NCCPA Continuing Education and Development 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A PA who allowed certification to lapse wants to reinstate. Which step is REQUIRED before reinstatement is possible?
- Retaking the PANCE from scratch
- Completing a remedial training program designated by NCCPA
- Meeting all outstanding CME and assessment requirements (Correct answer)
- Obtaining a new letter of recommendation from a supervising physician
Correct answer: Meeting all outstanding CME and assessment requirements
To reinstate lapsed certification, a PA must fulfill all outstanding CME hours and assessment requirements owed to NCCPA.
Question 2: Which organization accredits CME providers whose credits are recognized as Category 1 by NCCPA?
- NCCPA itself
- ACCME and AAPA (Correct answer)
- AMA only
- State medical boards
Correct answer: ACCME and AAPA
Credits from ACCME-accredited providers and AAPA-approved providers both qualify as Category 1 CME for NCCPA purposes.
Question 3: A PA completes 60 Category 1 hours and 50 Category 2 hours in a 10-year cycle. How many total hours count toward the NCCPA requirement?
- 100 hours (Correct answer)
- 105 hours
- 110 hours
- 60 hours only
Correct answer: 100 hours
The total is capped at 100 hours: all 60 Category 1 hours count, but only 40 of the 50 Category 2 hours are applied to reach the 100-hour maximum.
Question 4: What distinguishes PANRE-LA from the traditional PANRE examination format?
- PANRE-LA is taken in a proctored testing center
- PANRE-LA uses quarterly online questions answered over a 5-year period (Correct answer)
- PANRE-LA covers only surgical subspecialties
- PANRE-LA requires a passing score of 75% on a single sitting
Correct answer: PANRE-LA uses quarterly online questions answered over a 5-year period
PANRE-LA delivers periodic online questions over the 5-year period, integrating ongoing learning rather than a single high-stakes exam.
Question 5: A PA in emergency medicine wants to choose between PANRE-LA and the traditional PANRE. Which factor most strongly favors choosing PANRE-LA?
- It is required for specialty certification
- It simultaneously earns Category 1 CME credit while fulfilling the recertification assessment (Correct answer)
- It has a higher passing rate than PANRE
- It waives the 100-hour CME requirement entirely
Correct answer: It simultaneously earns Category 1 CME credit while fulfilling the recertification assessment
PANRE-LA earns Category 1 CME credit as PAs answer questions, offering an efficient dual benefit of recertification and continuing education.
Question 6: How often must a certified PA log into the NCCPA portal to report CME activities?
- Monthly
- Annually during the 2-year reporting cycle (Correct answer)
- Only once at the end of the 10-year cycle
- Quarterly per NCCPA mandate
Correct answer: Annually during the 2-year reporting cycle
NCCPA operates on a 2-year reporting cycle within the 10-year certification period, requiring PAs to log CME activities each cycle.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the relationship between NCCPA certification and state PA licensure?
- NCCPA certification automatically grants licensure in all states
- State licensure requires NCCPA certification as a prerequisite in most states (Correct answer)
- NCCPA certification and state licensure are entirely separate and unrelated processes
- Passing PANRE eliminates the need for state licensure renewal
Correct answer: State licensure requires NCCPA certification as a prerequisite in most states
Most states require active NCCPA certification as a condition for obtaining or renewing a PA state license, though the processes are managed separately.
NCCPA Continuing Education and Development 3
A PA who allowed certification to lapse wants to reinstate.
Which step is REQUIRED before reinstatement is possible?