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Spring 2001
Volume 2, Number 2
(Not receiving this news via e-mail? Let us know if you'd like to help save a tree and reduce postage costs by receiving notification via e-mail when we post the new issue--instead of receiving the newsletter via postal mail. Just send an e-mail to pamelap@nccpa.net, including your name and certificate number or social security number.)
Contents:
- New Certification Maintenance Process, Fee Announced
- New Certification Maintenance Fees Illustrated
- Timeline
for Implementation of New Certification
Maintanance
Process and Fee Restructuring - NCCPA To Assume Responsibility for ALL Logging
- Q&A Corner
- Short Takes
- Dates and Deadlines
- At a Computer Near You...
- Attending the AAPA Conference in Anaheim? See You There!
New Certification Maintenance Process, Fee Announced
Beginning with the 2002-2004 CME logging cycle, the now separate CME logging and reregistration processes will be combined into a simpler certification maintenance process with a single fee:
- $80 for those who use NCCPA’s Web-based certification maintenance system and,
- $95 for those who use the paper forms.
Currently, all PAs already pay an $80 reregistration fee to NCCPA during years two and four of the six-year period between exams. So, PAs who are accustomed to logging CME with AAPA (and thus avoiding the NCCPA logging fee) will see the cost of the certification maintenance process over the six-year cycle increase by the cost of paying the fee in the sixth year--a total of $80-- if they take advantage of the online discount. Those who use the paper forms will experience an increase over six years of a total of $125 (or $15 each in years two and four and $95 in year six).
Under the new fee structure, PAs who are accustomed to logging CME directly with NCCPA and paying the $85 (paper) or $70 (online) logging fee in addition to the reregistration payment will enjoy considerable savings ($130-$175 over six years).
"We examined our costs very carefully, and I’m confident that these new fees represent the true cost for collecting, reviewing, approving and auditing CME submissions, as well as issuing the certificate, providing verifications to third parties and the other administrative services NCCPA provides," says Katherine Adamson, PA-C, MMS, NCCPA president elect.
NCCPA will implement the new streamlined process and fee structure upon assuming administrative responsibility for all of CME logging for certification with the 2002-2004 and 2003-2005 CME logging cycles.
After the separate reregistration application is eliminated, the new certification maintenance process will involve three steps for PAs:
1. logging CME,
2. providing updated contact information, and
3. (optional) responding to NCCPA’s Practice
Survey, a research instrument used to inform
decisions about the content of NCCPA’s exams.
Though PAs are encouraged to begin logging CME as soon as it’s earned, the certification maintenance fee will be payable every two years, in conjunction with the issuance of the updated certificate.
New Certification Maintenance Fees Illustrated
The table below illustrates the effect of the new fee during one six-year cycle for PAs who take advantage of the discounted, online rate.
| Current Logging/ Reregistration Fees |
New Online Certification Maintenance Fee |
Difference | |
| PAs currently
logging CME with AAPA |
Year 2 $80 (reregistration) |
$80 | No change |
| Year 4 $80 (reregistration) |
$80 | No change | |
| Year 6 $0 |
$80 | +$80 | |
| PAs currently
logging CME with NCCPA |
Year 2 $165 or $150 • $85 or $70 (CME logging) • $80 (reregistration) |
$80 | -$85 or -$70 |
| Year 4 $165 or $150 • $85 or $70 (CME logging) • $80 (reregistration) |
$80 | -$85 or -$70 | |
| Year 6 • $85 or $70 (CME logging) |
$80 | -$5 or +$10 | |
|
Timeline for Implementation of New Certification Maintanance Process and Fee Restructuring
If your certificate expires in…
2001 - You may log CME with NCCPA or AAPA; NCCPA’s CME logging fees are $85 (paper) or $70 (online). Also, unless it’s your recertification year, you must submit the reregistration application and $80 fee to NCCPA.
2002 - You may log CME with NCCPA or AAPA; NCCPA’s CME logging fees are $85 (paper) or $70 (online). Also, unless it’s your recertification year, you must submit the reregistration application and $80 fee to NCCPA.
2003 - You may log CME with NCCPA or AAPA; NCCPA’s CME logging fees are $85 (paper) or $70 (online). Also, unless it’s your recertification year, you must submit the reregistration application and $80 fee to NCCPA.
2004 - You will log your CME with NCCPA and pay the new $80 (online) or $95 (paper) certification maintenance fee.
2005 - You will log your CME with NCCPA and pay the new $80 (online) or $95 (paper) certification maintenance fee.
NCCPA To Assume Responsibility for ALL Logging
As reported in the special issue of NCCPA News, mailed in March, beginning with the 2002-2004 CME logging cycle, all PAs logging CME for certification maintenance will be required to submit those hours directly to NCCPA.
Because our new Web-based CME logging system and other new technologies now enable NCCPA to handle all of the administrative responsibilities associated with the credential this organization grants without substantially increasing the cost for any PAs and even saving money for one-third of the PA population, NCCPA’s Board of Directors felt this was the responsible thing to do and the right time to do it.
"Our mission, in part, is to ‘assure the public and others that NCCPA-certified physician assistants meet established standards of knowledge and clinical skills upon entry into practice and throughout their careers,’" says NCCPA President Elaine E. Grant, MPH, PA-C. "It’s difficult for us to do that with authority if we never even have an opportunity to make sure ourselves that the PAs we’re certifying meet our requirements.
"This is an issue that’s been on the table since 1997. But we’ve purposefully waited until we could make this change with minimal financial impact on AAPA members," continues Grant. "We’re doing the right thing at the right time after two years of open dialogue with AAPA about the issues. I’m proud of the approach we’ve taken and am confident that the decisions we’ve made will stand the test of time."
As a result of this policy change, NCCPA is also simplifying the certification maintenance process by combining the now separate CME logging and reregistration processes beginning with the 2002-2004 cycle.
Q&A Corner
Q. How do I change my address with NCCPA?
A. Even if you change your address with the post office and AAPA, you must still contact us directly. Address changes must be submitted in writing. You can fax (770.734.4535), email aliced@nccpa.net or mail us the change.
Short Takes
- NCCPA’s president elect, Katherine Adamson, PA-C, MMS, has been selected for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Biomedical Sciences Corps. Congratulations, Kathy!
- Don’t forget! NCCPA’s policy on carry-over CME’s was revised beginning with the 1998-2000 logging cycle. If you have earned more than 100 CME hours during your two-year logging cycle, the additional CME hours cannot be carried over to the next cycle. However, you can use additional clinical Category I hours towards the Pathway II’s elective component requirement.
Dates and Deadlines
Click here for a current listing of dates and deadlines.
At a Computer Near You...
In an effort to make the certification process more accessible, PAs can now conduct all certification maintenance transactions online.
Online CME logging has been available at NCCPA Connect (www.nccpa.net) since October, and now PAs can complete reregistration applications, register for the recertification exams (PANRE and Pathway II), make payments and view exam results - all online!
The new interactive applications are available in the restricted-access PA Online section of the Web site. To access that section and your personal certification maintenance checklist, click the "Sign In" button on NCCPA’s home page, and follow the simple on-screen instructions.
Attending the AAPA Conference in Anaheim? See You There!
NCCPA staff and Board members will be available to answer your questions about certification issues in person during AAPA’s Annual PA Conference in Anaheim, Calif. at the end of May.
NCCPA’s Information and Resource Room will be located on the second floor of the convention center in room 212A and will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 26 through Wednesday, May 30.
Several of our staff members will be available during those hours to assist you, and members of NCCPA’s Board of Directors will be there on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. A schedule of Board members’ availability will be posted in the room beginning on Saturday.
Also, at NCCPA Connect demonstration terminals, PAs will be able to view their personal certification maintenance records (including the latest exam results) and even log the CME earned at the conference.
Not going to Anaheim? NCCPA representatives will be speaking at several other PA conferences this year, including events in Georgia, Texas, Michigan, New Mexico and Washington.
Already in 2001, we have spoken with PAs at conferences in Arizona, Connecticut and Minnesota.
For a schedule of events, visit the News section of NCCPA Connect at www.nccpa.net.
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