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Become Certified

You’re beginning a rewarding career. Learn more about what it takes to become a Certified PA, what to expect on test day and access certification resources as you begin your exciting journey.

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Maintain Certification

Certified PAs engage in career long learning by documenting continuous study and taking periodic exams to remain certified. Learn more about recertification and certification maintenance requirements as you continue your career as a Certified PA.

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Earn Specialty Certificates

Want to stand out? Learn more about how to earn a Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) to show your advanced expertise in your specialty.

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Resources

Need to verify PA credentials? Access our easy-to-use Verify Certification tool.

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Title Change Update

NCCPA recognizes that the titles used by our profession have evolved and continue to evolve and that our profession’s authorization to practice medicine and legally permitted titles are governed by each jurisdiction’s practice acts and by federal regulations.  Therefore, NCCPA shall regard the titles “physician assistant,” “physician associate,” and “PA” as equivalent and synonymous.  NCCPA policies and published guidance that use the terms “physician assistant,” “physician associate,” and/or “PA” shall apply to any Board Certified or certifying PA, regardless of that individual PA’s preferred or assigned title. More information on board certification and title change can be found here.

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Verify Board Certification

Need to verify PA certification and/or disciplinary actions issued by NCCPA? Access our easy-to-use Board Certification Verification tool.

Meet Three Future PAs Committed to Equity, Service and Leadership

• The PA Foundation awarded the 2025 NCCPA Endowed Scholarship to three Physician Assistant/Associate students whose backgrounds and service demonstrate their commitment to underserved communities.

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PA Turns Grant into Lifeline for Food-Insecure Patients

• When Marlo Dombroff, MS, PA-C, noticed an increase in patients struggling to choose between their medication and food, she took action.

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PA Hospitalists Are Young, Essential and Face Burnout, New Study Finds

• As hospitals across the U.S. increasingly rely on PAs to help meet growing patient demands, PA hospitalists report high rates of burnout when compared to other specialties.

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AAPA Conference 2025

May, 16-20, 2025

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University of Wisconsin, Madison

May 7, 2025

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Idaho State University

May 5, 2025

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Physician Assistants/Associates in Critical Care: A Descriptive Analysis Using the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants Dataset

Equity and Longitudinal Assessments: Perspectives from Physician Assistants/Associates (PAs) Participating in PANRE-LA

Learn more about our supporting organizations

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The PA History Society

The PA History Society was created to share the history of the development of the PA profession and illustrate how PAs continue to make a difference in our society. Visit their website to learn more about how they’re preserving PA history.

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The NCCPA Health Foundation

The nccPA Health Foundation creates solutions for improving the capacity of Certified PAs to impact the quality and accessibility of health care delivery. Visit their website to learn more about how they’re partnering with PAs to make a difference in communities across the country.