What is a PA CAQ?
A Certificate of Added Qualifications from NCCPA that shows a certified PA's advanced expertise in a specialty. It is optional.
PA specialty certificates (CAQs) from NCCPA: requirements by specialty
A CAQ, or Certificate of Added Qualifications, is an NCCPA credential that shows a certified PA's advanced expertise in a specialty. It is optional and sits on top of PA-C certification.
What a CAQ is
NCCPA offers Certificates of Added Qualifications so PAs can show advanced expertise in a specialty. A CAQ is optional. It is not a license to practice and it is not a clinical privilege; licensure comes from the state and privileges come from the facility.
Shared prerequisites
NCCPA lists these prerequisites for every CAQ:
- Current PA-C certification.
- A valid, unrestricted license to practice as a PA in at least one US jurisdiction or territory, or unrestricted privileges to practice as a PA for a government agency.
Beyond the prerequisites, each CAQ asks for:
- Specialty-specific CME: In the six years before applying for the CAQ exam, a minimum of 75 Category I CME credits focused on the specialty, including 25 earned within the last two years. The same 75 credits may also be used for maintenance of the PA-C credential.
- Experience: a set number of hours in the specialty within six years of attesting.
- Attestation from a physician, lead/senior PA, or physician/PA postgraduate program director who works in the specialty.
- Passing the specialty exam.
The 12 CAQ specialties NCCPA lists
- Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CVTS)
- Dermatology
- Emergency Medicine
- Geriatric Medicine
- Hospital Medicine
- Nephrology
- OBGYN (see NCCPA)
- Occupational Medicine (see NCCPA)
- Orthopaedic Surgery (see NCCPA)
- Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care (see NCCPA)
- Pediatrics (see NCCPA)
- Psychiatry (see NCCPA)
Related guides
Source
As published by NCCPA, read October 15, 2026; confirm on nccpa.net.
Frequently asked questions
What do all CAQs require?
Current PA-C certification and a valid, unrestricted PA license in at least one US jurisdiction or territory (or unrestricted government-agency privileges), plus specialty CME, experience hours, a specialty attestation and a passed specialty exam.
Is a CAQ a license or privilege?
No. Licensure comes from the state and privileges come from the facility. Confirm current CAQ details on nccpa.net.