Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible to take the Pathway II recertification exam in 2009 if you:
• hold valid NCCPA certification and
• are in the fifth or sixth year of the certification maintenance cycle
• also complete the elective component requirement.

Please note: The last administration of Pathway II will be held in 2010 and therefore, only PAs that will be in their fifth or sixth year by 2010 will be eligible.

Registration Information

Advance registration and fee payment are required. The exam will be delivered via the Web and the exam fee is $475.

PLEASE NOTE: You should test your computer to ensure hardware and software compatibility before you register for the exam or as soon as possible thereafter. In the unlikely event that you find that you will be unable to access the exam over the Web after you’ve registered, you may be allowed to transfer to PANRE. Transfer requests will only be accepted up to four weeks prior to the opening of the Pathway II exam window. Click here for financial implications of transferring to another window.

Shortly after NCCPA receives your application and exam fee, you should receive information about test procedures, and you can always sign in to view the status of your application. To read more about the exam, view the Pathway II content blueprint.

Once the exam begins, you will be able to access your exam by using the Pathway II Access link by signing in to your personal certification record at NCCPA Connect. You may sign in and out of your exam as many times as you like during the six-week examination period by signing in to your personal certification record and using the link. NCCPA will contact you by e-mail the day before the Pathway II exam window opens to remind you how to access the exam.

Though all answers must be recorded through the online examination screens, examinees will have an opportunity to print a copy of the exam after signing in to the online version for use while researching questions. However, each examinee is responsible for ensuring the security of his or her printed copy and destroying the printed copy prior to the submission of the completed online Pathway II exam. Though it is permissible to seek assistance with individual questions, under no circumstances should the printed version of the exam be given to another person or reproduced in any way for later use.

To complete the exam, be sure to read the on-screen instructions carefully to ensure that you accurately record and save your responses as you complete your Pathway II examination and then submit it for scoring upon completion. Only responses entered online before midnight (Pacific time) on the last day of the exam period will be scored.

Computer Requirements

To take NCCPA’s Web-based Pathway II exam, you must have access to a computer through which you can access the Internet. Because computer hardware and software vary widely, as does individuals’ tolerance level for the timing of downloads and other online activities, the best way to be certain that you have adequate hardware, software and accessibility is to try it.

To test the functionality of your equipment with the software that will be used to administer the Pathway II exam, please sign in to your personal certification record and click on the Pathway II Exam Access link in the left menu bar. You’ll have the opportunity to ensure that you will be able to view the exam using the computer of your choice and identify settings or software that may need to be updated or changed for optimal viewing. In addition, you will be able to view the tutorial for the exam which will familiarize you with the screen layout and the different tools you will use to navigate through the exam. We encourage you to complete the tutorial before you register for the exam or as soon as possible thereafter.

Printing the Pathway II Exam

Pathway II examinees desiring to print a copy of their exam to carry with them will have that option, although all examinees are reminded that only answers entered online during the exam administration will be scored.

If you’re unsuccessful in downloading the PDF version of the Pathway II exam, please download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Self Assessment

Trying to decide whether to take PANRE or the Pathway II recertification exam? To assist PAs in making their decision, NCCPA now offers a PANRE self assessment, which provides you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the format and style of the questions and the time constraints associated with the proctored exam.

The self assessment includes 120 multiple-choice questions that have been extracted from the actual test item banks. PAs register online for the self assessment and may immediately begin the 120-minute assessment or choose to complete it later at a more convenient time. The self assessment will be available for 180 days from the registration date.

Priced at $35, the self assessment is a tool to help you decide which recertification exam to attempt. In addition, performance feedback will help you assess your relative strengths and weaknesses as you prepare for the recertification exam.

Note: Since the Pathway II exam is an open-book, untimed exam, NCCPA was unable to create a self assessment that adequately mirrored the actual Pathway II recertifying exam experience.

Questions about the Self Assessment? Find answers to frequently asked questions or sign in to your personal certification record to get more information.

Ready to register?

To access the Pathway II or the self assessment application, you will need to sign in to your personal certification record. When registering for the Pathway II exam, be sure that NCCPA has your current e-mail address. You can make changes to your e-mail address and other contact information during the exam application process.

Sign in to register online.

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