Those certified PAs who must recertify by examination in 2002 will see changes in the examination rules.

First, the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Examination (PANRE) will be given in March and a new date of August. The first August examination will be given in 2001. Pathway II, the take-at-home version of the exam will also be offered twice a year.

In 2002, certified PAs may take the recertifying examination in year five of the maintenance cycle, instead of waiting to year six. For those who fail the exam, it may be retaken four times in two years.

For those who have let their certification lapse, new options were made available in 2001. Previous rules required formally certified PAs to take the initial certification exam (PANCE) again. Changes now allow those seeking to regain certification to take the regular recertification exam, the (PANRE or Pathway II).

However, all other requirements are still in place. PAs must have completed six year's CME requirements-300 hours-to be eligible for the recertification exam. Those who can not met these requirements may take the initial certification exam (PANCE) again


REFERENCE     NCCPA NEWS, Summer, 2000, Vol 1, No 3, pp 1-3., and Fall, 2001, Vol 2, No 4, pp. 1-3.