The 10-year certification maintenance process includes five two-year cycles during which all Certified PAs must log 100 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits online and submit a certification maintenance fee by 11:59 p.m. PT, December 31 of their certification expiration year. You will need to pass a recertification exam by the end of your 10th year.
Visit the pages below to learn more about recertification options, CME, how to regain certification, and more.
The recertification exam measures the core medical knowledge that is relevant for all clinically practicing PAs, regardless of their specialty or practice setting. Passing the exam helps PAs demonstrate they are staying up-to-date on core medical topics.
PAs now have two options for meeting their recertification exam requirement, and PAs should choose the option that best suits their individual preferences. Both exam options are based on the same content blueprint. With either option, PAs must also meet the Continuing Medical Education requirements. The fee is the same ($350) regardless of the option selected.
PANRE is the traditional recertification exam that is administered in one setting at Pearson VUE test centers. You’re eligible to take PANRE in the 9th or 10th year of the certification maintenance cycle. Here are some highlights of the PANRE process.
2023 PANRE (Secure) Exam
PANRE-LA is the new official alternative to the traditional PANRE that was adopted following the two-year Pilot Alternative to PANRE. It incorporates elements of a longitudinal assessment and is designed to help PAs identify and address knowledge gaps in core medical content. Feedback from PAs who participated in the Pilot helped to inform the design of PANRE-LA. Here are some highlights of the new process.
PANRE-LA may help remove some of the stress and anxiety of taking the recertification assessment, as it can be completed:
Below are the quarterly date ranges when PAs who are registered for PANRE-LA can log in to answer questions in 2023. NCCPA will send email notifications when questions are available and when deadlines are approaching. However, we recommend adding these dates to your calendar to ensure that you don’t miss a deadline.
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2023 |
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| Quarter Starts | Quarter Ends |
| Tuesday, January 3 | Friday, March 10 |
| Monday, April 3 | Monday, June 12 |
| Monday, July 3* | Monday, September 11 |
| Monday, October 2 | Monday, December 11 |
*NCCPA office will be closed in observance of Independence Day and will reopen Wednesday, July 5.
The application window for PAs due to recertify in 2027 is July 5 – November 30, 2023.
Click the links below to download the PANRE-LA Resources. These resources include: Fact Sheet, PANRE-LA blueprint, PANRE sample questions, Podcast, Tutorial, and a message from the NCCPA President and CEO on PANRE-LA.
To honor those who have demonstrated longstanding commitment to lifelong learning, patient care and the certification process, NCCPA will confer the PA-C Emeritus® designation on eligible PAs who apply for the PA-C Emeritus designation, after the expiration of their NCCPA board certification.
Board certified PAs who apply for the PA-C Emeritus designation will be so designated following the expiration of their PA-C board certification provided they meet the following requirements:
Like NCCPA board certification, the PA-C Emeritus designation shall be maintained on two-year, calendar year cycles.
Maintenance requires the completion of a reapplication process prior to the PA-C Emeritus designation expiration date, which will include attestation that the PA continues to meet the requirements established for initial eligibility. The PA-C Emeritus designation shall be suspended if the PA regains board certification and may be restored upon expiration of the regained certification if the PA meets the requirements for PA-C Emeritus status at that time.
PAs with the PA-C Emeritus designation must comply with all applicable provisions of the NCCPA Code of Conduct.
The PA-C Emeritus designation is not the equivalent of PA-C board certification. Those designated as PA-C Emeritus are not considered board certified by NCCPA and
may not hold themselves out as such.
Further, the PA-C Emeritus designation may not be used in any clinical setting or in the context of any clinically related interaction, including clinical volunteer service.
Doing so – or committing any violation of the Code of Conduct or other act that would trigger NCCPA disciplinary review for board certified PAs — will result in review in accordance with NCCPA’s Policies and Procedures for PA Disciplinary Matters.
PAs who have lost certification may regain it by fulfilling CME requirements and passing PANRE.
Exception: PAs who have lost eligibility for certification due to NCCPA disciplinary proceedings must first apply to reestablish eligibility.
Next steps?
You can log your CME credits, apply and pay for the exam online at your personal record.
Detailed information regarding when you are due to take a recertification exam is available on the dashboard of your online record at www.nccpa.net.
You can apply for the recertification exam by signing in to your online record and selecting the “Apply Now” link in the Recertifying Exam Status section of your dashboard.
Within 1-3 days after your application is processed and completed, you’ll receive an exam acknowledgement email from NCCPA with instructions on how to schedule your exam.
They are given in both Celsius and Fahrenheit.
Yes, the normal lab values are provided on a separate screen that displays when examinees click “Lab Values.” Some questions may contain lab values that are not included in the separate “Lab Values” screen. In those cases, the appropriate normal range is provided within the text of the question.
Height appears in centimeters, followed by feet and inches in parentheses. An example would be 175.3 cm (5 ft 9 in). Weight appears in kilograms followed by the pound value in parentheses. An example would be 86.2 kg (190 lb)
The generic name of a drug is always provided. The brand or trade names are also provided if the drug was approved by the FDA within approximately five years or less.
No, K questions are no longer on the exam.
You will be notified by email when the results are posted to your online record (approximately two weeks after your exam date).
You must pass by the end of the tenth year, but you may take PANRE up to two times in the 9th and 10th years of your recertification cycle and up to three times in the 10th year of your recertification cycle, with a maximum of four total attempts.
There is a 90-day waiting period between retakes of the same examination.
The 90-day waiting period on PANRE attempts will be waived when (1) there are fewer than 90 days left in the last year of your recertification cycle and (2) you have not already exhausted all PANRE attempts available for the year. In such cases, one final attempt to pass the exam will be permitted.
No, you do not need to submit your CME before taking PANRE for recertification. However, if you are taking PANRE to regain certification, you must fulfill CME requirements prior to applying for PANRE.
First, there are many similarities between the PANRE and the PANRE-LA. Both recertification exams are based on the same core content blueprint. The questions on both exams are written and reviewed by PAs and medical editors. Both exams have passing standards that are based on recommendations developed by PAs who participate in standard-setting studies, and passing either the PANRE or PANRE-LA fulfills the recertification exam requirement to maintain the PA-C credential.
There are also several differences. The PANRE is administered in a 5-hour timeframe at a proctored Pearson VUE test center, with 4 hours of testing time (which averages one minute per question), 45 minutes of break time, and 15 minutes to review the tutorial. PAs complete the exam during this one scheduled appointment and receive results typically within 2 weeks after completing their exam.
The PANRE-LA has a much more flexible and extended delivery format. Over a period of 12 quarters, PAs will be required to participate in a minimum of 8 quarters. PAs will take the PANRE-LA online and can log in and out of the exam at their convenience, using a range of acceptable devices (tablets, cell phones, laptops, etc.) that are compatible with the exam delivery system. The timing allotment per question is five (5) minutes. In addition, unlike the PANRE that is administered in test centers that does not allow the use of reference materials, PAs participating in the PANRE-LA are allowed to access printed or online reference materials to aid in selecting their responses to the exam questions. Consulting with other individuals on any of the exam content is not allowed and is a breach of the exam policies.
Scoring to determine if the passing standard has been reached will begin after 8 quarters of participation. PAs who reach the passing standard will have met their recertification exam requirement and are exited from the process. PAs who haven’t met the standard at that time can continue taking additional quarters until the end of the three-year process, as needed. After each subsequent quarter, scores will be recalculated using the best 8 quarters of performance to determine the pass/fail status.
The questions included on all NCCPA’s exams are written by Certified PAs. PAs from across the country, working in a wide array of clinical practice areas write the test questions and then convene to review and discuss every question. The topics covered on PANRE and PANRE-LA are based on the core blueprint that resulted from a practice analysis study that included surveying all Certified PAs to gather feedback on the content that would be appropriate for a core recertification exam. Results from these studies were reviewed by panels of PAs to develop the updated content blueprint that is used for both PANRE and the PANRE-LA. The blueprint can be found here.
PAs who are currently certified may choose the PANRE-LA as their recertification exam process. PAs who are due for recertification in 2027 are eligible to apply for the PANRE-LA administration that begins in January 2024. PAs seeking to regain certification are not eligible for the PANRE-LA. PAs who participated in the Pilot Alternative for PANRE but were withdrawn or did not pass the Pilot in the 2019-2020 administration are not eligible to apply for the PANRE-LA to meet the exam requirements that were associated with the Pilot. However, they may be able to apply for the PANRE-LA for future recertification exam cycles. No exceptions will be considered for the eligibility requirements to participate in PANRE-LA.
PAs whose recertification is due in 2024 but who are not passing PANRE-LA by the end of 2024 will be given a 12-month extension to continue participating in 2025. If they do not pass after 12 quarters, they will be given an additional extension of 12 months and will have up to three attempts to take and pass the proctored PANRE before their certification expires.
Similarly, PAs whose recertification is due in 2025 but who are not passing PANRE-LA after 12 quarters will be given a one-time extension of 12 months and will have up to three attempts to take and pass PANRE before their certification expires. Please note that any extensions applied will not affect the next recertification cycle.
Yes, PAs who choose to participate in the PANRE-LA must continue to meet the two-year CME and certification maintenance fee requirements to remain eligible for the PANRE-LA and to maintain their PA-C credential. PAs who do not complete the CME requirements to maintain certification will be withdrawn from the PANRE-LA process and will lose access to all the PANRE-LA content and information.
PAs seeking to regain certification are not eligible to take the PANRE-LA and will need to take PANRE to regain certification.
No, you can only be enrolled in one recertification assessment at a time.
Throughout the PANRE-LA process, NCCPA will be communicating with you via email to provide you with important information. Ensuring that your current email address is on file with NCCPA helps to ensure you get the vital information you need.
PAs will apply for the PANRE-LA in the 6th year of their recertification cycle and will have access to the exam in January of their 7th year. Visit the Recertifying Exam Status section of the PA Portal Dashboard to find out when you are eligible to apply. PAs who are due to recertify in 2027 will be able to apply in July 2023. PAs who want to participate in the new process must complete their application by November 30, 2023.
PAs who are due to recertify in 2027 will need to apply by November 30, 2023.
In 2023, PAs who are due for recertification in 2027 will receive additional information on applying for the exam, and the application period will open in July 2023 and close November 30, 2023. PAs will log in to their personal certification record online through NCCPA’s web site to complete the application process. NCCPA’s mobile app does not support the exam application at this time.
The fee for PANRE-LA is the same as PANRE, $350.00. The fee must be submitted for the application to be processed.
PAs who had extenuating circumstances that caused them to miss the November 30, 2023, deadline may request an exception to policy. The request must be submitted to NCCPA no later than December 15, 2023, for it to be processed in time to begin the exam in January. After December 15, 2023, PAs may submit an exception to policy to apply for the PANRE-LA no later than April 30, 2024.
The first quarter for the PANRE-LA will be available on January 3, 2024.
The PANRE-LA is administered over 12 quarters, and PAs are scored on 8 quarters of questions. In each quarter, 25 questions are administered, with each having a 5-minute time limit. After answering each question, PAs will receive immediate feedback on whether the question was answered correctly or incorrectly and will have access to a rationale that explains why the correct answer is the best response and why the other options are incorrect. PAs will also be provided with references in case they want to read more about the content of the question.
PAs must participate in at least one quarter in the first year and one quarter in the second year. Other than that, PAs may select the 8 quarters they complete, and skip quarters based on their preferences and schedules. However, PAs are encouraged to participate in as many quarters as possible early in the process. After participating in 8 quarters, PAs who have met or exceeded the passing standard will receive notification that they have passed and have met their recertification exam requirement. PAs who have not met the passing standard after 8 quarters can continue participating in the PANRE-LA process until the end of the three-year process. After each subsequent quarter, scores will be recalculated using only the responses from the best 8 quarters to determine if the passing has been met, and PAs will be notified when they have passed. This process allows PAs the opportunity to continue closing their knowledge gaps and improving their performance to hopefully achieve the passing standard before the conclusion of the PANRE-LA administration.
PAs are required to participate in at least one quarter in the first year and at least one quarter in the second year of the PANRE-LA process. PAs who don’t meet this minimum participation requirement will be withdrawn and will lose all access to the PANRE-LA content and information. The PANRE-LA score will be based on eight quarters of exam questions. Other than these requirements, PAs have the flexibility to choose the quarters to participate in; however, they are encouraged to participate in as many quarters as possible early in the process to provide more opportunities to reach the passing score. PAs may be able to complete the exam with a passing score after participating in eight quarters.
No, the PANRE-LA is designed to incorporate the principles of spaced education, spaced assessment, and knowledge retention. Therefore, the structure of the process requires that the exam be administered in smaller sections over a more extended timeframe.
The timeframe for completing questions cannot be extended. If you have met the minimum participation requirement, you may continue in the process. The questions you didn’t answer will be scored as incorrect.
If at the end of the PANRE-LA process, you have not passed and you missed participating in a quarter due to personal health issues only, you may file a request for an exception to the policy. These exceptions to policy are limited to participation in up to two quarters and must be completed in the year immediately following the conclusion of the three-year PANRE-LA process. For additional information, see Exceptions to Policy and Exam Grievances.
The blueprint content categories are covered throughout the quarters. However, before each question is provided, PAs will receive information on the content category for the next question and whether that question includes an image. This way, PAs can make the choice of whether to proceed with opening the question to complete it, deferring the question until later in the quarter in case they want to review information on that content area, or wait to open the question because they want to use another device with a larger screen to view an image.
The exam score is based on the number of correct answers; there is no penalty for guessing, other than incorrect answers are marked as incorrect.
If you have selected a response prior to the time expiring, that response will be scored and marked as either correct or incorrect, based on the response you chose. If you have not selected response, the question will be marked as incorrect.
Throughout the PANRE-LA process, NCCPA gathers data on PA performance through the feedback submitted after each question. Using this data, we are able to customize the exam somewhat, while still ensuring adequate coverage of the exam blueprint. For example, after the first quarter, PAs may receive additional questions on topics they answered incorrectly. This provides PAs the opportunity to demonstrate they have improved their knowledge on the topic since the most recent response to the targeted question will be scored. In addition, we are also able to use the data to provide PAs with questions that are more relevant to their practice, again while still ensuring adequate blueprint coverage.
No, working with others is prohibited. PAs are allowed to use printed or online medical references, but they are not allowed to discuss or share the content of the exam questions or materials with anyone. Doing so is a breach of the exam policies and may result in serious disciplinary actions from NCCPA, including the potential revocation of certification.
No, PAs only have access to the questions they opened during the PANRE-LA process. PAs who participate in a quarter but don’t open all the questions in that quarter will only have access to the content and critique for those questions that were opened.
PAs who don’t want to continue in the PANRE-LA process can submit a withdrawal request by email () to NCCPA at any time. PAs who have not accessed any exam questions and submit a written request to withdraw from PANRE-LA prior to the close of the first quarter on March 11, 2024, will receive a full $350 refund. No refunds will be issued after the closing of the first quarter of the PANRE-LA administration unless the PA has filed a request for an Exception to Policy that has been approved. PAs will lose all access to the PANRE-LA content and information when the withdrawal process is completed. The timeframe to apply for and take the proctored PANRE while still certified will vary depending on the timing of the withdrawal.
PAs may be administratively withdrawn from the PANRE-LA if they don’t meet the participation requirements in the first and second years or if they don’t complete their certification maintenance requirements (earning and logging CME and submitting the fee) that are due while enrolled in the PANRE-LA. In addition, PAs could also be removed from the program due to concerns with exam irregularities or disciplinary actions.
Since the PANRE-LA is not administered at testing centers and has a flexible delivery format, some of the routine accommodations (i.e., separate room, frequent breaks) are not applicable. The exam delivery system accommodates font size and color contrast adjustments. Therefore, the only accommodation provided for the PANRE-LA is extended time per question. The standard time allotment per question is 5 minutes. Based on documented disabilities, PAs may be approved for 1.5 or double-time to answer each question. For clarification, the extended time is per question and not on the overall window for completing each quarter’s questions.
One of the challenges of having a more flexible exam program that can be taken at PAs’ chosen location, on various devices, and flexible schedules is the potential for unstable internet connections or device problems. PAs are encouraged to take their exams in locations where they routinely have strong and stable internet service and on devices that are compatible with NCCPA’s system. We are unable to consider requests to reset questions for completion or to consider exceptions to policy related to internet connectivity or device issues.
PANRE-LA questions are written just like proctored PANRE questions – multiple choice with 5 answer options. But with PANRE-LA, you’ll receive immediate feedback on each question. You’ll see the correct answer, an explanation of why that answer is correct and the other options are not, and resources to support the explanation. Sample questions are available here.
If you have feedback on an item you received, please email . Please include the organ system the question is based on. Feedback will be reviewed first by NCCPA exam development staff and then will be presented to the PANRE-LA item writing committee (a diverse panel of practicing PAs) for review. Questions that are flagged as problematic based on feedback and/or question statistics will be removed from scoring. Please note that you will not receive individual follow-up on the item, but we appreciate your feedback.
Like the proctored exams, PANRE-LA is scored on a scale that accounts for the relative difficulty of the questions an individual PA receives. That means that the passing standard is not tied to a set raw score or percent correct – it will be different for each participant depending on the questions they receive. Your final score will be based on your cumulative performance across 8-12 quarters. In other words, you don’t need to meet the passing standard each quarter.
Additionally, to facilitate learning and reinforce your knowledge, you will receive 5 questions each quarter on topics seen in previous quarters. If you answer a repeat topic question correctly the second time you see it, we will discard the incorrect response and count the better of the two responses. This provides opportunities to improve your performance over time. We recommend reviewing your “PANRE-LA Item History” from time to time, paying closer attention to questions you answered incorrectly.
After each quarter, PAs will receive information on their performance. After participating in 8 quarters, PAs who have met or exceeded the passing standard will receive notification that they have passed and have met their recertification exam requirement. PAs who have not met the passing standard after 8 quarters can continue participating in the PANRE-LA process until the end of the three-year process. After each subsequent quarter, scores will be recalculated using only the responses from the best 8 quarters to determine if the passing standard has been met, and PAs will be notified when they have passed. This process allows PAs the opportunity to continue closing their knowledge gaps and improving their performance to hopefully achieve the passing standard before the conclusion of the PANRE-LA administration.
The PANRE-LA is administered during years 7-9 of the certification maintenance cycle. Therefore, PAs who do not pass the PANRE-LA will have up to 3 opportunities to take and pass the traditional PANRE in year 10 of the certification maintenance cycle before their certification expires.
No, as soon as a passing score has been achieved, PAs are exited from the PANRE-LA process. This helps to reduce exposure to exam content and preserves the integrity of the exam process.
First, before any question is included for scoring on the exam, it undergoes rigorous review processes. Certified PAs write and review each exam question. When those questions are administered, we collect and analyze performance data. Questions that don’t perform within the expected statistical standards are reviewed by Certified PAs and may be removed from the scoring process based on the analyses and the content expert review.
PAs are also provided the opportunity to give feedback on questions as they complete them during the PANRE-LA process. After each question, PAs are asked to provide an indication of the accuracy of the content, and feedback received is analyzed and reviewed in the process noted above.
Yes, PAs who choose to participate in the PANRE-LA must continue to meet the two-year CME and certification maintenance fee requirements to remain eligible for the PANRE-LA and to maintain their PA-C credential. PAs who do not complete the CME requirements to maintain certification will be withdrawn from the PANRE-LA process and will lose access to all the PANRE-LA content and information.
Yes, the AAPA has approved participation in the PANRE-LA as a Category 1 Self-Assessment activity. For each quarter that you complete all 25 questions, you will receive 2 Category 1 Self-Assessment CME credits. For NCCPA certification maintenance requirements, NCCPA will automatically apply the 50% bonus for self-assessment activities, but keep in mind this bonus only applies to NCCPA CME requirements. Awarding CME credits for the PANRE-LA process recognizes the important element of learning that is incorporated into the longitudinal assessment format.
The AAPA determines whether a self-assessment activity will qualify for Category I CME credit, based on data about learning outcomes of that activity. As indicated by its name, the Pilot Alternative to PANRE, was a pilot program conducted in 2019-2020 to help NCCPA gather information to inform future decisions on developing an official alternative recertification process for PAs. While implementing the Pilot Alternative to PANRE, NCCPA conducted extensive analyses on the data obtained as PAs progressed through the assessment to complete the exam questions. One important factor that we analyzed was how PAs performed over time, throughout the Pilot administration, and we looked at this data based on a variety of demographics, such as specialty and years of certification. The result of our analyses showed that every subgroup demonstrated improvement, or learning, throughout the Pilot process. Once we had this information, and as we moved forward with adopting the longitudinal process as an official alternative for recertification, we were able to apply to the AAPA to seek approval for the PANRE-LA as an accredited Category 1 Self-assessment CME activity. This data was not available prior to the completion of the Pilot, and it would have been premature for us to apply for approval for Category 1 CME credit at that time. However, PAs who participated in the Pilot could record that time as a Category 2 CME activity.
As noted above, the AAPA determines whether a self-assessment activity will qualify for Category 1 CME credit, based on data about learning outcomes of that activity. The new PANRE-LA is designed to cover core medical content deemed important for all certified PAs to know, as reflected in the Content Blueprint for PANRE and PANRE-LA. The PANRE-LA assessment process also incorporates the principles of “assessment for learning” which are integral to the longitudinal approach for knowledge assessment. The PANRE-LA, which is administered over an extended period, requires PAs to self-reflect on their level of confidence in their knowledge on each questions/topic covered on the exam, and the PANRE-LA also offers a robust educational component by including explanations and references for each question. This systematic and standardized process facilitates PAs identifying areas on the content blueprint where they may have knowledge gaps or weaknesses and provides information to help strengthen those areas. The entire process epitomizes self-assessment CME, as defined by AAPA:
The AAPA has established criteria that is used to determine if activities are approved for Category 1 CME credit. Based on the design of the PANRE-LA and the information provided to PAs who participate in the process, the AAPA has approved participation in the PANRE-LA as a Category 1 Self-assessment activity. Independent self-directed study would typically not meet AAPA’s criteria for approval of Category 1 CME credit. Of course, PANRE-LA is just one of a multitude of activities that PAs choose to participate in for earning Category 1 CME, and PAs should choose the CME offerings that are most meaningful and relevant to their practice.
The fee is $350.00, and the fee must be submitted for the application to be processed.
PAs who have not accessed any exam questions in the first quarter that the exam launched and wish to be withdrawn from the PANRE-LA may request a refund of their $350 fee by submitting a written withdrawal notice and refund request to prior to the close of the first quarter on March 11, 2024. No refunds will be issued after the closing of the first quarter of the PANRE-LA administration unless the PA has filed a request for an Exception to Policy that has been approved.
To ensure the accuracy and professionalism of CME logging and to strengthen the value of the PA-C, NCCPA randomly audits the Category 1 CME credits of Certified PAs. To complete the CME audit, randomly selected PAs must submit supporting documentation for at least 50 Category 1 credits logged during the cycle for which they are being audited.
PAs being audited are selected by a completely random process. There is nothing that you did or didn’t do that “caused” you to be selected for the audit.
NCCPA audits PAs for a two-year certification maintenance cycle. PAs chosen to be audited will be notified during the year after the PAs previous cycle has ended. A PA could be selected for the audit for up to an entire year after their previous cycle has ended. It is very important for PAs to keep their Category 1 documentation for at least one full year after their two-year certification maintenance cycle has ended. For example: PAs who were audited for the 2013-2015 cycle are notified in 2016.
PAs selected for the NCCPA CME Audit will be notified by the email address and the physical address that we have in your record. Please log into your PA Portal at nccpa.net to ensure that your contact information is accurate.
NCCPA will provide you with a CME Audit Transcript that will list all Category 1 activities logged for the cycle being audited. This transcript will be included in the emailed and mailed notifications sent to you.
Six weeks is the standard amount of time allotted to submit your documentation for the audit. Your exact deadline will be listed in both the emailed and mailed notification correspondence sent to you and will be posted under your “CME” tab, which you can access by signing in to your personal certification record at our website, www.nccpa.net.
If you have a severe and extenuating circumstance which has prohibited you from providing the requested documentation in support of your Category 1 credits, you may request an extension to submit your documentation. NCCPA can grant a one-time only 30-day extension of your original audit deadline. Extensions for longer periods of time cannot be granted. To request an extension of your audit deadline, please submit a written request within the six-week period given to respond to the audit explaining your situation and include any supporting documentation you may have concerning your severe and extenuating circumstance. Requests must be received before the six-week deadline passes. This request can be mailed (12000 Findley Road, Suite 100, Johns Creek, GA 30097), faxed (678.417.8135) or emailed to . Be sure to include your name and NCCPA identification number on the request.
If NCCPA has a valid email address on record, you will receive an official letter via email. If we do not have a valid email address on record, an official letter will be sent via postal mail to the mailing address we have on record for you. The letter will state your new audit deadline date.
Acceptable supporting documentation includes certificates received upon completion of an activity from the CME provider, a hospital-generated list of programs attended, or written verification of attendance or credits earned from the provider of a CME activity. Other documentation may be considered at the discretion of NCCPA. Acceptable documentation for Category 1 credits should state that the activity has been approved by one of our four CME sponsors (AMA, AAPA, AAFP, AOA, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), or the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC)). There should also be a statement indicating the number of Category 1 credits awarded for the individual activity. If the documentation you have for a Category 1 activity does not state this information, the activity cannot be considered Category 1 CME.
What is considered acceptable documentation for certificate programs like BLS, ACLS, or PALS?
NCCPA will accept a copy of the card you received, a certificate of attendance or written verification of attendance or credits earned from the provider of the certificate program.
In instances where the certificate shows the credits earned as “contact hours” or “CEU” credit, the certificate of completion accreditation statement will be thoroughly reviewed to determine Category 1 CME credit eligibility.
Please note: In most cases, NCCPA does not accept Category I CME credit for activities that award contact hours or CEU credit. However, these activities are approved for Category II CME credit.
“Confirmed” credits are Category I credits that NCCPA has received documentation for or Category I credits logged through the Conference Logging System. Since these credits have already been confirmed as Category I, no additional supporting documentation is required.
It takes approximately 7-10 business days for NCCPA to complete an audit. Once your documentation has been reviewed, if we cannot verify at least 50 Category 1 credits, we will notify you via email (or telephone, if you do not have a valid email address on record). NOTE: It is strictly the PAs responsibility to check the status of their audit to ensure NCCPA has received the appropriate documentation.
Sign in to your personal certification record at www.nccpa.net and click on “CME” in the left-hand menu bar then choose “CME Audit Information”.
Yes. Additional Category I CME credits can be submitted to meet the audit requirements as long as the credits have not been previously logged to meet certification maintenance requirements and the credits were earned within the earning window of the cycle that is being audited. Acceptable documentation will have to be submitted in order to have these credits applied to the audited cycle.
PAs who are unable to submit supporting documentation for at least 50 Category I credits will fail the CME audit and will automatically be audited for their new cycle.
NCCPA will send an official email to you once your audit has been completed. If we do not have a valid email address, an official letter will be mailed to the address we have on record for you.
PAs who fail the audit because they reported Category I CME credits that could not be substantiated, that were erroneously reported as Category I activities, or that were incorrectly categorized as self-assessment or performance improvement CME will retain certification but will be audited again during the next two-year certification maintenance cycle and will be subject to the following additional requirements which must be completed prior to the expiration of their current two-year NCCPA certification including:
In the second audit, PAs are required to submit appropriate documentation to NCCPA as they log their Category I and II CME credits. This documentation includes certificates of completion (for Category I CME credits), and all CME must be logged on an NCCPA paper logging form. If all required CME credits (including replacement credits) are not earned, logged and documented before the end of the certification expiration year, certification will lapse.
PAs who successfully maintain certification during the second audit, including completing the requirements specified above for the failed audit, will also be subject to an additional audit of their Category I credits in at least one of their next three certification maintenance cycles.
The CME Audit Detail Report is your audit transcript that shows which Category I credits have been verified by NCCPA and any discrepancies in activity information that was logged (i.e., incorrect sponsor, incorrect provider, incorrect activity name and/or date).
The 10-year certification maintenance cycle will include five, two-year CME cycles. Every two-year cycle, you will need to earn and log 100 CME credits, including 50 Category 1 credits. You will need to pass PANRE by the end of your 10th year, and you have two options for the recertification exam – PANRE-LA, which is an online exam, or PANRE, the proctored exam administered at Pearson VUE test centers. PAs who choose the PANRE-LA must apply for that exam in the 6th year and the exam is administered in years 7-9. PAs who choose the PANRE option may apply and take that exam in years 9-10. Additional details on the recertification exams are provided in the recertification section of the FAQs.
Your CME credits should be earned and logged by 11:59 p.m. PT, December 31 of your certification expiration year along with submitting the certification maintenance fee. Sign in to your personal certification record to view any outstanding requirements and upcoming deadlines.
NCCPA accepts Category 1 CME credit for activities designated by the AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME. Acceptable supporting documentation for Category 1 credits includes certificates, a hospital-generated list or transcript of CME activities attended, or written verification of attendance of credits earned from the accredited provider. The documentation should indicate the PA’s name, the name of the accredited ACCME organization, the title and date of the CME activity, and the number of credits designated for Category 1 Credit. If the documentation does not state this information, the CME activity should be logged as Category 2 CME.
Sign into your personal record and follow these instructions.
Credits earned on or after May 1 of your current certification expiration year can be transferred to the next cycle if both of the following conditions exist:
Taking a proctored NCCPA exam (i.e., PANCE, PANRE) does not qualify for Category 1 CME credit. However, you may claim your studying, preparation, and reading time for Category 2 CME credit.
The AAPA has approved participation in the PANRE-LA as a Category 1 Self-Assessment activity. For each quarter that you complete all 25 questions, you will receive 2 Category 1 Self-Assessment CME credits. For NCCPA certification maintenance requirements, NCCPA will automatically apply the 50% bonus for self-assessment activities, but keep in mind this bonus only applies to NCCPA CME requirements. Awarding CME credits for the PANRE-LA process recognizes the important element of learning that is incorporated into the longitudinal assessment format.
Simply log the exact number of credits earned according to your certificate with up to two decimal places (i.e., 1.75, 2.5, etc.)
You can earn Category 1 credit for certain certification programs. View a complete list of certification programs.
The maximum number of Category 1 credits that you can earn as an instructor is included in the list of certification programs. However, you may only log those instructor credits once each year (or twice per logging cycle) regardless of how many times you actually teach the course. Additionally, duplicative instructing activities may be logged for Category 2 credit based on the number of hours spent preparing for and teaching the course.
The ATLS course does count for Category 1 (Preapproved) CME credit even though you did not receive a card or certificate for completing the course. You should have received a “letter of audit” indicating that you attended the course. If you are audited by NCCPA, the letter of audit (with a date listed) from the CME provider will be sufficient documentation of the activity.
You can earn Category 1 credit for delivering lectures to PA students or other medical professionals if the attendees receive documentation that the activity is approved for Category 1 credit. If the lecture was not preapproved for Category 1 credit, you can log time spent preparing for and delivering the lecture as Category 2 credit. Category 2 CME is earned on an hour-for-hour basis.
There are no maximums on the number of credits that you can earn for any Category 2 activity. All Category 2 credits are earned on an hour-for-hour basis.
The activity start and end dates are the dates the provider lists on the documentation as the date the activity began and ended.
Category 2 CME is any medically related activity that enhances the role of a PA (including journal reading). If you serve on committees at the local, state, or national level that meet those qualifications, you may log the time you spend on committee work for Category 2 credit.
CME earning windows always open on May 1. You can begin earning and logging CME credits for your next cycle on May 1 during the certification expiration year of your current cycle.
Sign in to your online portal at www.nccpa.net/sign-in. Select the CME menu. Under the CME Details tab, select the appropriate CME Cycle Year to view the transcript. If you desire to print the transcript, select the Print button.
NCCPA provides the option to upload Category 1 CME documentation during the logging process; however, you should keep your Category 1 CME documentation for your current CME cycle and your last CME cycle in case you are audited and additional information is needed. For example, if you are currently on the 2019-2021 CME cycle, you need to keep that documentation and the 2017-2019 CME cycle documentation. NCCPA does not audit Category 2 CME.
Check with your state medical board regarding their individual auditing and documentation requirements.
Acceptable supporting documentation includes certificates received upon completion of an activity from the CME provider, a hospital-generated list of programs attended, or written verification of attendance or credits earned from the provider of a CME activity. Other documentation may be considered at the discretion of NCCPA. Acceptable documentation for Category 1 credits should state that the activity has been approved by one of our four CME sponsors (AMA, AAPA, AAFP, AOA, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), or Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada (PACCC)). There should also be a statement indicating the number of Category 1 credits awarded for the individual activity. If the documentation you have for a Category 1 activity does not state this information, the activity cannot be considered Category 1 CME.
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In instances where the certificate shows the credits earned as “contact hours” or “CEU” credit, the certificate of completion accreditation statement will be thoroughly reviewed to determine Category 1 CME credit eligibility.
Please note: In most cases, NCCPA does not accept Category 1 CME credit for activities that award contact hours or CEU credit. However, these activities are approved for Category 2 CME credit.
NCCPA will accept a copy of the card you received, a certificate of attendance, or written verification of attendance or credits earned from the provider of the certificate program.
PAs who have let their NCCPA certification lapse may regain it by fulfilling CME requirements and passing the proctored PANRE. PANRE-LA cannot be used to regain certification.
To be eligible to apply for PANRE to regain certification, you must first log at least 100 Category 1 CME credits earned within the two-year period ending on the date your PANRE application is submitted to NCCPA.
For example, if you plan on applying for PANRE on September 1, 2023, your CME earning window will be September 1, 2021 – September 1, 2023. You can apply any CME credits that you have previously earned within the timeframe mentioned above.
You will be eligible to apply for PANRE as soon as you meet the CME requirement (100 Category 1 CME earned within the two-year period ending on the date your PANRE application is received.)
PAs may take PANRE only one time in any single 90-day period.
There is no limit on the number of attempts to take PANRE for regaining certification. However, the 100 Category 1 CME credits earned within the two-year period ending on the date your PANRE application requirement must be met for each exam application.
When you sign in to your online record, you will need to submit your projected exam application date. You will receive your CME earning window based on that projected application date. As you enter your CME credits, the system will calculate your credits and your dashboard will show the amount you have logged and how many are needed.
If you have met the CME requirement, the exam application link will be provided in your dashboard
