Physician Assistant

Our mission is to promote cost effective, patient oriented, accessible health care, and to promote the professional and personal development of Physician Assistants.

This organization offers continuing medical education, including those related to the maintenance of NCCPA certification and provides leadership development for physician assistant students and PAs in practice.

The NCCPA is an independent certifying organization, with representation from many national medical organizations and the PA profession, to develop and administer the initial certification exam called the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) and the re-certification exam known as the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Examination (PANRE).

The PAEA is the only national organization in the United States representing the 195 currently accredited physician assistant educational programs. The PAEA’s mission is to “pursue excellence in PA education, foster faculty development, advance the body of knowledge that defines quality education and patient-centered care, and promote diversity in all aspects of physician assistant education.” (2013, PAEA)

The ARC-PA is the independent accrediting body for all physician assistant programs in the United States. The ARC-PA serves to protect public interest by advocating for high educational standards for all accredited PA educational programs. Eligibility for the NCCPA exam includes successful completion of a PA program that is accredited by the ARC-PA.