CONTRIBUTORS:
Colette Jeffery, M.A., Research Analyst
Dawn Morton-Rias, Ed.D, PA-C, President and CEO
Sheila Mauldin, M.N.M., Vice President of Research and Exam Programs
PUBLISHED IN 2014 | NCCPA
KEYWORDS: Physician Assistant/Associate, PA Workforce Data
INFORMATION:
Message from the President and CEO
On behalf of everyone at the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), I am proud to introduce this first annual Statistical Profile of Certified Physician Assistants. Our hope is that the data presented here serves to underscore the scale on which certified PAs are impacting health care in every state, specialty and setting.
The NCCPA PA Professional Profile – the dynamic database from which much of the information in this report is drawn – was launched mid‐year in 2012. The launch of the Profile was the culmination of several years of work that involved many within NCCPA and our supporting organization, the nccPA Health Foundation. There were still others outside of our organizations who reviewed early versions of the questionnaire and shaped our understanding of the potential for this data collection effort. Most importantly, the PA Professional Profile only has value thanks to the tens of thousands of PAs who have taken time from their busy schedules to answer its questions. To all involved, we say thank you.
Just 18 months after its launch, 80 percent of all certified PAs had contributed data to it, making it by far the most robust source of PA data in existence. As we continue to publish findings – through this report and others to follow – we hope all those concerned with the PA profession and with health care workforce issues find this to be an invaluable source of insight and information.
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About the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is the only certifying organization for the 139,000 physician assistants (PAs) in the United States. The PA-C credential is awarded by NCCPA to PAs who fulfill certification, certification maintenance and recertification requirements. NCCPA also administers the Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) program for experienced, Certified PAs practicing in seven specialties. For more information, visit https://www.nccpa.net.