nccpa and pa certification...2/23/2017 4 initial certification and pance initial certification...
TRANSCRIPT
2/23/2017
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NCCPA and PA Certification
Greg P. Thomas, PA‐C Emeritus
Director of External Relations
Presentation Outline
Brief Overview of NCCPA
Initial Certification and PANCE
Your NCCPA Dashboard
Overview of the Certification Maintenance Process
When Things Go Wrong
Tips for Maintaining your Certification
Resources
Brief Overview of NCCPA
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Our Purpose
To provide certification programs that reflect
standards for clinical knowledge, clinical
reasoning and other medical skills and
professional behaviors required upon entry into
practice and throughout the careers of physician
assistants.
Our Mission is More than Creating Exams
NCCPA is committed to helping you maximize
the safe, productive, and competent practice of
medicine by certified PAs.
About NCCPA
Only national certifying body for PAs
Certifying PAs since 1975
Passionate about PAs and the patients you serve
‐ Rely on PA practice data to inform our certification programs
‐ Publish statistical reports to inform employers, policy makers, the media, patients and others
‐ Promote qualifications and roles of certified PAs to various audiences (physicians, employers, state medical boards, public, etc.)
‐ Engage in significant communications/PR efforts on your behalf: www.PAsDoThat.net
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2017Board Composition
PA Members
• 6 PA Directors-at-Large• 1 nominee from AAPA• 1 nominee from PAEA• 1 nominee from FSMB• Immediate past chair• President/CEO
11 PAs, 4 physicians and 1 public member
Physician & PublicMembers
• 1 nominee from AMA• 1 nominee from AOA• 1 nominee from ACP• 1 nominee from AAP• 1 public member
But that’s only part of the story…
PA Involvement with NCCPA Adds Up
51 PA item writers serve on item writing committees, writing questions that appear on PANCE, PANRE and the CAQ exams
59 PAs spent three days with us working to identify content that represents core medical knowledge
15 PAs serve on promotion and publicity councils, supporting our efforts to generate story ideas and press coverage for the profession
In 2016, NCCPA hosted 58 PA team meetings to develop and validate exam questions, set passing standards
PA Involvement With NCCPA
72 PAs served on 2015 Practice Analysis workgroups, helping identify the knowledge, skills and abilities that were included on that survey
Approximately 16,000 PAs responded to the Practice Analysissurvey
Over 100,000 PAs have completed the PA Professional Profile
In 2016, 55 PAs participated in a 3‐day focus group to talk about PANRE
More than 30,000 participated in nationwide survey of all certified PAs about proposed new PANRE model
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Initial Certification and PANCE
Initial Certification
Graduation from a PA program accredited by ARC‐PA (Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant) ‐ Students must graduate or complete program requirements before taking the exam
Passing Score on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE)‐ Students can be certified within 4 weeks of graduation or less in most cases
Examination Content Blueprint
Two dimensions:
1. Organ systems and the diseases, disorders and medical assessments PAs encounter within those systems
2. The knowledge and skills PAs should exhibit when confronted with those diseases, disorders and assessments
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Distribution (%) of Content by System
Distribution (%) of Content by Knowledge and Skill (Task) Areas
PANCE –What’s it Like?
Computer‐based exam administered at Pearson VUE ‐‐200+ testing centers (www.pearsonvue.com/nccpa)
300 multiple‐choice questions that assess general medical and surgical knowledge
Five‐hour exam‐ 15 minute tutorial at beginning of exam
‐ 5 blocks of 60 questions, 60 minutes each
‐ 45 minutes of break time for the entire day
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Applying for PANCE
You can apply as soon as your program has entered your expected graduation date but no sooner than 90 days prior to your expected graduation date.
Then 24‐48 hours after you apply, you will receive an Exam Acknowledgement email from us.‐ 180‐day exam window (starting no earlier than 7 days after your graduation date)
‐ Details about how to schedule your exam
If you need testing accommodations, make sure you indicate that when you apply for the exam.
Cost: $475
First Time Sign In
Register at www.nccpa.net
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PANCE Application
PANCE Application
YOUR NAME SHOULD READ AS IT APPEARS ON PRIMARY ID
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
XXX‐XXX‐XXXX
XXX‐XXX‐XXXX
PANCE Application
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PANCE Application
This is your PANCE Confirmation Page –the FINAL step in the application process!
Date Applied
Exam Acknowledgement Email
Exam Acknowledgement Email with hyperlinks to
Pearson VUE to schedule your exam
PLEASE READ ME!!
I AM FULL OF IMPORTANT
INFO!
Test Day Tips
Read ALL correspondence for detailed instructions about what to expect on exam day
Arrive 30 minutes early
Two forms of valid ID required−If you don’t have the appropriate ID, you won’t be able to test!
Pearson VUE will take a photo and a palm vein scan
If something goes wrong while registering at test center, call NCCPA before you leave the test center! (678)417‐8100
View a short video about what to expect on test day at www.nccpa.net
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Identification Information
• Primary ID: The primary ID must be a valid (not expired) original document (not a photocopy or fax) and contain a permanently affixed photo of you, yourpre‐printed name and your signature.
• Acceptable examples (as long as they meet the above criteria) are: ‐ Driver's license
‐ Passport
‐ Military ID
‐ Student ID
‐ Naturalization papers
‐ International Driver's License issued by government
‐ Employee ID
‐ State issued ID
Identification Information
• Secondary ID: The secondary ID must be a valid (not expired) original document (not a photocopy or fax) and contain the examinee's pre‐printed name and their signature.
• Acceptable examples (as long as they meet the above criteria) are:‐ Driver's license
‐ Military ID
‐ Student ID
‐ Employee ID
‐ Credit card
‐ Social Security card
For more information about acceptable ID and name
differences, visit www.nccpa.net and navigate
to:Become Certified > About PANCE > Name Changes
Test Day Tips
•You won’t be allowed to bring any personal items into the testing room.•Lockers will be provided to store your personal items.
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Test Taking Tips
Answer every question. Your score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly; points aren’t deducted for incorrect answers.
You may answer the questions within a block in any order, and you may review and change responses within a block of questions during the time allotted for that section.
Mark those that you’re not sure about, and review them if you have time at the end of the block. The computer assists in review of skipped and marked items.
After you exit a block of test questions or after time expires for that block, you won’t be allowed to review its questions or change your answers.
Test Day Tips
• Take breaks between exam blocks (scheduled breaks). Keep in mind your total break time is limited to 45 minutes. ‐ Unscheduled breaks do not stop the clock.
‐ Taking long or frequent breaks early may leave you with no break time—even between blocks—later in the day.
• Each time you leave, you will be required to sign out and sign back in upon return.
After the Exam
Do not discuss the test with others.
Sharing exam questions or even general subject matter with others constitutes “irregular behavior” and is considered cheating. It’s just not worth it!
If you had any problems at the testing center, document the situation in writing and contact NCCPA within 3 business days of your exam.
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After the Exam
Did something interfere with your exam or go wrong at the test center?
Report any incident to Pearson VUE staff before leaving.
Submit information to: [email protected]
Must be submitted within 3 business days
Exam Grievance
To read more about filing an exam grievance, go to the following link:
http://www.nccpa.net/legal#examgrievance
After the Exam
• NCCPA provides score reports online.
•When your results are ready (about two weeks after your test date), you will receive email instructions for accessing your score report on your Dashboard.
• To ensure immediate access, be sure NCCPA has your current email address by signing in to your Dashboard and updating your personal information.
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After the Exam
• Passing rate for first‐time takers in 2016: 96%; overall: 93%
• If you don’t get that good news after your first attempt, keep in mind two key policies:
‐ You may attempt PANCE up to six times within six years of your program completion.
‐ You are limited to taking PANCE one time in any 90‐day period or up to three times in a calendar year, whichever is fewer.
Scoring PANCE
• Exams are scored in two different systems to ensure accuracy.
• Periodically, the passing standard is evaluated.
• Standard setting committee includescertified PAs and physicians who have experience working with PAs.
• They review questions from the exam and develop a recommended passing standard.
• NCCPA Board of Directors makes the final decision.
Scoring PANCE
PANCE is a criterion‐referenced examination.
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Scoring PANCE
• Scores are based on the number of correct responses.
• PANCE passing standards are not normative (i.e. not scored on a curve).
• If 100% of the candidates meet the specified passing criteria, then 100% will pass the examination.
PAs Involved in Every Stage of the Process
Before the test is administered
‐ PAs participate in the practice analysis to help establish what goes on the exam (every 5‐7 years)
‐ PAs write the exam questions (items)
‐ Once exam forms are constructed, PAs review them for fairness and quality
After the test is administered
‐ PAs participate in an activity called key validation
‐ Questionable items are flagged using statistics and then reviewed for currency, appropriateness, & quality
‐ PAs set the performance standard or the amount of knowledge one has to know to pass the exam (every 3‐5 years)
PA Involvement in Exam Development Process
Exam Development
Cycle
Item Development
Form Development
Form Review
Exam Administration
Statistical Analysis
Key Validation
Scoring and Reporting
Practice Analysis
Exam Blueprint
Standard Setting
PA Roles
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Your NCCPA Dashboard
DashboardDate you applied
Date you submitted payment
Dashboard –Professional Profile
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Dashboard –Payments
Click here to view PDFs of receipts for payments that you have made to
NCCPA.
Dashboard –Exams / Open Applications
Date you applied
Dashboard –Exams / View Results Date that you tested
Date you
tested
PassorFail
Click here to view PDFs of exam performance reports.
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About Practice Exams
$50 online Practice Exams
120 questions taken from previously used test items
General performance feedback helps inform your exam preparation.
Register online the same way you do for a certification exam.
Format of Practice Exam Feedback
Overview of the Certification Maintenance Process
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Certification Maintenance Process
1. 100 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits every 2 years ‐‐ at least 50 credits must be Category 1 (preapproved)
2. $150 certification maintenance fee due December 31 of expiration year (i.e. every 2 years)
3. Pass the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Examination (PANRE) every 10 years
When Things Go Wrong
The Appeals Process
• Were you unable to meet CME requirements or take an exam due to unusual or severe extenuating circumstances?
• Are you a military PA on active duty in a combat zone?
• Requests for exceptions to policy and exam grievances are reviewed by staff.
• Adverse staff decisions may be appealed to the Review Committee.
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Exception to Policy
To read more about filing an exception to policy, go to the following link:www.nccpa.net/Legal# ExceptionstoPolicy
Code of Conduct of Certified and Certifying PAs
• Focuses on the ethics and professionalism expected from all PAs holding or seeking NCCPA certification
• Two sections focus on the responsibility of certified PAs to uphold the integrity of the
‐ Certification and recertification processes
‐ Laws, regulations and standards governing PA practice
• Developed as a way to clearly communicate expectations to regulators, employers and patients the standards that almost all certified PAs are already upholding
NCCPA Disciplinary Policy
• Specifies consequences for irregular behavior and falsely representing oneself as certified
• Provides for the denial or revocation of certification based on‐ Loss of licensure due to documented gross incompetence or
unethical conduct ‐ Conviction of or pleading no contest to a felony‐ Court decision that finds a PA mentally incompetent
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Disciplinary Case Origination
• Self‐reports from PAs during certification maintenance process; must answer every two years
‐ Adverse licensure actions‐ Misdemeanors and felonies‐ Adjudication of mental incompetence
• Reports on state board actions provided by the FSMB
• Individual state medical boards and/or federal entity reports
• Individual complaints
Potential Disciplinary Actions
• Take No Action (not reportable) • Issue a Letter of Concern (not reportable)• Issue a Letter of Censure (reportable)• Revocation (reportable)
‐ of Certification ‐ of Eligibility
Tips for Maintaining Your Certification
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Tips for Maintaining Your Certification
1. Go to NCCPA web site to update any postal or e‐mail address changes
2. Read all NCCPA correspondence
3. Log CME as you earn it
4. Save your Category 1 CME documentation
5. Take personal responsibility for your certification, i.e. don’t delegate
6. Get definitive information about your certification only from the source
There’s an App for That!
• Log CME as you earn it
• Apply for an exam
• Make payments
Resources
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For More Information from NCCPA
• Website: www.nccpa.net‐ online access to your certification Dashboard‐ exam application, CME logging, exam results, address
changes‐ videos and more on how to obtain and maintain certification
• E‐mail: [email protected]
• Call: (678) 417‐8100
• Follow us on social media:
Licensure Resources
• Use Credentialing Information Release link from your NCCPA dashboard to request your scores be sent to a particular state board or another third party.
• Visit AAPA’s Web site (www.aapa.org) for state‐by‐state information about licensure requirements.
Thank you!
Contact: [email protected]
www.PAsDoThat.net