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Become Certified

You’re beginning a rewarding career. Learn more about what it takes to become a Certified PA, what to expect on test day and access certification resources as you begin your exciting journey.

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Maintain Certification

Certified PAs engage in career long learning by documenting continuous study and taking periodic exams to remain certified. Learn more about recertification and certification maintenance requirements as you continue your career as a Certified PA.

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Earn Specialty Certificates

Want to stand out? Learn more about how to earn a Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) to show your advanced expertise in your specialty.

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Resources

Need to verify PA credentials? Access our easy-to-use Verify Certification tool.

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Title Change Update

NCCPA recognizes that the titles used by our profession have evolved and continue to evolve and that our profession’s authorization to practice medicine and legally permitted titles are governed by each jurisdiction’s practice acts and by federal regulations.  Therefore, NCCPA shall regard the titles “physician assistant,” “physician associate,” and “PA” as equivalent and synonymous.  NCCPA policies and published guidance that use the terms “physician assistant,” “physician associate,” and/or “PA” shall apply to any Board Certified or certifying PA, regardless of that individual PA’s preferred or assigned title. More information on board certification and title change can be found here.

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Verify Board Certification

Need to verify PA certification and/or disciplinary actions issued by NCCPA? Access our easy-to-use Board Certification Verification tool.

The Influence of Patient Care, Shadowing, and Volunteer Experience on Diverse Applicant Matriculation Into PA Programs

• To better understand factors contributing to low matriculation rates for health professions students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine (URiM), this study examined the influence of healthcare-related preadmission experiences on physician assistant/associate (PA) program matriculation.

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PAs’ perspective on leadership in medicine

• This study evaluated physician associate/assistant (PA) training and confidence in leadership and leadership skills, as well as where best to incorporate leadership training for the profession.

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Why I Volunteer: Russell Brandwein, MS, PA-C, AACC

• Russell Brandwein, MS, PA-C, AACC, has embarked on a fulfilling career in cardiology and interventional cardiology. We asked Brandwein to share a bit about himself and his volunteering experience with PANRE/PANRE-LA.

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Lawrence Technological University

June 26, 2024

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Wichita State University

June 14, 2024

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Caring for the Vulnerable Populations: The Vital Role of Physician Assistants/Associates in Community Health Centers

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Physician assistants/associates in psychiatry: a workforce analysis

The Importance of Diversity in the Physician Assistant/Associate Workforce: Examining the Profession’s Growth and Trends in Demographic Composition

Learn more about our supporting organizations

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The PA History Society

The PA History Society was created to share the history of the development of the PA profession and illustrate how PAs continue to make a difference in our society. Visit their website to learn more about how they’re preserving PA history.

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The NCCPA Health Foundation

The nccPA Health Foundation creates solutions for improving the capacity of Certified PAs to impact the quality and accessibility of health care delivery. Visit their website to learn more about how they’re partnering with PAs to make a difference in communities across the country.