FAQs

The conference will be held Friday, May 21 – Tuesday, May 25 in Phoenix, AZ. Most conference events will take place inside Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ, and the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown, 340 N 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ.

Most CME sessions will start Friday, May 21 at 1 p.m. and end at 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25. However, please note that there are some optional CME offerings that will begin as early as 8 a.m. on Friday, May 21.

Check out the registration page for more details.

Your AAPA 2027 registration includes:

• 200+ credits of AAPA Category 1 CME to choose from (You can earn up to 28 AAPA Category 1 CME credits in five days.)
• Admission to two Main Stage Events
• Access to the AAPA 2027 Opening Reception
• Access to the three-day Expo featuring innovative companies
• Full access to PA Night Out on Monday, May 24*
• Daily 60-minute Industry Sessions with free breakfast or lunch (Seats are first-come, first-served.)
• Complimentary fitness classes, access to the Mindfulness Lounge™, and wellness-focused sessions
• Dozens of alumni, networking, and constituent organization events
• Access to additional paid events, workshops, and CME during registration

*Certain registration types do NOT include a ticket to PA Night Out on Monday, May 24 and will require a separate ticket purchase: Complimentary registrations, significantly discounted registrations, single day registrations, pre-PAs, guests, vendors, exhibitors, and sponsors. Tickets are available for purchase during registration.

A portion of this registration fee will support the PA Foundation.

Upgrade your registration to First Class to enhance your conference experience! Upgrades can be purchased when you register, or you can go back and add it from your registration and housing dashboard.

For only $360, you will access:

• Exclusive First Class lines at registration
• Exclusive First Class reserved seating at Main Stage events (2) and Challenge Bowl*
• Reserved seating in non-ticketed CME rooms*
• An additional drink ticket for Opening Reception
• A conference giveaway item
• Access to the First Class Lounge (Convention Center) with work stations, all-day snacks, and beverages
• VIP access at PA Night Out on Monday, May 24

*Seating is not guaranteed. First-come, first-served to a limited number of reserved seats.

AAPA 2027 Registration and Ticketed Item Cancellation Policy

• Cancellations received on or before January 31, 2027, will receive a FULL REFUND.
• Cancellations received February 1 – April 30, 2027, will receive a 50% refund.
• No refunds will be made for cancellations on or after May 1, 2027.
• You may cancel ticketed items and receive a full refund if cancellation is received in writing by April 30, 2027. No refunds will be given after this time.
• There will be no refunds for conference merchandise purchases after March 1, 2027. All conference merchandise must be picked up on site at the Swag Spot prior to 12 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2027 or it will be returned with no refund.
• Cancellation requests must be submitted to Customer Care
• Cancellation refunds requested via check can take up to 2 months to process.
• If you do not cancel in writing by April 30, 2027, and do not attend, no refund will be granted.

Membership Policy

Membership must be current through May 31, 2027, to qualify for member registration rates. Should your membership expire prior to May 31, 2027, and you choose not to renew your membership, AAPA Customer Care will contact you for the payment for the difference between member and nonmember registration rates.

No Shows

If you do not cancel in writing by April 30, 2027, and do not attend, no refund will be granted.

Ticketed Workshop Policy

Space in ticketed CME and SIS sessions is limited. Registered participants should arrive on time to ensure their spot.

Ten (10) minutes after the scheduled start of the session, any unclaimed spots may be released to other attendees on a first-come, first-served basis. Ticket holders who have not arrived by that time will forfeit their reserved spot and may not be admitted if the session has reached capacity.

Forfeited spots are not eligible for a refund.

We encourage all registered participants to arrive early to allow time for check-in and seating.

Are you registering and paying for a group of PAs, PA students, or pre-PAs? Contact Customer Care for assistance.

PA Program Student Registration Discount

AAPA offers a 10% discount on group registrations of 25+ students from the same PA program.

Restrictions apply:

• All students must be from the same PA program.
• All students must also book a hotel room at the time of registration.
• All students must be paid for as a group with one form of payment.
• All students must register on the same date via the same list.
• All students must be current AAPA members at the time of registration.
• No student on the list may be registered already. No refunds will be given.
• This promotion and discount may not be used in combination with any other promotion or discount.

Yes. At AAPA 2027, we will be offering any retired PA who wishes to attend the conference and the HOD meeting, but does not need to claim CME, the opportunity to register as an HOD Observer. This registration gives access to the HOD meeting, the Main Stage(s), Expo, and anything happening in the public space at the Convention Center. The cost for this registration category is $200, or $0 should you also book a hotel in the AAPA hotel block via the registration website.

All retired PAs will be given the option for this complimentary registration during the registration process. Should you have any questions or issues, please reach out to Customer Care.

AAPA’s Customer Care team can help with edits, transfers, invoices, and receipts. Contact us and we’ll sort it out.

Log into the registration and housing dashboard and click the Confirmation icon.

AAPA negotiates discounted rates with several hotels in downtown Phoenix, all within walking distance, or accessible via Light Rail, of the convention center. Reservations must be made while registering through AAPA’s official housing site to receive those rates.

Booking in the official AAPA 2027 hotel block saves you $200 on your full conference registration rate.

• No prepayment or deposit is due at the time of booking.
• Rooms booked through AAPA help us negotiate lower room rates and lower conference expenses — which keeps registration rates down.
• You stay in the heart of the action, surrounded by your fellow PAs.
• Book through AAPA and still earn hotel loyalty points, unlike most third-party sites such as Expedia or Priceline.
• Skip the long hold times. Booking through AAPA gives you dedicated support from Maritz, our official hotel partner.

Please see the Conference Policies page for a detailed explanation.

If you live within a 50-mile radius of the Phoenix Convention Center, you are eligible for the $200 discount on your registration fee and the system will apply this automatically.

Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) is about four miles from the Phoenix Convention Center — roughly 15 minutes by car, or a direct ride on the Valley Metro light rail, which stops at the door.

Yes. Guest passes are available for purchase on site for $50. Guests must be accompanied by a registered attendee and are limited to the Expo, Main Stage events, and the Opening Reception. Guests must be 18 or older. Separate guest tickets for PA Night Out can be purchased through the registration portal; PA Night Out is 21 and over.

See Conference Policies regarding children under the age of 18.

Yes. Your AAPA 2027 badge is required for all conference events, including the Expo, Main Stage, and the House of Delegates meeting.

AAPA provides roaming security personnel at the Phoenix Convention Center during conference hours and at the headquarter hotel across the main conference days. Both venues also maintain their own internal security teams to handle any situation that arises.

Specific measures in place for AAPA 2027 attendees:

• Firearms are not permitted on any conference premises, regardless of state law.
• On-site security at both the convention center and the headquarter hotel.
• PA Night Out remains a private event, open only to conference registrants.
• Clear signage at both venues explaining what to do if there is a problem.
• Safety and security information in the event app.
• Badges required for all conference events.

Admittance to AAPA’s House of Delegates meeting is by AAPA 2027 conference badge only. There is a single entrance, with security personnel checking badges for delegate and member access, and a plain-clothes officer present during proceedings.

As in any city, be aware of your surroundings — if you see something, say something. We recommend removing your conference badge when walking around downtown and using the buddy system. Venue security phone numbers will be published here and in the event app before the conference so you can save them to your phone in advance.

You can earn up to 28 AAPA Category 1 CME credits in five days, depending on which sessions you attend. CME sessions include 60-minute lectures, 30-minute lectures, Small Interactive Sessions, and hands-on, clinical workshops.

SIS are case-based, CME sessions which are limited to 50 to 100 people, to allow for discussion and interaction between the faculty and the attendees. These sessions cover a variety of topics and are available throughout the conference. Some of the SIS require a ticket which can be purchased for an additional $10 fee, which is donated to the PA Foundation.

Yes. Workshops at AAPA 2027 aim to provide in-depth practical instruction to enhance your clinical skills, from reading EKGs and suturing to using bedside ultrasound. Purchase your tickets during the conference registration process. These sessions will be available for additional purchase starting in December 2026. The cost is based on the materials required for the session.

AAPA Conference on Demand gives you online access to sessions recorded at AAPA 2027 and is available for purchase through Learning Central. The full list of sessions to be recorded in Phoenix will not be available until July 2027 as it is dependent on individual speakers giving permission to be recorded. You must complete an evaluation at the conclusion of the presentation to be able to claim credit and receive your certificate.

Want CME from AAPA 2026? AAPA 2026 Conference on Demand is available now.

Yes. AAPA has opportunities for conference attendees to volunteer as moderators for CME sessions. Moderators will introduce the speaker, remind attendees of housekeeping notes, and help to keep the sessions on time. As a show of appreciation, moderators receive, upon completed moderator evaluation, a nominal gift card. Apply to be a moderator today.

You can submit a presentation idea during the Call for Presentations and/or you can volunteer to be a grader and review the submitted presentation ideas to help determine the content for the next conference. The call opens in May 2027 for the 2028 conference. Grader signups for 2028 will be available in May 2027. The deadline for conference submissions and grader applications for AAPA 2028 is July 31, 2027.

Please contact [email protected] for assistance! We will help you make sure your registration is correct in order to claim CME. An additional fee will be required.

AAPA, with faculty permission, records the majority of the CME lectures presented at AAPA 2027 for AAPA Conference on Demand 2027. This provides a huge digital library of video-based clinical and professional CME sessions that is available in July following the conference. The exact number of CME credits will not be available until after the conference, but it is usually over 160 CME credits. Note that the full library does not include any of the workshops, small interactive sessions, or advanced seminars.

This year, the super saver registration rate will include AAPA Conference on Demand 2027: Full Library for a limited time. See the Discounts and Promotions section of Registration page for more details.

Yes, AAPA will again be venturing off site for hands-on clinical workshops. Check back in December for all of the opportunities being offered at AAPA 2027. Note: These workshops have an additional fee and limited capacity, which you can add to your conference registration.

AAPA 2027 will offer four Advanced Specialty CME Seminars in Cardiometabolic & Chronic Disease Management, Dermatology, Orthopaedic & Musculoskeletal, and Women’s Health. These six-hour programs provide advanced clinical education for experienced PAs seeking deeper expertise and practical insights. Content is designed for clinicians with at least five years of specialty practice and a strong foundation in the specialty. Note: These seminars have an additional fee and limited capacity, which you can add to your conference registration.

Satellite Symposia are industry-supported clinical education sessions that provide AAPA Category 1 CME credit. They are independently accredited and reviewed for balance and are not part of the official AAPA conference program.

If your organization is interested in hosting a Satellite Symposium, click here for the 2027 guidelines.

Please fill out the Event Request Form with all your event details. AAPA will assign space and send confirmations on Jan. 31, 2027.

Please fill out the form provided above. Event details will be posted in the online planner and AAPA Conference Mobile App.

For connections and networking you won’t want to miss! Explore the Expo floor, learn about and try out the newest medical innovations, talk with hundreds of exhibitors, and collect swag. And don’t miss our Expo events! Expand your social network at the Opening Reception, keep your career moving forward at the PA JobSource Career Fair, get quick hits of essential knowledge, and more.

Attendees of this conference are extremely interested in new products, any information that assists them in their care of patients, and in improving their efficiencies as a healthcare provider. This is an annual conference with a rich history of success for exhibiting companies.

Visit the Become an Exhibitor page for more information: What’s Included, Pricing, Rules and Regulations, How to Reserve a Booth, etc.

Leverage the prestige and network of AAPA to connect with key healthcare professionals. We offer a range of cost-effective networking and sponsorship opportunities designed to suit any budget. As an Event Sponsor, your brand/message will be out in front of thousands of PAs who practice in every medical and surgical specialty and setting and come from all across the country.

For questions or to start partnering with AAPA, please contact Heather. We do request that all event sponsors have a presence in the Expo.