New PA Recertification Model: PANRE 2.0 1

The new model proposes the following:

1. Core medical knowledge be assessed during every 10-year certification maintenance cycle. This would occur using periodic, at-home, open book, untimed exams that cover content across a broad range of body systems, task, and skill areas.
2. There would be opportunities for remediation through CME for those whose performance is below the passing standard within a defined performance range.
3. During the final years of each 10-year cycle, PAs would take a formal exam in their chosen specialty area. These exams would be secured, proctored and timed. Exams would be offered in family medicine, general surgery, as well as approximately 10 other specialty areas chosen at a later time. For these exams, results would fall in categories that range from CAQ specialist, passing, needing CME remediation, or failing requiring retesting to regain certification.
4. All PAs who pass the process would continue to maintain the generalist PA-C credential, while those who wish to pursue an optional specialty could continue to do so through the CAQ program.

The principal vehicle for the collection of feedback from individual PAs will be a profession-wide survey launched on February 1, 2016 and open throughout that month. To be a Physician Assistant is such a respectable career and practice, and we should look to continue to uphold our honorable profession. PAs should feel proud to be given the opportunity to provide input for our own recertification, and I hope you’ll all do so!  Please look for the survey in your inbox next month!

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 .