Coming Soon: The Occupational Medicine CAQ!

NCCPA continues its commitment of striving to meet the credentialing needs for PAs. Leaders of the Association of PAs in Occupational Medicine (APAOM) reached out to NCCPA expressing interest in a CAQ in occupational medicine, and we are pleased to announce that the NCCPA Board of Directors approved adding this specialty to the CAQ program.

The inaugural Occupational Medicine CAQ will be available to PAs in 2025, and NCCPA will soon begin recruiting PAs working in this specialty to serve as the subject matter experts to contribute to the development of this new CAQ.

Nicolette Davis, PA-C, President Elect for APAOM and liaison between the AAPA and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, has this to say: “Other providers working in Occupational Medicine either have or are developing credentials in this specialty, and it was important to the APAOM that PAs were not left behind. We wanted a credential that was developed by PAs for PAs, and we’re excited to collaborate with NCCPA on this initiative.”

The Occupational Medicine CAQ is the third new CAQ to be approved within the past two years. Last year, PAs were able to begin completing the non-exam requirements for the new CAQs in Dermatology and Palliative Medicine/Hospice Care. This year, PAs working in these specialties can be part of the history-making group to take the inaugural CAQ exams that will be administered in April.

NCCPA President and CEO Dawn Morton-Rias, Ed.D, PA-C, ICE-CCP, FACHE, is excited about the expansion of the CAQ program. “NCCPA is committed to supporting PAs to help them advance throughout their careers. A CAQ may not appeal to all PAs or all specialties, which is why it was created as a voluntary credential. We are pleased to be able to work with groups who approach NCCPA with a credentialing need in their specialty. Developing a new CAQ requires extensive collaboration with the specialty organization and PAs working in the specialty, and it’s rewarding to have the opportunity to work directly with so many new faces.”

For more information on the CAQ program and these new CAQs, please visit NCCPA’s website.