Continuing Medical Education FAQs

New Graduates

  1. When am I eligible to earn CME?
  2. What is Category II credit and how can I earn it?
  3. Can I complete JAAPA post-tests that I received before I graduated and became certified?
  4. How do I log my CME credits?
  5. Do I need to submit my CME certificates when I log my credits?
  6. Are national certification programs such as ACLS, PALS, etc. considered category I CME Credit?

 

General CME Questions

  1. How do I access certificates for Post-Tests that I have completed in the past?
  2. I am going to attend a conference and want to know if I can claim CME credit. How can I verify that the credits earned will count as Category I for me?
  3. I am planning to attend a conference that is not approved for AAPA Cateogry I CME credit or the equivalent. As an attendee can I apply to AAPA for the credit approval?
  4. I would like to attend the AAPA Annual Conference, but I have already earned all of my required CME credit for this cycle.  Can I use credits earned at this conference for my next cycle?
  5. I am planning to take the PANCE/PANRE. Do you recommend any review materials or review courses for the exam?
  6. I work for a CME provider who would like to offer CME to PAs, how do we apply for AAPA Category I CME credit?
 

New Graduate FAQs

1.  When am I eligible to earn CME?

PAs may earn CME credit beginning with the issuance date on their NCCPA Certificate.

2.  What is Category II credit and how can I earn it?

Category II credit is elective and must be related to medicine, patient care, or other professional issues such as reimbursement and CPT coding. 

Examples of Category II credit include:

3.  Can I complete JAAPA post-tests that I received before I graduated and became certified?

Yes, as long as the post-tests have not expired and you complete them after the issuance date on your NCCPA certificate.  (JAAPA post-tests may be submitted for one year from publication date.)

4.  How do I log my CME credits?

For national certification maintenance, you must log your CME credit hours with NCCPA at www.nccpa.net.

Before beginning, be sure to have the following information available: 

 

Click here for a list of sponsors that PAs may use for Category I CME credit.

 

If you are logging for your state license only, please contact your state licensing board for instructions. 

5.  Do I need to submit my CME certificates when I log my credits?

Not initially, but be sure to keep documentation of all your Category I CME activities for 7 years in case you are audited by NCCPA or your state licensing board.

6.  Are national certification programs such as ACLS, PALS, etc. considered category I CME Credit?

Yes, for a listing of national certification programs that are approved for Category I credit, click here www.aapa.org/cme/national-certificate-programs.pdf

General CME FAQs

1.  How do I access certificates for Post-Tests that I have completed in the past?

Go to www.aapa.org/cme/post-test.html and look for the blue box on the right that says “Click Here to Reprint Certificates or Retake a Post-Test.”  Once you log in, you will see a list of the certificates that you have earned. 

2.  I am going to attend a conference and want to know if I can claim CME credit. How can I verify that the credits earned will count as Category I for me?

Look in the promotional brochure or advertisement for the accreditation statement which indicates what type of credit can be earned at the conference.  PAs may use credit that has been designated for either physician or PA credit only.  Click here for a complete listing of acceptable sponsors.  (Programs approved for nursing credit only should be logged as a Category II (elective) activity.)

3.  I am planning to attend a conference that is not approved for AAPA Cateogry I CME or the equivalent. As an attendee can I apply to AAPA for CME credit approval?

No. Only the provider of the CME program may apply to AAPA for Category I CME approval. For more information on AAPA's CME approval process click here www.aapa.org/cme/non-aapa-orgs.html. If the program has not received AAPA CME approval you may still claim the activity as Category II CME.

4.  I would like to attend the AAPA Annual Conference, but I have already earned all of my required CME credit for this cycle.  Can I use credits earned at this conference for my next cycle?

Credits earned during May and June of the year your certification expires (the second year of your two year cycle) may apply towards either your current cycle, or the next cycle. 

Credits earned during May and June of 2008 may apply towards any one of these three cycles:

 

5.  I am planning to take the PANCE/PANRE. Do you recommend any review materials or review courses for the exam?

Although AAPA does not endorse or guarantee any of these courses/materials AAPA does maintain a list of review materials and courses for the PANCE/PANRE exam.

To view these lists navigate to

Also JAAPA publishes a recertification refresher series every month; the archived articles can be found here www.jaapa.com/refresher.html.

6.  I work for a CME provider who would like to offer CME to PAs, how do we apply for AAPA Category I CME credit?

 

Complete instructions and forms can be found at

CME>Approval Process & Forms> Live Programs for Non AAPA Organizations.

Specific questions can be e-mailed to either aharris@aapa.org or dpace@aapa.org

 
Still have unanswered CME questions?

Questions concerning CME should be directed to cme@aapa.org or call 703/ 836-2272, ext. 3417.

 

 

Las 2/4/08 EndDate -->