Physician Assistant Certification A presentation provided by

Presentation Outline 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? 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-at- large

NCCPA’s Mission NCCPA assures that certified physician assistants meet professional standards of knowledge and skills.

Initial Certification 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 Successful completion of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE)

Initial Certification PANCE is offered Year long Students often have the results of their exam within a week

PANCE - What’s it like? Eligibility requirements must be met Eligibility requirements 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

PANCE - Content Blueprint 13 categories of diseases/disorders/assessments

PANCE - Content Blueprint

Apply at

Exam Selection

Enter Identifying Information

Applicant Background

Scheduling Permit Information When you apply, you’ll be notified that electronic scheduling permits are available. – 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 with instructions on how to print your permit at 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 Findley Road Duluth, GA

What to Expect on Test Day Six-hour exam – Four 90-minute blocks of 90 questions Arrive 30 minutes early. Bring your driver’s license and scheduling permit! – 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 Answer every question. (You won’t lose points for incorrect answers.) Mark those that you’re not sure about, and review them if you have time at the end of the 90- question block. (Computer assists in review of skipped & marked items.)

After the Exam Do not discuss the test with others. – 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 New in 2006! NCCPA will provide electronic, online score reports. When we receive your scores (about two weeks after your test date), we’ll instructions for accessing your score report in your secure record online. To ensure immediate access, be sure NCCPA has your current address by signing in to your record and clicking the Make Corrections link.

Receiving Your Scores 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: – 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 Web portals provide participating state licensing boards direct, secure access to PANCE scores within 24 hours of NCCPA’s receiving them. – 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 6-year certification maintenance cycle comprised of 3 two-year blocks – Log 100 hours of CME every two years At least 50 Category I (Preapproved) hours – Pass a recertification exam in year 5 or year 6 Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam (PANRE) or Pathway II

CME Earning Requirements

Defining the Terminology 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: – 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 Category II (Elective) CME – Any other educational or self-learning activity pursued outside of your employment. Some examples: – reading medical journals – postgraduate coursework – precepting – even time spent studying for PANRE

Review of the Requirements 100 CME hours – 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 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 Start earning May 1 of the beginning cycle year (May 1, 2005 for the cycle). Finish by June 30 the year your certificate expires. Current policy allows you to continue earning after June 30 if you pay a late processing fee. 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. Final deadline: certificate expiration date (Dec. 31)

CME Logging Log your CME online as you earn it at NCCPA’s Web site ($80), or use our paper form ($95). 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. Save your Category I CME documentation in case you are audited.

Recertification

PANRE Pearson Vue testing centers Computerized No reference material 5 hours to complete $300

Tips for Maintaining Your Certification 1. Notify NCCPA of all address changes. 2. Know how to access your personal certification record online – it’s your one-stop resource for your certification information. 3. Read all NCCPA correspondence. 4. Understand the requirements. 5. Don’t procrastinate.

More Tips for Maintaining Your Certification 6. Log CME as you earn it. 7. Save your Category I CME documentation. 8. Take personal responsibility for your certification. 9. Get information about certification from the source. 10. Remember that certification is often your ticket to practice—so take it seriously!

When Things Go Wrong The Appeals Process The Disciplinary Process

The Appeals Process Did you have a problem at the testing center? Were you unable to meet CME requirements or take an exam due to unusual or severe extenuating circumstances?

The Appeals Process Should an unusual circumstance arise, document the situation and put your request in writing to NCCPA as soon as possible. – 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 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 – 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 NCCPA Connect: – online access to your certification record – exam application, CME logging, exam results, address changes NCCPA News (quarterly e-newsletter) Or call: (678)

More Resources American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) – Source for Category I CME, job bank, books, journals, annual conference, state chapters, information about review courses – or (703)

Licensure Resources Check with your state board to see whether they have a PANCE Web Portal. Or, download a Release of Information form from NCCPA’s Web site to request your scores be sent to a particular state board. Visit AAPA’s Web site ( for state- by-state information about licensure requirements.

Questions?