Professional Development
Professional Development
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
Certificate of Added Qualifications in Emergency Medicine
SEMPA's Official Statement
The Society of Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants (SEMPA) endorses the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in emergency medicine as an appropriate measure of knowledge of emergency medical content for physician assistants practicing in emergency medicine.
SEMPA further encourages appropriately qualified physician assistants and qualified members to obtain the CAQ in emergency medicine as is deemed necessary for the practice environment, career advancement and objectives of the emergency medicine physician assistant and the attestation of the supervising physician.
Whereas the CAQ is a mastery level competency process, it cannot be viewed as the entry-level credential for physician assistants beginning a practice in emergency medicine, and therefore should not be utilized to define minimum standards for hospital credentialing or employment.
Whereas the CAQ has as a prerequisite valid state licensure and national certification as a PA-C, the CAQ should not be used by any regulatory or credentialing body as a mandatory requirement for practice. Nor for the same reasons should it be viewed by any third-party payer as a mandatory requirement for reimbursement.
SEMPA acknowledges that experienced-based mastery of emergency medicine and maintenance of certification has long been the only available measure of competence, and acknowledges that other measures of competency, such as experience-based practice, are also valid.
SEMPA also acknowledges that current limitations exist that may limit access for physician assistants in emergency medicine to immediately secure the CAQ in emergency medicine such as once-a-year testing schedule and logistical constraints such as travel and cost.