Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification Mission To be the national body that safeguards professional standards and promotes life long learning of the Physician Assistant by responding to the evolving needs of patients, government, regulators and national associations.

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification Steering Committee’s Final Report and Recommendations November 2002 Set the framework for the present Certification Council Two years of development and implementation Establishing a Certification process – setting a national standard for practice and ongoing certification

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification Relationship of PACC with Canadian Association of Physician Assistants  PACC under the corporate umbrella of CAPA  Common practice for certification councils is to:  Begin as an adjunct operation  Become independent as the profession grows  Purpose is protection of the public through the establishment of objective standards

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification Relationship with Canadian Association of Physician Assistants  The two entities exist within a single corporate framework  There needs to be some degree of organizational separation.  Removes conflict of interest

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification  The Physician Assistant Certification Council (PACC) is an independent Council of CAPA that administers and maintains the PA certification process.  “CCPA” stands for Canadian Certified Physician Assistant

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification The Certification Council is comprised of different stakeholder groups:  Physician Associations  Certified Physician Assistants  Other Health Care Professions  Educators  PA regulatory authority  Consumers

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification Key Elements of the Mandate of the PACC  To develop and manage the PA certification examination and processes  To develop and maintain policies and practices that will ensure lifelong learning for Physician Assistants, so they maintain their standards of practice  To prescribe the qualifications of persons who may write the certification examination

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification Certification Opportunities:  CMA accredited Canadian PA training programs  US-PAs who have graduated from an ARC accredited program and holds a current certification by the NCCPA  Candidates that have successfully completed the Ontario Health Ministry’s Physician Assistant Integration Program

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification Certification Exam Entry to practice It is blueprinted from the Occupational Competency Profile designed by CAPA 250 MCQ over a four hour period

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification Ongoing Certification Ensures ongoing clinical currency Current requirements 250 credit hours over a five year period 125 hours listed under Category 1 and 125 hours under Category 2.

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification Although professional certification as envisaged by CAPA has no statutory authority, it is a process that employers and licensing bodies will typically rely upon in making decisions that affect the employability of individuals.

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification Conclusion:  Significant work done by the Steering Committee  PACC provides protection to public

Canadian Association of Physician Assistants Canadian PA Certification Questions