NCCPA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield NCCPA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which antiepileptic drug inhibits sodium channels AND is a first-line agent for trigeminal neuralgia? → Carbamazepine
2. What should you do when encountering a difficult question? → Mark it, move on, and return to it later
3. Which of the following BEST describes the principles of 'clean-contaminated' wound classification? → Entry into a hollow viscus under controlled conditions without significant spillage
4. What are standard precautions in healthcare? → Treating all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious
5. What is the role of the NCCPA in ensuring the ongoing competency of certified Physician Assistants? → Requiring the completion of the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process
6. Which study approach is most effective for Surgical Principles material? → Active recall with practice questions
7. What is the most common dysrhythmia seen in Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome presenting to the ED? → Atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT)
8. A patient presents after ingesting a unknown substance and has a calculated osmol gap of 25 mOsm/kg. What toxic ingestion is most likely? → Ethylene glycol
9. A 45-year-old woman presents with fatigue, constipation, and a serum calcium of 11.8 mg/dL. PTH is elevated. Which is the most likely diagnosis? → Primary hyperparathyroidism
10. A 60-year-old woman has a TSH of 0.05 mIU/L and a free T4 of 2.8 ng/dL. What is the most likely diagnosis? → Overt hyperthyroidism
11. Which antihypertensive drug class is contraindicated in bilateral renal artery stenosis? → ACE inhibitors
12. Which antiarrhythmic drug prolongs QT interval the most and carries the highest risk of torsades de pointes? → Sotalol
13. The 'open abdomen' technique is indicated in which of the following scenarios? → Damage control laparotomy with abdominal compartment syndrome risk
14. Which organization accredits CME providers whose credits are recognized as Category 1 by NCCPA? → ACCME and AAPA
15. Which organization publishes the Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the PA Profession? → AAPA
16. A 50-year-old male has a PSA of 5.2 ng/mL. What is the most appropriate next step? → Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy
17. Internal validity in a clinical trial is most threatened by: → Systematic bias such as selection bias or confounding
18. Which of the following is required for Physician Assistants during the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process? → Passing a national recertifying exam (PANRE)
19. According to professional standards, a PA who develops a personal romantic interest in a current patient should: → Terminate the professional relationship and transfer care before pursuing any relationship
20. According to USPSTF guidelines, women with average risk should begin mammography breast cancer screening at what age? → 40 years
21. What happens to a PA-C's certification if they do not meet the 100 CME requirement within a 2-year cycle? → Certification becomes 'not certified' and the PA cannot use the PA-C credential
22. Under NCCPA policy, which of the following CME topics must be included in a PA's continuing education to meet specific mandated requirements in many states? → Controlled substance prescribing and pain management in states requiring it
23. A patient's ABG shows pH 7.28, PaCO2 52 mmHg, HCO3 24 mEq/L. What is the primary acid-base disorder? → Respiratory acidosis
24. A PA-C requests verification of their certification status for a hospital credentialing committee. How can the committee independently verify this? → Through NCCPA's publicly searchable online verification tool
25. What is a drug contraindication? → A condition that makes a particular treatment inadvisable
26. A PA notices systemic issues in the clinic that are leading to repeated medication errors. The most appropriate professional response is to: → Identify the systemic root cause and advocate for a quality improvement initiative
27. In a patient undergoing general anesthesia, the MOST dangerous complication of succinylcholine administration is: → Malignant hyperthermia
28. A PA in a rural solo practice setting must consult a specialist urgently for a complex case but the supervising physician is unavailable. The best action is to: → Contact the specialist directly and document the encounter thoroughly
29. A PA-C whose certification has lapsed may apply for reinstatement. What is typically required to restore 'certified' status without retaking PANCE? → Completing 50 additional CME hours and paying a reinstatement fee within 2 years of lapse
30. A 70-year-old male has an INR of 5.8 on warfarin without active bleeding. What is the most appropriate management? → Hold warfarin and give vitamin K 2.5 mg orally