New PA Recertification Model: The Data 1

• The Practice Analysis Survey was conducted by developing a survey to rate knowledge and skills used in PA practice and the diseases and disorders that PAs encounter. Twelve focus groups of PAs working in both primary care and specialties served as experts to develop the content of the survey. The survey was sent out between April and June 2015 to all PAs who had been certified for at least once year, which was over 92,000 PAs. The survey was meant to assess each PAs’ evaluation of the criticality and frequency of knowledge, skills, and diseases/disorders of various organ systems.More notable differences were found when comparing the ratings of PAs specialties with ratings from PAs working in primary care, in both criticality and frequency of various tasks/topics. At this point, the board has stated that the data suggest there are appreciable and measurable differences in the nature of practice from one specialty to another, which supports the concept of a greater degree of specialty-focused assessment. Publication of a report on the practice analysis data is planned for 2016.

• Focus groups met in August 2015 to assess what currently practicing Physician Assistants would envision if they were to design the PANRE. The 29 PAs ranged in age, specialty, location and years of experience but none had ever worked or volunteered for the NCCPA. By the conclusion of the 3 day meeting, small groups had developed their own ideal recertification processes and presented them.Each of the groups supported the following parallels:

1. A portion with formal assessment, in the form of an exam, rather than CME requirements alone
2. Both a general component and a speciality component
3. Both an opportunity for further learning and development, and an assessment of competency to maintain a high standard of certification
4. An opportunity to take some portion of the recertification at home, and potentially in an open-book style, which reflects how PAs truly practice with references and colleagues available
5. Better feedback for PAs on their weaker areas upon completion of the process

• A Profession Wide Survey was developed based on the focus group’s work, and sent to all certified PAs. The board received approximately 10,000 responses. The key findings were as follows:

92% favor an exam that provides learning opportunities with feedback for incorrect exam responses

88% prefer an exam with opportunities for remediation instead of retesting for those who do not meet the passing standard;

63% feel the exam questions on today’s PANRE are appropriate for an exam that covers a wide array of PA practice, but only 36% feel the questions are at an appropriate difficulty level for their current practice;

only 39% believe today’s PANRE provides a meaningful experience;

55% indicate that PANRE helps promote patient safety;

71% prefer to test in one sitting instead of spreading the exam

71% [of those responding to the PA survey] favor an exam format that includes both a general and specialty component.

over multiple sessions; and

71% are in favor of an exam format that included both a general and specialty component.

• A survey sent to state licensing boards unfortunately yielded a low number of responses that represented only 15 states. The NCCPA plans to solicit additional feedback from them. However, initial responses indicated agreement that CME and recertification exams are both important, a proctored examination is still necessary, but that they also support feedback for examinees.

• Lastly, prior PA recertification exam performance data was analyzed. The major conclusion was that PAs working in primary care and non-surgical specialties tend to perform better on the recertification examinations, than those working in surgical specialties.

Later this week, we’ll conclude this series with the proposed New Certification Model, or what we’ll affectionately call PANRE 2.0.

You can always read the NCCPA’s full publication, Rexamining Recertification for the PA Profession, here.

While you wait for the survey to be issued in February 2016, you can direct questions or comments to .