Transcript Board Review

John Leffert, MPAS, PA-C
Congratulations!
 You are on the brink of
completing an ARC accredited
PA program.
 Your next step is to pass the
NCCPA board exam, are you
ready?
Your best resource
 https://www.nccpa.net/Student/Default.aspx
 NCCPA-how to become a certified PA
 Board Review books and practice tests
Board Review Books
 A Comprehensive Review for the Certification and
Recertification Examinations for Physician Assistants
 Published in Collaboration with the AAPA and APAP
 Appleton and Lange Physician Assistant Review
Practice Exams
 NCCPA practice exam
 http://www.nccpa.net/SelfAssessment.aspx
 Only $35
 120 questions
 Breakdown of weaknesses/strengths to help you study for PANCE
 Board Review Practice Exams
 Most have CDs included so you can take then computer based like
the PANCE
 Some give you answers and explanations
 Board Review Courses
 Can get pricey
 Watch for quality
 Some have guarantees (money back if you don’t pass—they will not
reimburse you your PANCE fees)
Exam Scheduling
 When registering for PANCE, consider the following requirements:
 NCCPA does not accept applications until 90 days prior to your expected
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program completion date (as provided by your program director).
The earliest date you'll be able to test is seven days after your program
completion (provided your program director has confirmed your program
completion date.) This date will be reflected in your exam application
acknowledgement e-mail.
You have 180 days from the beginning of your exam timeframe to take the exam.
These dates will be reflected in your exam application acknowledgement email.
You may only take PANCE once in any 90-day period or three times in a
calendar year.
There will be no testing between Dec. 22-31
If there's any chance that you won't complete your PA program requirements on
time, wait until you are confident of your program completion date before
registering for the exam to avoid rescheduling fees.
THE EXAM
 The PANCE is a computer based exam totaling 300
questions
 The exam is broken down into 60 question/60 minute
“blocks” of questions with scheduled breaks of 45 minutes
each between blocks
 DO NOT take an unscheduled break, the clock will continue
to run on your exam!
 You have a total of 6 hours to complete the exam
 You may not revisit a block if you did not complete it
 http://www.nccpa.net/ExamsContentBPTasks.aspx
 You must pass PANCE in 6 attempts or within 6 years of
graduation
 You must wait 90 days to retake the exam if you fail
TEST DAY
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http://www.nccpa.net/TestDay.aspx
Follow instructions to the letter!
Bring your ID
Do a “dry run” the day before, particularly if you are testing
in an unfamiliar setting/city. Double/triple check the
timing to get there, and give yourself plenty of time, you
don’t need to waste $475!! If you are late they do not have to
let you in!
 Use scheduled breaks to get a drink, go to the bathroom,
etc, although you are allowed to go to your locker, DO NOT
use your cell phone to talk about the exam AT ALL!!
After the test
 DO NOT discuss the test with ANYONE!!
 Score report will usually be available in 2 weeks
 When you pass, you can send the report to your state to get your license
 When you get licensed, ask your supervising doctor about whether or not
you should obtain a DEA certificate, he/she may not want you to have
one
 YOU may not want to have one!
 If your supervising doc has in your agreement
that you will
not be writing scheduled drugs, don’t bother
with a DEA
 Check out your state’s PA group (i.e. PSPA) for
samples of supervising agreements to help you
along the way.
SPECIALTY EXAMS!
 Specialty exams for emergency med, nephrology, psychiatry,
cardiovascular surgery and ortho
 For PAs meeting those basic prerequisites, the specialty
certification process will include four core requirements:
Category I specialty CME, procedures and patient case
logging appropriate for the specialty, one to two years of
experience (or an acceptable formalized clinical training
substitution) and a specialty exam.
 The first three requirements listed above may be completed
in any order. Once complete, the specialty certification
candidate is eligible for the exam.
Contracts
 Beware of what you sign!!
 #1 worry…restrictive covenants:
 They will forbid you to practice within a certain area after you leave their
employment for a particular amount of time
 Watch big companies: CHS, Geisinger
 #2 Duties and Pay
 Make sure your job duties are clearly outlined, INCLUDING CALL
 Watch the pay rate, *don’t forget pay for call*, and be careful about incentivized
pay scales, does that practice/hospital have the ability for you to achieve the
incentive
 #3 The “Add-ons”
 Malpractice
 Association fees
 Continuing Medical Education
 Vacation/Benefits, etc
 Make sure you have an “out”, no matter what
 If you have questions, make them clarify, and have someone else look at it—
another PA, lawyer friend, etc
 If you request changes they can make them, don’t be afraid to ask
So now you are making money…
 You worked hard, don’t give it all away!
 Tax time, do not forget to deduct… (IF your company is not
providing)
Your tuition for this year
Certification and Recertification fees for Boards
Licensing fees- state and DEA
Association fees
CME fees
Phone expenses if you are on call (if you are an independent
contractor)
 Driving expenses if you have to drive for your job (same)
 Interest on student loans
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It’s OVER! Be HAPPY! Enjoy Life