Statistical Analysis Key Validation Scoring and Reporting Practice Analysis Exam Blueprint Standard Setting PA Roles PA Involvement in Exam Development Process

Certification is a Community Process We could not do this without PA participation Volunteering can be as short as an ad hoc meeting (2-3 days) to as often as an item writing committee (ongoing, multiple meetings yearly) If you’re interested in volunteering, please email volunteer@nccpa.net

Requirements to Earn Your PA-C Graduation from a PA program accredited by ARC-PA (Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant) A welcome email will be sent from NCCPA to each student after the program submits eligibility Students must graduate or complete program requirements before taking the exam Passing Score on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) Students can be certified within 4 weeks of graduation or less in most cases Requirements to Earn Your PA-C

PANCE Quick Glance Computer-based exam administered at Pearson VUE 200+ exam centers (www.pearsonvue.com/nccpa) 300 multiple-choice questions that assess general medical and surgical knowledge Five-hour exam 15 minute tutorial at beginning of exam 5 blocks of 60 questions, 60 minutes each 45 minutes of break time for the entire day PANCE Quick Glance

PANCE: What is on the exam?

Examination Content Blueprint Can be found at www.nccpa.net/ExamsContentBlueprint Two dimensions: Organ systems and the diseases, disorders and medical assessments PAs encounter within those systems The knowledge and skills PAs should exhibit when confronted with those diseases, disorders and assessments Examination Content Blueprint

Distribution (%) of Content by Organ System

Distribution (%) of Content by Knowledge & Skill (Task) Areas

PANCE: Registration, Application and Resources

Register at www.nccpa.net

PANCE Application

PANCE Application – NAME

PANCE Application

Name Confirmation

Exam Acknowledgement Email PLEASE READ!! FULL OF IMPORTANT INFO! Information and link to schedule your exam Policy reminders Preparing for PANCE information and link to exam tutorial/demonstration What to expect on exam day Exam Acknowledgement Email

Practice Exams $50 online Practice Exams 120 questions taken from the exam item banks General performance feedback helps inform your exam preparation Register online the same way you do for a certification exam Practice Exams

Format of Practice Exam Feedback By Exam Content and Task Area Performance band for overall performance Format of Practice Exam Feedback Your mean performance on the test questions in each content area Mean performance of test questions when last administered on exam

You can apply as soon as your program has entered your expected graduation date but no sooner than 90 days prior to your expected graduation date. You will receive an Exam Acknowledgement email from NCCPA 3-5 days after the application process has been completed 180-day exam window (starting 7 days after your graduation date) Details about how to schedule your exam Cost: $500 Applying for PANCE

PANCE Exam Day: What can I expect?

Read ALL correspondence and view a short video at www. nccpa Read ALL correspondence and view a short video at www.nccpa.net for detailed instructions about what to expect on exam day Be sure the name on the ID you will present at the test center matches your name as listed with NCCPA Two forms of valid ID required If you don’t have the appropriate ID, you won’t be able to take your exam! If something goes wrong, call NCCPA before you leave the exam center! (678) 417-8100 Visit www.nccpa.net/ID for list of required ID & acceptable name differences. Exam Day 29

Identification Information Primary ID: The primary ID must be a valid (not expired) original document (not a photocopy or fax) and contain a permanently affixed photo of you, your pre-printed name and your signature. Acceptable examples (as long as they meet the above criteria) are: Driver's license Passport Military ID Student ID Naturalization papers International Driver's License issued by government Employee ID State issued ID Identification Information

Identification Information Secondary ID: The secondary ID must be a valid (not expired) original document (not a photocopy or fax) and contain the examinee's pre-printed name and their signature. Acceptable examples (as long as they meet the above criteria) are: Driver's license Military ID Student ID Employee ID Credit card Social Security card Identification Information For more information about acceptable ID and name differences, visit www.nccpa.net and navigate to: Become Certified > PANCE Registration> Name Changes

Exam Day Arrive 30 minutes early Pearson VUE will take a photo and a palm vein scan each time you enter and leave the testing room Lockers will be provided to store your personal items or leave them at home or in your car 32

You won’t be allowed to bring any personal items into the exam room including but not limited to Watches, bracelets, purses Electronic equipment Hats, jackets, sweaters Food and drink Notes Exam Day 33

Take breaks between exam blocks (scheduled breaks) Take breaks between exam blocks (scheduled breaks). Keep in mind your total break time is limited to 45 minutes. Scheduled Break – occurs BETWEEN exam blocks Unscheduled Break – occurs DURING exam blocks ***Unscheduled breaks do not stop the clock*** Taking long or frequent breaks early may leave you with no break time—even between blocks—later in the day Each time you leave, you will be required to sign out and sign back in upon return. Exam Day Tips 34

Answer every question. Your score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly; points aren’t deducted for incorrect answers You may answer the questions within a block in any order, and you may review and change responses within a block of questions during the time allotted for that section Mark (flag) those that you’re not sure about, and review them if you have time at the end of the block. The computer assists in review of skipped and marked items After you exit a block of exam questions or after time expires for that block, you won’t be allowed to review its questions or change your answers Exam Tips

PANCE: Life after the exam…

After the Exam Do not discuss the exam with others Sharing exam questions or even general subject matter with others constitutes “irregular behavior” and it is considered cheating. It’s just not worth it! If an unusual event or condition occurred during the administration of the exam, document the situation in writing and contact NCCPA within 3 business days of your exam After the Exam We are always there for you at NCCPA.net or 678-417-8100

Did an unusual event or condition occur during the administration of your exam? Report any incident to Pearson VUE staff before leaving and get an Incident Report # Submit information to: examgrievances@nccpa.net Must be submitted within three (3) business days of your exam date Simply reporting your grievance to the test center staff does not constitute a formal examination grievance You may NOT submit an exam grievance for the following: Exam Score Exam Content Exam Grievance 38

When your results are ready (about two weeks after your exam date) you will receive email instructions for accessing your score report available via your online record. To ensure receipt of your score notification email, be sure NCCPA has your current email address. Results 39

Exams/View Results You PASSED!! Score Report Performance Interpretation Guidelines

Policy Keep in mind two key policies: You are limited to taking PANCE one time in any 90-day period or up to three times in a calendar year, whichever is fewer You may attempt PANCE up to six times within six years of your program completion Policy 41

Dashboard – Credentialing Info Release Request certification status and score results be sent to Third Parties Dashboard – Credentialing Info Release Click here to view Previous Requests

Dashboard – My Account/ Personal Info We are always there for you at NCCPA.net or 678-417-8100

CME: Maintaining your certification

Tips for Maintaining Your Certification Get definitive information about your certification only from NCCPA Read all NCCPA correspondence Take personal responsibility for your certification, i.e. don’t delegate Update your personal information: email address, name change, postal address, phone number Log CME as you earn it Save all Category 1 CME documentation Tips for Maintaining Your Certification

Tips for Maintaining Your Certification There’s an app for that! Tips for Maintaining Your Certification Keep track of your Certification Log CME as you earn it! We are always there for you at NCCPA.net or 678-417-8100

NCCPA: Helping PAs Succeed

Questions for NCCPA? CALL: 678-417-8100 Information Service Representatives available to answer your questions Mon - Fri, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (EST) EMAIL: NCCPA@nccpa.net Explore our website at www.NCCPA.net See what other Certified PAs are doing at www.PAsDoThat.net Questions for NCCPA?

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/5-answers-from-nccpa/id1358442966?mt=2 NEW Podcast Series!

Telling the World about Certified PAs Ongoing effort to publish articles and garner positive media attention for Certified PAs Online hub: www.PAsDoThat.net Telling the World about Certified PAs

Connecting with Employers Search hundreds of jobs for Certified PAs Upload your résumé Set up alerts for new jobs Click “Career Center” Link at www.nccpa.net

Thank You! Follow us on: Facebook - @NCCPAcert Twitter - @NCCPAcert LinkedIn – National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants Instagram – nccpa_cert www.nccpa.net

Questions for NCCPA? CALL: 678-417-8100 Information Service Representatives available to answer your questions Mon - Fri, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (EST) EMAIL: NCCPA@nccpa.net Explore our website at www.NCCPA.net See what other Certified PAs are doing at www.PAsDoThat.net Questions for NCCPA?