The NCCPA CME requirements mandate that certified physician assistants complete 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME) credits every two years, including 50 credits from Category 1 activities. These requirements ensure ongoing competence and knowledge updates.
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) requires certified PAs to maintain their certification through continuous learning. The 100-hour requirement includes both Category 1 and Category 2 credits. Category 1 credits come from approved educational activities, while Category 2 credits include self-assessment and other unapproved activities.
| Credit Type | Description | Maximum Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | Approved educational activities, such as conferences, workshops, and online courses | 50 credits |
| Category 2 | Self-assessment activities, including reading medical journals and completing online modules | 50 credits |
Physician assistants use CME to stay current with medical advancements and maintain their certification. The NCCPA enforces these requirements to ensure that PAs provide high-quality patient care. For example, a PA might attend a conference on new diabetes treatments to earn Category 1 credits.
Many PAs confuse Category 1 and Category 2 credits, thinking they can fulfill all requirements with self-assessment activities. However, the NCCPA requires at least 50 Category 1 credits to ensure structured learning. Another misconception is that CME credits expire annually, but they actually apply to a two-year reporting period.
A PA completes a 10-hour online course on cardiology, earning 10 Category 1 credits. They also read five medical journal articles, each worth 1 Category 2 credit, totaling 5 Category 2 credits. Over two years, they accumulate 50 Category 1 and 50 Category 2 credits, meeting the NCCPA requirements.
For more on structured learning requirements, see what are margin requirements in financial education.