NCCPA Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the NCCPA exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 NCCPA Exam Format at a Glance
📚 NCCPA Topics to Study (63)
✍️ Sample NCCPA Questions & Answers
1. A 25-year-old woman has recurrent DVT and a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) that does not correct with mixing. What is the likely diagnosis?
A prolonged aPTT that fails to correct on mixing study indicates a lupus anticoagulant, a feature of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.
2. A PA wants to identify all available evidence on a topic using a systematic, reproducible search strategy. Which study type is most appropriate?
Systematic reviews use predefined, reproducible search strategies to comprehensively identify and synthesize all available evidence on a topic.
3. 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:
PAs may consult specialists independently in urgent situations; thorough documentation and later communication with the supervising physician are essential.
4. A PA completes a quality improvement project at her hospital that is recognized by an ACCME-accredited provider. How should these credits be classified?
Performance Improvement (PI) CME awarded by ACCME-accredited providers qualifies as Category 1 credit.
5. A 3-year-old presents with fever, drooling, and refusal to swallow. She is leaning forward in the 'sniffing position.' What is the MOST likely diagnosis?
Epiglottitis presents with high fever, drooling, dysphagia, and the tripod/sniffing position due to supraglottic inflammation, and is a airway emergency.
6. A PA identifies a potential conflict of interest because they have a financial stake in a lab to which they refer patients. The most appropriate action is to:
Federal Stark Law prohibits self-referrals to entities with which the provider has a financial relationship unless an exception applies; disclosure and compliance are mandatory.