How many CME credits are required per cycle?
Each two-year cycle requires 100 credits, including at least 50 Category 1 credits. The remaining 50 may be Category 1 or Category 2.
PA CME renewal checklist
NCCPA certification maintenance is a 10-year process with five two-year cycles, each requiring 100 logged CME credits with at least 50 Category 1 credits. Log credits online and pay the maintenance fee by 11:59 p.m. PT on December 31 of your certification expiration year, checking NCCPA for the current fee.
Plan the cycle and earning window
The earning window begins May 1 of the year your current certification was issued and runs through December 31 of the expiration year.
Log the required credit mix
At least 50 of the 100 credits must be Category 1. The remaining 50 can be Category 1 or Category 2.
Check NCCPA credit treatment
Self-assessment Category 1 activities receive 50% additional credit when logged with NCCPA. The first 20 PI-CME credits logged in a cycle are doubled.
Keep documentation and complete maintenance
Newly certified PAs should keep Category 1 documentation for the current and last CME cycles. NCCPA does not audit Category 2 CME, but state boards may have their own audit rules; check your board.
Frequently asked questions
When is the earning window?
It starts May 1 of the year your current certification was issued and continues through December 31 of the expiration year.
How does NCCPA treat self-assessment and PI-CME?
Self-assessment Category 1 activities earn 50% additional credit when logged with NCCPA. The first 20 PI-CME credits logged in a cycle are doubled.
What documentation and deadline should I track?
Newly certified PAs keep Category 1 documentation for the current and last CME cycles. Log credits and pay the maintenance fee by 11:59 p.m. PT on December 31 of the expiration year; check NCCPA for the current fee and your board for audit rules.
Sources
General information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Confirm details with the source and with your state board, employer or insurer.