NCCPA and Physician Assistant Certification

Jenny Walker, MEdManager of Exam Administration,

NCCPAjenniferw@nccpa.net

678-417-8125

• A Brief Overview of NCCPA• Initial Certification and PANCE• Your NCCPA Dashboard• Overview of the Certification Maintenance

Process• When Things Go Wrong• Tips for Maintaining your Certification• Resources• Q&A

Presentation Outline

A Brief Overview of NCCPA

About NCCPA

Celebrating 40 years of certifying

PAs!

●NCCPA is the only national certifying body for PAs

●We are an independent, not-for-profit organization

●NCCPA has been certifying PAs since 1975.

Our Purpose

To provide certification programs that reflect

standards for clinical knowledge,

clinical reasoning and other medical skills and professional behaviors

required upon entry into practice and

throughout the careers of physician assistants

Our Passion

NCCPA is dedicated to serving the interest of the public.

We so do with a passionate belief that certified PAs are essential members of the health care

delivery team who provide millions access to more affordable, high quality health care.

Our Board of Directors

The Board includes 10 PAs, 7 physicians and 2 public members, including nominees from...

• American Academies of:─ Family Physicians─ Pediatrics─ Physician Assistants

• American Colleges of:─ Emergency Physicians─ Physicians

• American Medical Association• American Osteopathic

Association• Association of American Medical

Colleges• Federation of State Medical

Boards• PA Education Association• US Department of Veterans

Affairs

About Certified PAs

● 102,848 currently certified PAs

● Approximately 7,435 new PAs certified last year

● PAs are a young profession; 52% are under the age of 40*

*Based on NCCPA PA Profile data as of February 2015.

33%

67%

Initial Certification and PANCE

There are currently:

−196 ARC-PA accredited entry level programs

−8 ARC-PA accredited clinical postgraduate programs

−55 additional “potential” programs may be added by 2018

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

• Passing Score on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE)– Students can be certified within 4 weeks of

graduation or less in most cases

Initial Certification

Examination Content Blueprint

Two dimensions:1. Organ systems and the diseases,

disorders and medical assessments PAs encounter within those systems

2. The knowledge and skills PAs should exhibit when confronted with those diseases, disorders and assessments

Cardiovascular

Pulmonary

GI/Nutrition

Musculoskeletal

EENT

Reproductive

Endocrine

Neurological

Psych & Behavior

Genitourinary

Dermatologic

Hematologic

Infectious Disease

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

16

12

10

10

9

8

6

6

6

6

5

3

3

Distribution (%) of Content by System

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

• Computer-based exam administered at Pearson VUE200+ testing 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 – What’s It Like?

• 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.

• Then 24-48 hours after you apply, you will receive an Exam Acknowledgement email from us.– 180-day exam window (starting no earlier than 7

days after your graduation date)– Details about how to schedule your exam

• If you need testing accommodations, make sure you indicate that when you apply for the exam.

• Cost: $475

Applying for PANCEApplying for PANCE

Register at www.nccpa.net

First Time Sign InFirst Time Sign In

PANCE Application

PANCE Application

YOUR NAME SHOULD READ AS IT APPEARS ON PRIMARY ID

YOUR ADDRESS

YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

XXX-XXX-XXXX

XXX-XXX-XXXX

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

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 > About PANCE > Name Changes

PANCE Application

PANCE Application

Date Applied

This is your PANCE Confirmation Page – the FINAL step in the application process!

Exam Acknowledgement Email with hyperlinks to Pearson VUE to schedule your exam

Exam Acknowledgement Email

PLEASE READ ME!!

I AM FULL OF IMPORTANT

INFO!

Read ALL correspondence for detailed instructions about what to expect on exam day.

Arrive 30 minutes early.

Two forms of valid ID required• If you don’t have the appropriate ID, you won’t be able

to test!• If something goes wrong, call NCCPA before you leave

the test center! (678)417-8100

Pearson VUE will take a photo and a palm vein scan.

View a short video about what to expect on test day at www.nccpa.net.

Test Day Tips

You won’t be allowed to bring any personal items into the testing room.

Lockers will be provided to store your personal items.

Test Day Tips

• 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 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 test questions or after time expires for that block, you won’t be allowed to review its questions or change your answers.

Test Day Tips

Take breaks between exam blocks (scheduled breaks). Keep in mind your total break time is limited to 45 minutes.

– 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.

Test Day Tips

• Do not discuss the test with others.

Sharing exam questions or even general subject matter with others constitutes “irregular behavior” and is considered 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 business days of your exam.

After the Exam

Did something interfere with your exam or go wrong at the test center?

– Report any incident to Pearson VUE staff before leaving.

– Submit information to: examgrievances@nccpa.net

– Must be submitted within 3 business days

After the Exam

To read more about filing an exam grievance, go to the following link:

Exam Grievance

• NCCPA provides score reports online.

• When your results are ready (about two weeks after your test date), you will receive email instructions for accessing your score report on your Dashboard.

• To ensure immediate access, be sure NCCPA has your current email address by signing in to your Dashboard and updating your personal information.

After the Exam

• Passing rate for first-time takers: around 94.7%; overall about 87%

• 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 taking PANCE one time in any 90-day period or up to three times in a calendar year, whichever is fewer.

After the Exam

• Exams are scored in two different systems to ensure accuracy.

• Periodically, the passing standard is evaluated.

• Standard setting committee includescertified PAs and physicians who have experience working with PAs.

Scoring PANCE

• They review questions from the exam and develop a recommended passing standard.

• NCCPA Board of Directors makes the final decision.

PANCE is a criterion-referenced examination.

Scoring PANCE

X

• Scores are based on the number of correct responses.

• PANCE passing standards are not normative (not scored on a curve).

• If 100% of the candidates meet the specified passing criteria, then 100% will pass the examination.

Scoring PANCE

Your NCCPA Dashboard

Dashboard

Date you applied

Date you submitted payment

Dashboard – Professional Profile

Dashboard - Payments

Click here to view PDFs of receipts for payments that you

have made to NCCPA.

Dashboard – Exams/Open Applications

Date you applied

Dashboard – Exams/View Results

Date that you tested Date you

tested

Passor

Fail

Click here to view PDFs of exam performance reports.

• $35 online Practice Exams

• 120 questions taken from the test item banks

• General performance feedback helps inform your exam preparation.

• Register online the same way you do for a certification exam.

About Practice Exams

Format of Practice Exam Feedback

Dashboard – Practice Exams/Order/Launch

Dashboard – Practice Exams/Exam Results

Date ordered

Date ordered

Date Completed

Date Completed

PDF of Practice Exam Feedback

Dashboard – Credentialing Info Release

Click here to view Previous Requests

Dashboard – My Account/Personal Info.

Your Name

Your Current Address

Your most current email address

Home Telephone Number

Cell Phone Number

Dashboard – My Account/Correspondence

Dashboard – My Account/Acknowledgements

Date Acknowledged

Dashboard – My Account/Agreed-to-Policies

Date You Agreed to Policy

Date You Agreed to Policy

Date You Agreed to Policy

Date You Agreed to Policy

Your Name

Your Name

Your Name

View uploaded documents here

Overview of the Certification Maintenance

Process

1. Continuing Medical Education (CME)• 100 credits every 2 years– at least 50 Category 1

• at least 20 self-assessment and/or performance improvement CME credits

2. $130 certification maintenance fee due December 31 of expiration year

3. Pass the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Examination (PANRE) every 10 years

Certification Maintenance Process

Category 1 or 2 (50 credits)

Category 1 (50 credits)

20 Category 1 credits directed towards self-assessment or performance improvement CME

100-Credit CME Requirement (every 2 years)

Another Look at CME Requirement

• Self-assessment is the process of conducting a systematic review of one’s own performance, knowledge base or skill set, usually for the purpose of improving future performance, expanding knowledge or honing skills.

• Self-assessment activities often involve a learning experience.

• Examples…

More on Self-Assessment (SA)

AAPA’s Learning Central

Self-Assessment Activities

Currently: 165+ self-assessment CME activities in many different specialty areas

$0 to $400 depending on the sponsor and the number of credits offered

• PI-CME is active learning and the application of learning to improve your practice.

• Can be done in partnership with your supervising physician and others in practice– Everyone can work on and get credit for PI-CME

together

• Three-step process:1. Compare some aspect of practice to national benchmarks,

performance guidelines or other established evidence-based metric or standard.

2. Based on the comparison, develop and implement a plan for improvement in that area.

3. Evaluate the impact of the improvement effort by comparing the results of the original comparison with the new results or outcomes.

More on Performance Improvement (PI) CME

PI-CME Activities

Currently: Over 45 approved PI-CME activities in many different specialty areas

Prices range from $0 to $400 depending on the sponsor and the number of credits offered

1st CME Cycle2nd CME Cycle3rd CME Cycle4th CME Cycle5th CME Cycle

During each cycle, earn 100 CME credits including 50 Category 1 credits with 20 earned through self-assessment or PI-CME activities. 

By the end of your 4th CME cycle, you must have earned at least 40 Category I CME credits through SA activities and at least 40 Category 1 CME credits through PI activities.

Earn 100 CME credits (including 50 Category 1) and pass PANRE

Certification Maintenance Illustrated

When Things Go Wrong

• Were you unable to meet CME requirements or take an exam due to unusual or severe extenuating circumstances?

• Are you a military PA on active duty in a combat zone?

• Requests for exceptions to policy and exam grievances are reviewed by staff.

• Adverse staff decisions may be appealed to the Review Committee.

The Appeals Process

To read more about filing an exception to policy, go to the following link:

http://www.nccpa.net/Legal#ExceptionstoPolicy

Exception to Policy

• 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

Code of Conduct of Certified and Certifying PAs

• Specifies consequences for irregular behavior 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

NCCPA Disciplinary Policy

Disciplinary Case Origination

• Self-reports from PAs during certification maintenance process; must answer every two years– Adverse licensure actions– Misdemeanors and felonies– Adjudication of mental incompetence

• Reports on state board actions provided by the FSMB

• Individual state medical boards and/or federal entity reports

• Individual complaints

Potential Disciplinary Actions

• Issue a Letter of Concern

• Issue a Letter of Censure

• Revocation – of Certification – of Eligibility

Tips for Maintaining Your Certification

Tips for Maintaining Your Certification

1. Go to NCCPA web site to update any postal or e-mail address changes

2. Read all NCCPA correspondence

3. Log CME as you earn it

4. Save your Category 1 CME documentation

5. Take personal responsibility for your certification, i.e. don’t delegate

6. Get definitive information about your certification only from the source

Tips for Maintaining Your Certification

Log CME as you earn it.

There’s an app for that!

(Android version coming later this year.)

Resources

• Website: www.nccpa.net– online access to your certification Dashboard– exam application, CME logging, exam results,

address changes– Videos and more on how to obtain and

maintain certification

• E-mail: nccpa@nccpa.net

• Or call: (678) 417-8100

NCCPA Resources

• Use Credentialing Information Release link from your NCCPA dashboard 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.

Licensure Resources

Questions?