NCCPA Professional Practice 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A PA employed by a large hospital system is asked by administration to see more patients per hour than is safe. What is the most appropriate initial action?
- Comply to avoid losing the job
- Document concerns and discuss with supervising physician and administration (Correct answer)
- Immediately report to the state medical board
- Resign from the position
Correct answer: Document concerns and discuss with supervising physician and administration
PAs should document safety concerns and raise them through appropriate internal channels before escalating externally.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'scope of practice' for a PA?
- Fixed nationally by NCCPA certification
- Determined solely by the PA's training and comfort level
- Defined by state law, supervising physician delegation, and practice setting (Correct answer)
- Limited only to tasks listed on the PANCE blueprint
Correct answer: Defined by state law, supervising physician delegation, and practice setting
PA scope of practice is shaped by state regulations, the supervising physician's delegation, and the specific clinical setting.
Question 3: Under what circumstance may a PA prescribe a Schedule II controlled substance?
- Only with verbal authorization from the supervising physician
- When authorized by state law and within the collaborative agreement (Correct answer)
- Never — Schedule II prescribing is prohibited for PAs in all states
- Only in hospital inpatient settings
Correct answer: When authorized by state law and within the collaborative agreement
Many states permit PAs to prescribe Schedule II substances when state law allows and the collaborative agreement with the supervising physician permits it.
Question 4: A PA discovers a colleague is diverting opioids from the clinic. What is the PA's professional obligation?
- Warn the colleague before taking any action
- Report the conduct to the appropriate authority, such as the clinic director or state licensing board (Correct answer)
- Document suspicions privately and take no further action
- Confront the colleague publicly
Correct answer: Report the conduct to the appropriate authority, such as the clinic director or state licensing board
PAs have an ethical and, in many jurisdictions, legal obligation to report suspected drug diversion to appropriate authorities.
Question 5: Which CME requirement must a PA fulfill to maintain NCCPA certification during each 10-year cycle?
- 100 CME credits including 50 Category 1 (Correct answer)
- 100 CME credits with no category distinction
- 50 CME credits per year
- 200 CME credits with at least 100 in the specialty
Correct answer: 100 CME credits including 50 Category 1
NCCPA requires 100 CME credits per 2-year cycle, with at least 50 being Category 1 (AAPA-approved), and one Pathway completion per 10-year cycle.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of the PA Collaborative Agreement (or supervision agreement)?
- To transfer malpractice liability to the supervising physician
- To define the working relationship, delegated tasks, and communication protocols between PA and physician (Correct answer)
- To satisfy Medicare billing requirements only
- To limit the PA to outpatient care
Correct answer: To define the working relationship, delegated tasks, and communication protocols between PA and physician
The collaborative agreement outlines the professional relationship, scope of delegated duties, and communication expectations between the PA and supervising physician.
Question 7: A PA signs a non-compete clause upon hiring. What should the PA do before signing?
- Refuse to sign any non-compete as they are unenforceable
- Review the geographic scope, duration, and consult a healthcare attorney if needed (Correct answer)
- Sign immediately to secure employment
- Submit the clause to NCCPA for approval
Correct answer: Review the geographic scope, duration, and consult a healthcare attorney if needed
PAs should carefully review non-compete terms — especially geographic and time limits — and seek legal counsel to understand their enforceability under state law.
NCCPA Professional Practice 2
A PA employed by a large hospital system is asked by administration to see more patients per hour than is safe.
What is the most appropriate initial action?