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Professional Organizations for Physician Assistants to Further Their Careers

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Carlos da Silva

Author Bio

Carlos da Silva is a highly skilled and compassionate physician assistant with over a decade of experience in the healthcare industry. He has a passion for providing exceptional patient care and staying up-to-date on the latest medical advancements. In his free time, Carlos enjoys hiking, cooking, and spending time with his family.

Members of professional organizations enjoy a lot of benefits. These groups are resources for knowledge, support, professional development, and career opportunities. Physician assistant organizations are also the ones who set the standards for physician assistant programs that provide PA education and certification.

There are four national professional organizations in the United States: the ARC-PA, AAPA, NCCPA, and PAEA. There are also several smaller groups focused on specific regions or specializations within the physician assistant profession. The information here will give you an overview of these groups and what services each provides for PAs.

The primary PA professional organizations

Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)

The ARC-PA is the organization responsible for accreditation of PA programs. They define the standards for PA education, evaluate current programs to ensure they’re in compliance with these standards, and grant accreditation to new programs.

The main value of the ARC-PA for professionals is for students who are looking for the right degree program. They maintain an online listing of the currently accredited programs that prospective students can use as a resource to identify high-quality programs.

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)

The AAPA is the largest national organization for physician assistants, representing all of the more than 131,000 PAs across the United States, its territories, and its armed forces. They have resources for PAs at all stages of their careers, from information on how to prepare for and apply to PA programs to leadership and specialization training for established professionals.

The AAPA is also one of the main sources of continuing medical education (CME) for PAs to maintain their certification. They’re an excellent resource for courses, workshops, conferences, and distance learning like podcasts, webinars, and online classes.

National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)

Most physician assistants know the NCCPA as the organization that administers the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) to obtain PA-C certification. They also oversee the PANRE and PANRE-LA exams to maintain certification and are where professionals will submit their CME credits as they earn them.

In addition to their general certification resources, the NCCPA also grants Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQs) that demonstrate expertise in a specialty. Currently, CAQs are offered for cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, dermatology, emergency medicine, hospital medicine, nephrology, orthopaedic surgery, palliative medicine and hospice care, pediatrics, and psychiatry. They will also be adding a CAQ for obstetrics and gynecology in late 2023.

Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA)

The PAEA is the sole national organization that represents PA programs. All accredited programs in the United States are members, and individuals can become members, as well, either independently or as part of a program.

The PAEA’s main focus is on education. They have faculty development and leadership development resources and courses, as well as hosting workshops and other events for educators and students.

Other professional organizations for physician assistants

While these four main organizations are the ones that will be the most useful for PAs across the country, there are other groups out there that individuals in certain regions or specialities may find valuable.

Organizations for PA specializations

In addition to the specialty certifications from the NCCPA, PAs with a specialty can join their associated organization for additional training and resources. These include:

Regional PA professional organizations

Physician assistants working outside the United States can join the professional organization for the country where they practice. The International Physician Assistant Organization (IPAO) is an excellent resource to learn about working internationally as a PA. Other international organizations include:

There are also chapters of the AAPA in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, which can be helpful resources for connecting with other local professionals, finding employment opportunities, or learning about nearby events, workshops, and continuing education.

Organizations for PAs in the military

The physician assistant profession started from members of the military, so it’s no surprise there’s still a strong tradition of PAs working in the armed forces. PAs in the Air Force, Navy, and Army each have their own organization:

FAQs

Do I need to be a member of a professional organization to attend their events and classes?

Normally, no. However, there is often a discount for members. This can be significant for larger events. The discount for the annual AAPA conference is more than the cost of membership, for example, so if you plan to attend these events, becoming a member first is a smart idea.

How much does membership in a PA organization cost?

That depends on the organization. The AAPA offers multiple membership tiers, ranging from $295-$995 per year. Individual membership in the PAEA costs $125 per year. The cost of joining other organizations varies, but is typically lower than the membership fee of these national organizations.