NCCPA

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) stands as the only certifying organization for physician assistants in the United States. Established as a not-for-profit organization in 1974, NCCPA is dedicated to promoting high-quality patient care in the changing world of medicine through rigorous certification and recertification processes that reflect standards for clinical knowledge, clinical reasoning, and professional behaviors required upon entry into practice and throughout the careers of PAs.

As of December 31, 2023, there were more than 178,700 Board Certified PAs, all of whom rely on NCCPA's certification programs to demonstrate their commitment to evidence-based patient care. NCCPA develops and administers the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) and the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam (PANRE), along with Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) assessments for various specialties. The organization also maintains a robust repository of data on Certified PA demographics and practice characteristics, supporting research and workforce analysis. NCCPA is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and is headquartered in Johns Creek, Georgia.