Understanding CME

Continuing Medical Education (CME) supports ongoing professional growth by helpings PAs maintain, develop, and enhance the knowledge, skills, and clinical judgment needed to provide high-quality patient care. CME activities span the basic medical sciences, clinical medicine, and the broader delivery of healthcare to the public.

CME Categories and Formats

CME is divided into Category 1 and Category 2, with multiple formats available to accommodate different learning styles and practice needs. 

CME formats include:

• Live activities such as lectures, workshops, conferences, and seminars
• Enduring materials (online modules, recorded programs, printed activities)
• Journal-based CME
• Manuscript review
• Test-item writing
• Self-Assessment (SA) activities
• Performance Improvement (PI) activities

SA-CME and PI-CME continue to qualify as Category 1 CME, and NCCPA "weights" these activities more heavily when calculating credit - but they are no longer required for certification maintenance. 

Category 1 CME

Category 1 CME includes activities formally approved by an authorized accrediting body such as AAPA, ACCME, AAFP, or AOA. Examples included:

• Regular credit obtained through seminars, conferences, online, or precepting PA students.
• SA (Self-Assessment) is a systematic review of one's performance, knowledge base, and skill set. SA-CME activities often take the form of multiple-choice exams and may also use cases to test the application of knowledge in clinical settings. Learners usually receive immediate feedback and are pointed to key references for further study.
• PI (Performance Improvement) which is active learning and the application of learning to improve your practice. This can be done in partnership with a participating physician. PI-CME involves a three-step process:
  • Compare some aspects of practice to national benchmarks, performance guidelines or other established evidence-based metrics or standards.
  • Based on the comparison, develop and implement a plan for improvement in that area.
  • Evaluate the impact of the improvement effort by comparing the results of the original comparison with the new results or outcomes.

Category 1 CME credits can be audited by NCCPA.

Category 2 CME

Category 2 CME includes any medically related learning activity that enhances a PAs knowledge base and role. Examples include:

• Reading medical literature
• Precepting students (when not designated as Category 1)
• Informal learning or clinical research
• Professional meetings without Category 1 designation

Category 2 CME is self-reported and not audited by NCCPA.

The available CME credit designated per format for "Live Activities" will need to be approved by either AAPA, ACCME, AAFP or AOA before a PA may claim CME credit for the program. AAPA accepts certificates for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 credit from organizations accredited by ACCME or a recognized state medical society.

Physician Associates on the 10-year Recertification Cycle
All certified PAs now participate in the 10‑year certification maintenance cycle, which consists of five two‑year CME cycles followed by a recertification assessment.

Every Two Years

PAs must:

• Earn 100 CME credits, including:
  • At least 50 category 1 CME credits
  • Up to 50 Category 2 CME credits
• Submit CME through their NCCPA portal
• Pay the certification maintenance fee by December 31 and receive additional weighting.

SA-CME and PI-CME are optional but count as Category 1 and receive additional weighting.

Recertification in the 10th Year

To maintain certification at the end of the 10-year cycle, PAs must successfully complete one of the following:

• PANRE-LA (the longitudinal assessment, completed over a minimum of 8 quarters, candidates are given up to 12 quarters to take the assessment) OR
• PANRE (the traditional proctored exam).

If a PA selectes the PANRE-LA it must be started during the 7th year of the certification cycle.

These changes in the recertification process are consistent with health care changes that emphasize quality improvement and pay-for-performance measures. These new requirements transition life-long learning from episodic learning to more of a continuous professional development approach where PAs can seek and apply knowledge relevant to their practice and lead to improved patient care. You do not need to demonstrate actual practice improvement in order to receive CME credit, the primary intent is to help you reflect on your own practice. Credits for SA-CME and PI-CME is based on activity design and weighting, not hours.