[January 30, 2013]

NCCPA Announces Recipients of New Specialty Credential

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is proud to announce the 2012 recipients of the Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) for certified physician assistants (PA-Cs) who practice in one of the following specialties: Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Nephrology, Orthopaedic Surgery and Psychiatry. In the CAQ program's second year, 181 physician assistants met experience and education requirements and then passed a specialty exam to earn the CAQ. For a complete list of CAQ recipients, please visit: http://www.nccpa.net/SpecialtyCAQRecipients.aspx.

"With the growing shortage of doctors, increases in patient populations and intensifying demand on our health care system, certifiedPAs are needed more now than ever," said Pamela M. Dean, NCCPA's acting president and CEO. "With the CAQ, PAs can more easily document their expertise and showcase their commitment to their profession and to their specialty."

A recent survey conducted by NCCPA illuminated the impact of the new CAQ credential in the PA profession. One year after receiving the specialty recognition, 2011 recipients were surveyed on the impact of the CAQ in their professional lives. Based on responses from 130 (57 percent of those surveyed), NCCPA is proud to announce the following results:

Changing Role

• 69 percent have found or anticipate finding a new job
• 60 percent who went after an expansion of their role now have or expect to soon have increased or more complex responsibilities
• 46 percent have seen or expect an expansion of clinical privileges
• 42 percent have been promoted or expect a promotion

Financial Benefits

• 51 percent have been granted or anticipate a pay increase
• 49 percent have achieved or anticipate a broadening of their eligibility for reimbursement
• 43 percent have earned or expect higher levels of reimbursement for services provided to patients
• 31 percent were awarded or anticipate a one-time bonus or cash award
• 26 percent have experienced or anticipate a reduction in malpractice insurance premiums

Recognition & Respect

• 52 percent have been publicly recognized in the workplace
• 53 percent have been publicly recognized within their community
• 46 percent have experienced greater respect or acceptance from new patients

"These results validate that the Specialty CAQ NCCPA offers is filling a void in the profession, affording certified PAs more opportunity and positioning them for the recognition they deserve," continued Dean.

NCCPA will administer the CAQ program's specialty exams annually every September. For more information or to register for the 2013 CAQ exam, please visit www.NCCPA.net or call 678-417-8100.

About the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is the only certifying organization for physician assistants (PAs) in the United States. The PA-C credential is awarded by NCCPA to PAs who fulfill certification, certification maintenance, and recertification requirements. There are more than 90,000 certified PAs in the U.S. today. In 2011, NCCPA launched its Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) program for certified physician assistants practicing in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Nephrology, Orthopaedic Surgery, and Psychiatry. For more information, please call (678) 417-8100 or visit www.NCCPA.net.

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