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

O r g a n iz a tio n a lS tr u c tu re

CAPA Activities Certification Activities

Exective Director OfficeAdm inistration

Directorof Certification

CAPAand

Board of Directors

CertificationCouncil

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 growsPurpose 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

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

C e r tif ic a tio n C o u n c il

T e stC o m m ittee

E d u c a tio n alC o m m ittee

A p p e als a n d R e v iewC o m m itte

C e r tifica tionC o u n c il

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