The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is proud to announce the 2013 recipients of the Certificate of Added Qualifications for certified physician assistants (PA-Cs) who practice in one of the following specialties: cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, emergency medicine, nephrology, orthopaedic surgery and psychiatry. Now in its third year, the program requires experience and education in the specialty and the passing of a specialty exam. For a complete list of CAQ recipients, please visit: http://www.nccpa.net/SpecialtyCAQRecipients.aspx

"The demand for certified PAs in the era of health care reform is skyrocketing," says NCCPA Board Chairman James Cannon, D.H.A., PA-C, himself a recipient of the CAQ in psychiatry. "The CAQ validates, in an objective way, a certified PA's understanding and experience in a specialty area. It is good news for the public as these PAs are doing over and above what is required for state licensure by earning this valuable credential. It is also good news for physician specialists who are likely to appreciate PAs who go the extra mile to expand their skills, adding value to the practice with a clinician who holds both primary care and specialty certificates."

PAs who earned the CAQ and sought benefits in the following areas report that it made a significant impact in their professional lives, according to a survey by NCCPA:

  • Role expansion: Over 3/4 have found or anticipate finding a new job; more than 40 percent successfully sought a promotion; and 60 percent achieved or expect increased responsibilities or expansion of clinical privileges.
  • Remuneration: Over half of those seeking financial reward have been granted or anticipate a pay increase, and almost 1/3 received a one-time cash bonus.
  • Reimbursements: Over 3/4 found the CAQ useful in documenting qualifications required for external accreditation or evaluation and more than 1/3 achieved or anticipated a broadening of their eligibility for reimbursement.
  • Recognition: Almost 3/4 have received greater recognition or regard from physicians or other health care professionals, with 2/3 reporting greater respect or acceptance from patients.

Beginning in 2014, NCCPA will also confer CAQs in hospital medicine and pediatrics.

For more information about the CAQ program, visit www.NCCPA.net/SpecialtyCAQs or call 678.417.8100.

About the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is the only certifying organization for physician assistants (PAs) in the United States. The PA-C credential is awarded by NCCPA to PAs who fulfill certification, certification maintenance and recertification requirements. There are approximately 92,000 certified PAs in the U.S. today. In 2011, NCCPA launched its Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) program for certified physician assistants practicing in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, emergency medicine, nephrology, orthopaedic surgery and psychiatry; two new specialties (pediatrics and hospital medicine) are being added in 2014. For more information, please call (678) 417-8100 or visit www.NCCPA.net.

National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
Mary Rittle, PR Manager
678-417-8142
maryr@nccpa.net