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PA Nomenclature
The abbreviations, acronyms and titles associated with the physician
assistant profession and used in the literature over the past 35
years can be overwhelming and perplexing. As a historic web site,
we will use the terms and titles cited in the literature of the
period. For example, in the early years an 's was used in the title
for PAs - physician's assistant or physician's associate. For some
the 's conveyed the dependence of the PA on the physician while
to others it under stated the level of autonomy achieved by PAs
in the practice of medicine. When a number of less rigorous training
programs began using the generic term physician assistant for their
students and graduates, many of the 2-year PA programs, modeled
after the PA Program at Duke University, changed their titles to
"Associate." Overtime PAs have been referred to as new
health practitioners, clinical or health associates, physician extenders,
mid-level practitioners, and non-physician health care providers.
In the 1980's, the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
recommended that graduates of AMA accredited programs refer to themselves
as physician assistants and that legislation enacted by states use
this terminology to reduce confusion. Physician Assistant is the
current term used to describe the profession.
In time, the Glossary will be expanded to include additional terms
and organizations associated with the PA profession with links to
more detailed historic, on-line information and illustrations. Refer
to the Thesaurus
for themes, keywords and people mentioned on this website.
AAPA |
Established in 1968, the American
Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) is recognized
as the national voice for PAs in medical and surgical specialties.
Originally the organization was incorporated as the American
Association of Physician's Assistants then changed its name
to the American Academy of Physician's Associates in June 1971
and again in February 1972 to the American Academy of Physician's
Assistant. The 's was eventually dropped leaving the organization
with its current title. The AAPA has a federated structure of
57 charter constituent chapters representing the interest of
PAs in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and the federal
services comprised of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Public Health
Service and Department of Veteran Affairs. The AAPA House of
Delegates (HOD) meets annually to develop policy and procedures
and adopt resolutions for the organization. For more information
contact the AAPA at 950 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA,
22314-1552; (703) 836-2272; fax (703) 684-1924; email,
aapa@aapa.org. |
AOR |
The Assembly of Representatives (AOR) is
the SAAAPA's legislative and policymaking body that meets once
a year during the AAPA's Annual PA Conference. Each registered
student society of the SAAAPA is eligible to send a representative
to the AOR. The AOR establishes SAAAPA policy and elects the
Student Board of Directors (SBOD). During the year, the AOR
Representative is the primary information link between students,
the SAAAPA and the AAPA. See SAAAPA for more information. |
APAP |
The Association of Physician Assistant Programs (APAP) was founded in 1972 by a group of concerned program faculty who saw a need to address the important issues of accreditation, certification and continuing education of physician assistants. The Association changed its name to the Physician Assistant Education Association in January 2006 to reflect its expanded array of services to member programs (see PAEA). |
APPAP |
The Association of Postgraduate Physician Assistant Programs (APPAP) was established by eight founding members in 1988 to assist the development and organization of postgraduate curricula and provide advice to institutions interested in establishing advanced educational programs for PAs in various medical and surgical disciplines. The organization’s roots can be traced to 1981 when J.Jeffrey Heinrich established a mail box in New Haven, CT which he maintained as a means of sharing information about current postgraduate educational opportunities. The APPAP became incorporated in 1996 in WV. AAPAP member programs offer fellowships, residencies, and master's degree opportunities for graduates of accredited PA programs to advance their education. For more information contact Jennifer Jarmin at appap@appap.org or call (703) 548-5538, ext. 2. |
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ARC-PA |
The Accreditation
Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant
(ARC-PA) approves and revises Accreditation Standards for
Physician Assistant Education, reviews applications for
accreditation, appoints site visitors, awards accreditation,
imposes sanctions and advise programs and institutions about
accreditation issues. The governing body of the ARC-PA consists
of representatives from seven participating health professional
organizations. Since first adopted by the American Medical Association
(AMA) in 1971, the Standards have been revised periodically
with latest update in 2000. Originally called the Joint Review
Committee (JRC) for Educational Programs for the Assistant to
the Primary Care Physician, the ARC-PA made its recommendations
to the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation
(CAHEA), a national allied health-accrediting agency administered
by the AMA. In 1994, the AMA helped the CAHEA to become an independent
agency, known as the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
Education Programs (CAAHEP). After six years of membership,
the ARC-PA decided to withdraw from the CAAHEP to become a freestanding
accrediting organization. This occurred on January 1, 2001.
For more information contact the ARC-PA at 12000 Findley Road, Suite 240, Duluth, GA, 30097; phone (770) 476-1224, fax (770) 476-1738; or email John McCarty, Executive Director:
johnmccarty@arc-pa.org. |
ARPA |
The American Registry of Physician's Associates
(ARPA) was incorporated in 1970 to encourage the training and
to promote the activities of Physician's Associates. Those registered
by the ARPA were entitled to refer to themselves as an RPA (registered
PA) and were given an ARPA pin to wear on their clinical jackets.
The ARPA was assimilated into the Association of Physician Assistant
Programs (APAP) in 1972 and the National Commission on Certification
of Physician Assistants assumed its registration functions in
1975. The ARPA no longer exists as an organization. |
ERF |
The Education and Research Foundation was
established by the AAPA in 1980 to support the educational and
research needs of the profession. Its name was later changed
to the Physician Assistant Foundation (PAF). See PAF for
more information. |
FCS |
The Federal
Services Congress is comprised of the Society of Air
Force PAs (SAFPA), the Naval Association of PAs (NAPA), the
Public Health Service Academy of PAs (PHSAPA), the Veterans
Affairs PA Association (VAPAA), and the Society of Army PAs
(SAPA). The Federal Services Congress meets twice a year to
discuss many issues facing Federal Service PAs. |
HOD |
The House of Delegates (HOD) establishes
the policies that are implemented by Board of Directors (BOD)
of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). The
HOD meets annually prior to the Annual Physician Assistant Conference.
The House of Delegates consist of representatives from the chartered
chapters, the officially recognized specialty organizations,
the Caucus Congress, the Student Academy of the American Academy
of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA), and the Association of Physician
Assistant Programs (APAP). |
NAPA |
The Naval
Association of Physician Assistants (NAPA) was founded
in 1974 to represent and promote the interest of Navy PAs. It
is a member of the Federal Services Congress (FSC) and a constituent
charter chapter of the AAPA. See FSC and AAPA for more
information. |
NCCPA |
After being formally structured and organized
in 1974, the National
Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
(NCCPA) was incorporated and open offices in Atlanta Georgia
in 1975. NCCPA is the only credentialing organization for physician
assistants in the United States and is dedicated to assuring
the public that certified physician assistants meet established
standards of knowledge and clinical skills upon entry into practice
and throughout their careers. Its Board of Directors includes
appointees from 14 participating organizations, as well as three
members-at-large. After passing the Physician Assistant National
Certifying Examination (PANCE), physician assistants are issued
an NCCPA certificate, entitling them to use of the Physician
Assistant-Certified (PA-C) designation until the expiration
date printed on the certificate (approximately two years). To
remain certified, PAs must log 100 hours of continuing medical
education every two years and complete the Physician Assistant
National Recertification Exam (PANRE) or Pathway II (a combination
of continuing education and non-proctored examination) every
six years. For more information contact the NCCPA at 12000
Findley Rd., Ste. 200, Duluth, GA 30097; tel: 678.417.8100; email,
nccpa@nccpa.net. |
PA-C |
The Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C)
is a title that can be used by PAs who have obtained and maintained
national certification requirements established by the NCCPA.
It is a mark of professional accomplishment, indicating the
achievement and maintenance of established levels of knowledge
and clinical skills. The PA-C credential is widely recognized
within the medical professions and is required in all 50 states,
the District of Columbia and the American territories for licensure
or registration as a physician assistant. See NCCPA for
more details. |
PAEA |
The Physician Assistant Education
Association (PAEA) officially adopted its new name in January 2006, after more than 30 years of existence as the Association of Physician Assistant Programs (APAP). PAEA is the only national organization in the United States representing physician assistant (PA) educational programs. Its mission is to pursue excellence, foster faculty development, advance the body of knowledge that defines quality education and patient-centered care, and promote diversity in all aspects of physician assistant education. Currently, 135 PA programs are members of the PAEA. For more information contact the PAEA at 300 N. Washington Street, Suite 505, Alexandria, VA 22314-2544, Phone: 703/548-5538, Fax: 703/548-5539 and Email: info@PAEAonline.org. |
PA Foundation |
Established in 1980 as the Education and Research
Foundation, and later changing its name, the Physician
Assistant Foundation (PA Foundation) is the philanthropic
arm of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).
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PANCE |
To attain their initial certification and the
PA-C designation, graduates of ARC-PA accredited programs must
pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam
(PANCE). Administered twice annually by the NCCPA, PANCE is
a computer-based, multiple-choice test that comprises 360 questions
that assess basic medical and surgical knowledge. See
NCCPA for more information. |
PANRE |
To maintain NCCPA certification, PA certificate
holders must pass the Physician Assistant National Recertifying
Examination (PANRE) before their certificate expires at
the end of the sixth year of their certification maintenance
cycle. The examination is comprised of approximately 300 multiple-choice
questions designed to assess general medical and surgical knowledge.
Eligible candidates may take the exam as early as year five
in their certification maintenance cycle, given them as many
as four attempts to pass the (PANRE) in case of failure. See
NCCPA for more Information. |
Pathway II |
NCCPA offers in addition to the PANRE another
way for PA-C designees to be recertified. This process is known
as Pathway II. Both PANRE and Pathway II require completion
of a 300 multiple-choice questions examination designed to assess
general medical and surgical knowledge. But there are several
differences. The PANRE is computer-based while the Pathway II
examination is an open-book examination that can be taken at
home with use of reference materials. The passing score for
Pathway II is set higher than the PANRE examination. To be eligible
for Pathway II,
PA-C designees must meet an additional requirement-the accumulation
of 100 points through completion of activities within nine categories
of education and experiential activities. See NCCPA for
more Information. |
PHSAPA |
The Public
Health Service Academy of Physician Assistants (PHSAPA)
promotes the Physician Assistant concept within the Public Health
Service and represents the views of PHS PAs as a member of the
Federal Services Congress (FSC) and as a constituent chapter
of the AAPA. See FSC and AAPA for more information. |
SAAAPA |
The Student
Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants
(SAAAPA) has its own structure within the AAPA and includes
representation from each PA Program's student society. Students
have always been encouraged to play and active role in the AAPA
since its founding in 1968. They were among the first to organize
and share information with their peers. Each registered student
society is represented in the Assembly of Representatives (AOR),
the SAAPA's legislative and policymaking body. The SAAPA also
has representation in the AAPA House of Delegates (HOD). Currently,
there are about 100 registered student society members of the
SAAAPA. . For more information contact the SAAPAP at 950
N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314-1552; (703) 836-2272,
ext. 3111; fax (703) 684-1924; email, students@aapa.org. |
SAFPA |
The Society
of Air Force Physician Assistants (SAFPA) is a professional
organization serving the needs of active duty, retired and reserve
Air Force physician assistants. It is a member of the Federal
Services Congress (FSC) and a constituent chapter of the AAPA.
See FSC and AAPA for more information. |
SAPA |
The Society
of Army Physician Assistants (SAPA) was organized in
1976 and became a constituent chapter of the AAPA in 1977. It
is a civilian organization that represents and supports the
U.S. Army Physician Assistant, including, former, active, retired,
reserve and National Guard PA's. The SAPA provides a forum for
discussion and representation to the AAPA and the Federal Services
Congress (FSC). See FSC and AAPA for more information. |
VAPAA |
Founded in 1982, the Veterans
Affairs Physician Assistant Association (VAPAA) is a
non-profit professional and educational organization dedicated
to promoting the interests of physician assistants employed
by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In 1989, VAPAA was chartered
as a constituent chapter of the AAPA. It is also a member of
the Federal Services Congress (FSC). See FSC and AAPA
for more information. |
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