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The NCCPA has officially stated that they are changing the PANRE from a six year cycle to a ten year cycle! Recertification was first introduced in 1981 and since that time it has always been on a six year cycle. This is amazing news! These are huge changes to our profession that many of us have been asking for. I think most people accept the idea of recertification. I for one like knowing that my provider is still expected to maintain some level of core knowledge regardless the area he practices in. A lot of the complaints I hear about the PANRE is that we have to take it every six years. The majority of physician assistants will be much happier with having ten years between exams.
Of course, there will still be complaints. Initially the biggest complaints will be from you and me. Those of us whose six year cycle ends in 2012 and 2013. The new ten year plan goes into effect for those PA’s whose cycle ends in 2014. As an example, the sixth year of my cycle is 2013. I graduated in 2007, and I can take my exam in 2012 or 2013. I will have to take my PANRE again six years later in 2018 or 2019 The lucky SOB’s who graduated the year after me will take their PANRE in 2013 or 2014 and then be on the ten year recertification plan and not have to take it until 2023 or 2024.
In addition to the ten year cycle there are some changes to CME going forward.
The good news here is that they are keeping it at 100 hours of CME for every two year cycle. There will still be a mandatory minimum of fifty category one CMEs during each two year period. The difference is that now there will be subcategories of category one CME .
Self assessment CME
This is a more active type of CME. No more snoozing in the back of grand rounds and getting CME for it. The details have not completely come out on this yet, but the idea here is pretty straight forward. I’ve already done this for some of my CME. You take a short exam on a topic of your choice and get credit for it. The big question I have is who grades these assessments? I have always graded my own, but I know that some have the company you bought the exam from grade it for you. At this point I’m not sure what will be acceptable for the NCCPA, but I am hoping to hear soon.
Performance Improvement CME
This is where things change a little more. The idea here is simple it’s the implementation I’m not so sure about. To earn these CME, you create project for improving your practice. You find an area you would like to work on. You compare what your facility/practice is doing against national benchmarks, and then you put into place a plan to improve in this area. You then follow up by comparing your initial results with the results after your improvement plan has been in place.
The ten year cycle like the six year cycle is composed of two year cycles. You now have five of these cycles rather than three. You still must log 100 CMEs during each two year cycle. The difference here comes in with the self assessment and performance improvement CME. You can do them in any order you like, but you must do them both. You must complete at least 20 hours of either self assessment or performance improvement in each of the first four cycles. You must complete at least two self assessment activities and two performance improvement activities during the first four cycles. Although they introduced these two new requirements they did not add to the total of CME needed. In addition, during your fifth cycle, while you are preparing for your PANRE, you do not have to do the self assessment or performance improvement CME. You are free to complete any category one CME. This is so you can focus your attention on passing the PANRE.
- 1st 2 year cycle
- Complete 100 CME with a minimum of 50 category one CME. 20 of those category one hours must be either self assessment or performance improvement.
- 2nd 2 year cycle
- Complete 100 CME with a minimum of 50 category one CME. 20 of those category one hours must be either self assessment or performance improvement.
- 3rd 2 year cycle
- Complete 100 CME with a minimum of 50 category one CME. 20 of those category one hours must be either self assessment or performance improvement.
- 4th 2 year cycle
- Complete 100 CME with a minimum of 50 category one CME. 20 of those category one hours must be either self assessment or performance improvement.
- By the end of this cycle you should complete two self assessment activities and two performance improvement activities.
- 5th 2 year cycle
- Complete 100 CME with a minimum of 50 category one CME hours.
- Pass the PANRE
The ten year plan for recertification will make most physician assistants very happy. There are those of us who may think it is unfair not to start it immediately, but whenever it starts someone is bound to be disgruntled. The changes to the CME requirements are still of some concern to the PA community and will have to be vetted out over the next several years. Hopefully we will get more details soon and then have a better understanding of exactly what will be expected of us.
I recommend you visit the NCCPA website where you can find all the information as it pertains to you. Under the for PA’s tab you will find a link to the current information about the new recertification process. If you sign in and scroll down on the right hand side there will be information about how these changes apply to directly to you.
How do you feel about the changes? Will this be a good thing going forward?