NCCPA

What NCCPA does

NCCPA (National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants), founded in 1974 and headquartered in Johns Creek, Georgia, is the sole national certifying body for physician assistants in the United States. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with 101-250 employees, NCCPA administers the PANCE initial certification examination at Pearson VUE centers, the PANRE recertification examination, the PANRE-LA longitudinal take-at-home assessment (launched as a permanent alternative in 2023), and 13 Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQs) across specialties including cardiovascular/thoracic surgery, emergency medicine, hospital medicine, nephrology, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, dermatology, palliative medicine, OBGYN, and occupational medicine. The organization holds NCCA accreditation through the Institute for Credentialing Excellence.

NCCPA's technology platform is centered on the PA Portal — a secure web portal serving PAs, students, PA programs, state licensing boards, CME providers, and API partners — and a companion NCCPA mobile application that handles payments, donations, and receipts. The PA Professional Profile is a workforce-research data asset collecting demographic and practice information from approximately 159,514 PAs (84% of certified PAs) as of December 31, 2024, structured on HRSA minimum dataset guidelines. Public-facing verification, an active API partner program, and the Provider Bridge partnership with the Federation of State Medical Boards extend NCCPA's verification infrastructure to state regulators and healthcare employers.

Revenue is generated through one-time and recurring fees: initial PANCE examination fees paid by ~12,400 new entrants per year, periodic PANRE/PANRE-LA recertification fees across a 10-year cycle, specialty CAQ examination and maintenance fees across 13+ specialties, CME logging subscription and audit services, and credential verification transactional fees charged to state licensing boards and employers. The business model is mission-driven non-profit rather than equity-financed, with a board-governed structure, no external investors, and revenue reinvested into certification, research, workforce initiatives (e.g., REPRESENT! Summit, Back2School, PA Ambassador Program), and the affiliated nccPA Health Foundation and PA History Society.

Name

NCCPA

Legal name

National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants

Website

https://nccpa.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NCCPA is the sole U.S. certifying body for physician assistants, issuing the PA-C credential through PANCE, PANRE/PANRE-LA, and specialty CAQs. The non-profit serves approximately 189,907 certified PAs across all 50 states from Johns Creek, Georgia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Professional Certification

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Certifications (EDAAANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Standards, Metrology & Accreditation Bodies (BPAIAOAC), Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Physician assistant certification
• Healthcare credentialing services
• Medical recertification exams
• Professional certification programs
• Continuing medical education

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. PA Certification Fees: Revenue from initial certification examinations (PANCE) and periodic recertification exams (PANRE, PANRE-LA) that PAs must pass to obtain and maintain certification.
2. Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) Fees: Fees for specialty CAQ examinations in cardiovascular/thoracic surgery, emergency medicine, hospital medicine, nephrology, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, dermatology, palliative medicine/hospice care, OBGYN, and occupational medicine.
3. CME Tracking Services: Web-based CME logging system providing secure online access for PAs to track continuing medical education requirements for certification maintenance.
4. Credential Verification Services: Verification services for state licensing boards and employers to confirm PA certification status and disciplinary actions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NCCPA is the sole national certifying body for physician assistants (PAs) in the United States. It administers the initial PANCE certification examination, the PANRE and PANRE-LA recertification assessments, and a portfolio of specialty Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQs). It supports these credentials with the PA Portal for certification maintenance, CME tracking, credential verification APIs, mobile applications, and workforce data collection through the PA Professional Profile.

Product overview

NCCPA operates as a certification organization providing a unified platform of certification and credentialing products for Physician Assistants. The core portfolio centers on the PANCE initial certification exam, the PANRE and PANRE-LA recertification options (including the innovative longitudinal take-at-home assessment), and a growing array of Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQs) in specialty areas such as emergency medicine, hospital medicine, psychiatry, and more. These are supported by digital platforms including the PA Portal for certification management, the NCCPA mobile app, the PA Professional Profile data platform for workforce research, the Board Certification Verification tool, and the PA Career Center job marketplace. NCCPA also conducts outreach through the REPRESENT! Summit, Back2School Program, and PA Ambassador Program. Together, these products form an integrated ecosystem enabling PAs to certify, recertify, specialize, and manage their professional credentials throughout their careers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination) The initial certification examination that assesses clinical knowledge, clinical reasoning, and medical skills required for entry-level PA practice. Administered as a computerized exam at Pearson VUE centers and required before a PA can obtain licensure.
• PANRE (Physician Assistant National Recertifying Examination) Recertification examination for board-certified PAs that assesses ongoing clinical knowledge and reasoning on a periodic cycle. Administered as a proctored computerized exam at Pearson VUE test centers.
• PANRE-LA (Longitudinal Assessment) Permanent alternative to PANRE offering a take-at-home longitudinal assessment. PAs answer test questions quarterly over two years for recertification, providing flexibility and continuous learning; recognized as AAPA Category 1 Self-Assessment CME credit.
• Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQs) Specialty credentials recognizing PAs' experience and knowledge in specific clinical areas. Currently offered across multiple specialties including cardiovascular/thoracic surgery, emergency medicine, hospital medicine, nephrology, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, dermatology, palliative medicine/hospice care, OBGYN, and occupational medicine, with addiction medicine, oncology, and geriatric medicine in development.
• PA-C Emeritus Designation A designation for PAs who have demonstrated longstanding commitment to professionalism and the standards required of Certified PAs but are no longer clinically practicing and do not need active certification.
• Board Certification Verification Public-facing verification tool that allows employers, patients, state licensing boards, and other stakeholders to confirm PA certification status and review any disciplinary actions issued by NCCPA.
• PA Career Center Online job search platform powered by HealthCare Careers that connects PAs with employment opportunities and provides hundreds of job listings with alerts for new positions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 189,907 board-certified PAs in the U.S. as of December 31, 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and minor.

• PA History SocietysupportingOthersThe PA History Society was created to share the history of the development of the PA profession and illustrate how PAs continue to make a difference in society. NCCPA supports this related organization that preserves PA history.
• nccPA Health FoundationsupportingOthersThe nccPA Health Foundation creates solutions for improving the capacity of Certified PAs to impact the quality and accessibility of health care delivery. NCCPA supports this affiliated foundation that funds grants for PA-led health initiatives.
• Provider Bridge (FSMB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCPA is a partner with the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) in the launch of Provider Bridge, a service designed to streamline procedures and facilitate critical medical services across state lines during emergencies.
• Psychiatric TimesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe nccPA Health Foundation has a strategic alliance with Psychiatric Times as part of its PArtners in Mental Health Initiative, elevating PA contributions in mental and behavioral health.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS): The certifying body for physician specialists in the U.S., administering board certification and Maintenance of Certification programs. Directly analogous to NCCPA in operating a national specialty certification system for a healthcare profession, including Member Board portfolio programs that NCCPA explicitly partners with.
• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): The largest U.S. nurse certification body, offering initial certification, recertification, and specialty credentials across nursing practice areas. Closely parallels NCCPA's model of certifying a specific healthcare profession with multiple specialty credentials and recertification requirements.
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB): Certifies nurse practitioners across family, adult-gerontology, and emergency specialties. Comparable to NCCPA in offering initial certification plus specialty credentials and recertification, with similar regulatory dependence on state licensing boards.
• National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA): Certifies and recertifies nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) using a similar model to NCCPA: initial exam, recertification with CPD requirements, and continued professional practice. Has also adopted longitudinal assessment formats analogous to NCCPA's PANRE-LA.
• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB): Provides national certification for pediatric nurses and nurse practitioners. Mirrors NCCPA's structure of single-profession initial certification, recertification, and specialty credentials, all tied to state licensure.
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC): Certifies respiratory therapists with multiple credentials (CRT, RRT, specialty credentials). Operates a similar model of multi-level certification and recertification for a single allied health profession.
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT): The leading credentialing organization for radiologic technologists, with initial certification, annual renewal, and biennial CQR requirements. A close structural analog to NCCPA's certification-and-maintenance model for allied health professionals.
• Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS): Provides specialty certification for pharmacists across multiple practice areas (similar to NCCPA's CAQs). Analogous in offering specialty credentials layered on top of base licensure, with recertification requirements.
• Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR): The credentialing agency for registered dietitians, with initial registration, recertification, and specialty board certifications. Operates a parallel model of single-profession certification, maintenance, and specialty credentials.

Others

• National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA): The accrediting body under the Institute for Credentialing Excellence that has accredited NCCPA's certification programs. Acts as a meta-accreditor and standards-setter for the certification industry in which NCCPA operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NCCPAcert
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7JQq0RvH9_4X0m0R8dR8jQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/NCCPAcert
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-commission-on-certification-of-physician-assistants-nccpa-?trk=nav_account_sub_nav_company_admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/nccpa_cert

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NCCPA