Summary of Board Actions and Issues
The NCCPA Board of Directors met on March 16, 2003. The following summary describes some of the actions taken and issues addressed at that meeting.
Market Study to Assess Viability and Appeal of New Approach to PANRE
In 2002, a Future Development of Recertification Taskforce spent a significant amount of time discussing ways to make the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Examination (PANRE) more practice friendly while preserving the generalist nature of the credential. The model the task force has recommended would include a general practice core coupled with one of four other modules of the examinee’s choice; the four optional modules may include an extended primary care core, general surgery, emergency medicine and orthopedics. Examinees would be given a single, composite score for both modules.
At the March meeting, the Board was presented with cost estimates and a timeline for the development of this new exam format. In response, the Board authorized management to conduct a market study to determine whether this new approach would have appeal and to validate the list of optional modules by determining how examinees would make their selection.
The study is expected to commence prior to or in conjunction with the May 2003 annual conference of the AAPA.
Establish the Passing Standard for Future PANCE
Administrations
The content-based passing standards for NCCPA’s examinations are revisited every three to five years, and the PANCE standard was last set in 1999. In January 2003, a standard setting exercise was conducted by the NBME to provide the Board with information needed to establish the passing standard for upcoming PANCE administrations. The Board accepted the recommendation that arose from the standard setting exercise to maintain the current passing standard for the initial certification exam.
Future Meetings
The Board and its committees will meet in May and November 2003.
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