BONNIE A. DADIG, EDD, PA-C

Preparing to Take the NCCPA Recertifying

Examination

What is NCCPA?

The only national certifying body for physician assistants

Founded in 1975 Independent, not-for-profit organizationHeadquartered near Atlanta, GeorgiaStaff of 40Governed by a Board of Directors: appointees from 14

organizations, 2 public members, & 4 PA directors-at-large

Participating Organizations

American Academies of:Family PhysiciansPediatricsPhysician Assistants

American Colleges of:Emergency PhysiciansPhysiciansSurgeons

Amer. Hospital Assoc.Amer. Medical Assoc.Amer. Osteopathic Assoc.Assoc. of Amer. Med. CollegesFederation of State Medical

BoardsPA Education Association

US Departments of:DefenseVeterans Affairs

NCCPA’s Mission

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

Examination Content Blueprint

16% History taking & performing physical exams

14% Using lab & diagnostic studies

18% Formulating most likely diagnosis

10% Health maintenance

14% Clinical intervention

18% Pharmaceutical therapeutics

0% Applying basic science concepts

100%

Knowledge, skill and task areas

Examination Content Blueprint

16% Cardiovascular system12% Pulmonary system10% Gastrointestinal/

nutritional system10% Musculoskeletal

system 9% Eye, ear, nose & throat 8% Reproductive system 6% Neurologic system 6% Urinary/renal system

6% Psychiatric/behavioral system

6% Endocrine system

5% Dermatological system

3% Hematological system

3% Infection diseases

100%

Diseases, disorders and medical assessments of:

Applying for PANRE in 2011

No application deadlines.You’ll be assigned a unique 180-day timeframe.The beginning of your exam timeframe will be

determined by when you register for the exam, when you will complete your program, etc.

The first and last day of your exam timeframe will be reflected on the exam acknowledgement you will receive shortly after completion of the application process.

PANRE

If you are in your sixth year, don't forget that you have two attempts to pass the recertification exam and you must wait 90 days between exam dates - so don't wait until the last minute to take PANRE!

Registering for PANRE

You may only take PANRE once in any 90-day period, and you may only take PANRE twice in your fifth year and twice in your sixth year.

You have up to 180 days from the beginning of your exam timeframe to take the exam. These dates will be reflected in your exam application acknowledgement e-mail.

If you apply late in your sixth year, your timeframe will be shorter than 180 days, ending the last test date prior to your certification's expiration.

Registering for PANRE

If your certification expires this year, you must register online at least 45 days before the end of the year.

If you want to register for PANRE with less than 45 days left in your certification expiration year, you must submit a manual application with a shortened timeframe waiver form.

There will be no testing between Dec. 20-31, 2012.

Registering for PANRE

Pearson VUE testing centers are located throughout the U.S.

The Practice-Focused Component

You now have choices if you plan to take the

PANRE. While 60% of the generalist exam will cover the same content as always, the remaining 40% can be directed towards more generalist questions in one of three areas:

Adult medicine Surgery Primary care

Set Up Your NCCPA Online Record

You’ll be prompted to enter your SSN, birth date and e-mail address.

A verification e-mail will automatically be sent to the e-mail address you specified.

Open the e-mail and click the unique link it contains.Establish your password. Sign in to the Web site using your SSN and password to

register for the exam.

PANRE Application Steps

Verify/update your personal contact information.Background information questions.Additional information.Exam policies & procedures.Payment.Affirmation and authorization.Confirmation.

Self Assessment Available

$35 Online self assessment Questions extracted from the current test item banksNCCPA views this not just as being responsive to PAs

but as a positive response to exam security concerns.General performance feedback helps inform your

exam preparation.Register online the same way you’d do for a

certification exam.

What to Expect on Test Day

Four-hour exam 4 blocks of 60 questions, 60 minutes each 240 multiple-choice questions 45 minutes of break time for the entire day

Arrive 30 minutes early.Two forms of ID required.Do not bring any other personal belongings.Read ALL correspondence for detailed instructions about

what to expect on exam day.

PANRE - 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 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, document the situation in writing and contact NCCPA within 3 days of your exam.

Exam Development

NCCPA test committee members, including PAs and physicians from a variety of practice specialties and settings, write all items.

Committees review items for style and to validate every aspect of the question.

Items are then pre-tested. Statistical analyses determine whether the question should be thrown out, returned to the committee, or made part of the NCCPA item bank.

Dynamic process allows questions to be continuously reviewed and updated or eliminated.

Exam Scoring: Standard Setting

NCCPA uses a content-based standard setting process.1. An absolute standard is established.

2. Everyone who meets the standard passes.

Much more sophisticated than norm-referenced standard setting (i.e., the bell-shaped curve)

Accessing Your Scores

NCCPA provides 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.

Scores to State Licensing Boards

You can request your scores be sent to any other board or a potential employer by using the Credentialing Information Release link from your NCCPA personal certification record.

TO PREPARE FOR RECERTICATION

Study Strategies

Never Stop Reading

Read at least one hour per dayIf work or family obligations overwhelms you

one day then you owe two the next day

Privilege versus entitlement

Privilege of participating in patient’s life & health care

Responsibility of learning because it will impact on other individuals

Time Management

Do not limit your study time to practice tests

After Assessing Weakness

Take NCCPA blueprint, develop your plan and start with your weakest areas and

Divide up your study days/hours in the percentage of the blueprint

Learning

Organization of facts into logical format means that the information can be learned and retained for a longer period

Distributed practice assures more learning and retention than cramming

RepetitionCurve of ForgetingIntent to remember

Review Books

After going through once (twice at the max) highlight the correct answer and when you review the book read the stem and the correct answer

Very frustrating when you keep missing the same questions which undermines your confidence

Do not sell your self short

Work with partial knowledge, select items that you think might be right if you do not know the answer

Never select an answer you have never heard of or know absolutely notion about

If you are a slower reader

Answer the clinical vignettes that are long the first time, because you do not have time to return to reread the entire question

Poorer test takers have more difficulty with longer stems and more detail

Pace your self during the test

You have 1 minute per question

Blocks are 60 questions so try to be at 35 at the midway point to give to time if you marked any questions

Analyzing Test Errors on Practice Tests

Did this question cover a topic you reviewed?Insufficient informationTest anxiety

Quit with negative self talk

Write down positive affirmationsRepeat them in the car or times when you

are aloneStop saying “if I pass”Start saying “when I pass the exam”Stop worrying about what others think of

you

Distractions

Test centers offer earplugs

Check prior at the testing center if you can be further into the computer room

Relationship of Motivation to Anxiety

As motivation increases so does the fear or anxiety

Anxiety interferes with both learning and performance

Self-Control of Anxiety

Autogenic training, repetition of phrases, “I feel calm”

Breathing exercisesBiofeedback equipmentStretching exercises to reduce tension even

during the examDesensitization

Test Anxiety

If breathing exercises and other training is not working for you consider medications

De-stress each Day

Take some time to relax each of the major study days

For this short period of time look out just for you

Types of Practice Examinations

1. Kaplan online2. Exam Master3. Test book

computer practice examinations

4. Med Challenger5. Most review

books now have a test CDs

Note Taking & Flash Cards

Today pull out your smart phone

One of my Favorite Books

Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment, Textbook, Website & PocketConsult Handheld Software (Clinical Advisor) (Hardcover) by Fred F. Ferri     About$99.95

Initial section diagnostic and therapeutic information on nearly 200 diseases and disorders

differential diagnosis clinical algorithms laboratory evaluations and clinical preventive services

Type A-MCQ Format

Single best answerStem4 Distracters1 Correct response

Type K

Multiple true-false are no longer on any NCCPA test

Unacceptable Responses

Answers having harmful responses

Prescription for AvoidingCommon Test Errors

Running Out of TimeTime is on the computerRead thoroughly but rapidlyDo not wait to answer questionsMark questions sparinglyAllot 60 seconds for each question

Arguing with the Test

On a standardized test no one gets 100%Poor performing test questions are eliminatedAfter 60 seconds DO NOT THINK about the item again

Failing to Recognize change in Format

Read directionsWatch for change in format

Changing Answers

Rule of thumb-the first answer to occur to you is usually correct

Only change answer if you misread the question or have been cued to answer later in the test

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 the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam (PANRE) in year 5 or year 6 of your six-year cycle (next time you recert you will earn 10 years).

CME: Defining the Terminology

Category I CME –The activity or provider is preapproved by the AAPA, ACCME, AAFP, AMA or AOACCME.

Minimum requirement: 50 hours per two-year cycleHow 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.

CME: Defining the Terminology

Category II (Elective) CME – Any other practice-related educational activity pursued outside of your employment. No minimum requirement.

Category II hours should be logged hour-per-hour.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.

Returning Loggers

Start earning May 1 of the beginning cycle year Finish by June 30 the year your certification expires. You may 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: Certification expiration date (Dec. 31)

CME Logging

Log your CME online as you earn it at NCCPA’s Web site and pay the $80 certification maintenance fee.

CME must be logged by June 30 of the year your certification expires 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

You can register for the recertification exam in year 5 or year 6 of your six-year cycle Provides you up to four opportunities (two per year) to attempt the

exam Less than 1% of PAs need more than two opportunities to pass the

exam.

Taking the exam early in year 5 will NOT change your certification maintenance cycle and you’ll still need to log CME for that two-year cycle!

About PANRE

Computer-based exam administered at Pearson VUE testing centers

300 question, multiple choice examNo reference materials allowed (just like PANCE)Advanced registration and exam fee required.Self-assessment available to help you assess your relative

strengths and weaknesses.

Code of Conduct for Certified &Certifying PAs

Focuses on the ethics and professionalism expected from all PAs holding or seeking NCCPA certification

Two sections focus on the responsibility of certified PAs to uphold the integrity of the

– Certification and recertification processes– Laws, regulations and standards governing PA practice

Developed as a way to clearly communicate expectations to regulators, employers and patients the standards that almost all certified PAs are already upholding

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 Court decision that finds a PA mentally incompetent

LEARNING FROM OTHERS’ MISTAKES

Tips for Maintaining Your Certification

Tips for Maintaining Your Certification

1. Notify NCCPA of all postal and e-mail 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!

Resources

NCCPA Resources

NCCPA Connect: www.nccpa.net online access to your certification record exam application, CME logging, exam results, address

changesNCCPA News (e-newsletter)E-mail: nccpa@nccpa.netOr call: (678) 417-8100

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 www.aapa.org or (703) 836-2272

Licensure Resources

Use Credentialing Information Release link from your NCCPA personal certification record to request your scores be sent to a particular state board or another third party.

Visit AAPA’s Web site (www.aapa.org) for state-by-state information about licensure requirements.

Questions?