Credentialing

Question 0

What does it mean if a PA program is accredited?

Answer 0

It is recognized as maintaining professional standards that qualify the graduates for professional practice.

Question 1

What is credentialing?

Answer 1

A process that gives credit or a title that shows that a person is entitled to, or has a right to, exercise official power.

Question 2

Who is the sole authority for PA program credentialing?

Answer 2

ARC-PA: Accreditation Review Commission of Education of the Physician Assistant

Question 3

What is the ARC-PA?

Answer 3

A freestanding accrediting agency for the evaluation and accreditation a PA programs in the US.

Question 4

Who is the ARC-PA composed of?

Answer 4

Members from the…

• Academy of Family Physicians
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American College of Surgeons
• American College of Physicians
• American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
• Accelerated Physician Assistant Pathway (APAP)

Question 5

What are some roles of the ARC-PA?

Answer 5

• Develop uniform national standards for assessing educational effectiveness.
• Requiring continuous self-study and review.
• To assure the public, agencies, and organizations that accredited programs have met defined educational standards for preparing PA for practice

Question 6

What are some more roles of the ARC-PA?

Answer 6

• Generic guidelines, standards, represent current, nationally accepted guidelines for all aspects of PA education.
• Review of curriculum and objectives, classroom, laboratory and library facilities, clinical affiliations, faculty qualifications, admissions process, student issues, fiscal stability, program publications, record keeping systems, and administration.

Question 7

What is expected in an accreditation process?

Answer 7

• Programs must provide evidence of an ongoing critical self-study process
• On site evaluation

Question 8

What are some reasons for an accreditation process?

Answer 8

• Provides students with assurance that the program meets nationally accepted standards.
• Recognition of the program and its graduates by professional peers.
• Eligibility for professional certification, registration, and state licensure.

Question 9

What is included in credentialing of graduates?

Answer 9

• National certification available to graduates of ARC-PA accredited programs
• Individual state credentialing process
• Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)

Question 10

How does the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) contribute to the credentialing of graduates?

Answer 10

• They certify and re-certify PAs to assure adherence to national standards
• Ensure the relevance of the examination to clinical practice

Question 11

Once certified, what must a PA do to remain certified?

Answer 11

• Continued medical education (CME) of 100 hours every 2 years
• Re-certification exam every 10 years (PANRE)