In 1971, the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) was funded to develop a certifying examination for the new profession of physician assistants. This came to be known as the National Certifying Examination for the Assistant to the Primary Care Physician.

The NBME, in conjunction with the American Medical Association (AMA), convened the first meeting of representatives from 15 different organizations in 1972. The purpose was to discuss an independent certifying authority for PAs.

Amazingly, agreement was reached at that meeting on the policies, charges, and board compensation of a new organization.

The new organization would become responsible for the design, development, administration, scoring and reporting results of a new test beginning in 1975. This test would use objective measurement techniques to determine and verify the competence of both new and old PAs.

The purpose of the new test was to assure patients, state enabling authorities, employers, and PAs themselves that they had sufficient medical knowledge needed to treat and diagnose patients.

As to the Board of Directors, five of the seats would be filled by the AAPA. Consumer interests were to be represented by three public members-at-large. The remaining seats would be filled by one person from each of the founding organizations.

The NCCPA became a reality when a CEO was found and the first office opened in Atlanta, Georgia on February 1, 1975.