Certificate and CME Licensing Information

Visit the NCCPA Web site for detailed information regarding the certification and licensing process. NCCPA became the only CME logging body effective 2002-2004 logging cycle. You can register for the exam only if you graduate from an accredited PA program.

Beginning in 2002, the NCCPA increased the testing windows from 9 weeks to 34 weeks. There will be three testing windows to better accommodate all students. PA programs are demanding that only students who have completed all graduation requirements be allowed to take the exam.

• January 14 - March 15; December, January, and February grads are eligible for all three windows
• May 15 - August 15; March, April, May, June, July grads are eligible for number two and number three
• September 3 - November 30; August, September, October grads are eligible for this window

You will recieve specific instructions regarding the exam at Sylvan Centers approximately one month after you submit your application. You must score between 64% and 75% correct answers, depending on the version of your test. You can retake the exam as many times as you need without any waiting period.

If you cannot wait for the results to be mailed (within three weeks), you can call NCCPA at (770) 734-4500 to get your scores approximately 10-14 days after you sat for the exam.

Before or after you sit for the exam, you need to write, fax, or e-mail Sherri Gravitt (sherrig@nccpa.net), NCCPA CME Logging, with a request that your scores be sent to the appropriate state agencies to which you are applying for licensure. You need to include your full name, social security number, and birth date. It is your responsibility to make sure this is done.

You start earning CME from the date on your certificate, not the date you took the exam. You can log your CME online or by paper method. It is cheaper online and is formatted for easy use.

Required to have 100 CME hours every two years:

• 50 hours must be category I
• 40 hours must be clinical category I (medicine or patient care)
• Must be approved by AAPA, AAFP, ACCME accredited providers, AOAC-CME (such as AMA, AOA, etc.)
• Optional category II
• Examples include reading medical journals, precepting, studying for the PANRE, completion of academic courses
• Professional: related to PA profession such as Reimbursement/Coding seminars, Medicare issues, state licensure, etc.

You do not have to pay your CME fee initially as you start logging, but you must pay before any CME will count. Beginning in 2003, the re-registration process was eliminated during years two and four of the six year cycle.