Certified physician assistants need 100 CME credits every two years, and at least 50 of those must be AAPA Category 1 credits. The remaining 50 can be Category 1 or Category 2. You log these credits with the NCCPA as part of a 10-year certification maintenance cycle that also includes a recertification exam. Here’s exactly how it works.
The two-year CME cycle
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) sets the national standard. To maintain your PA-C, you log 100 CME credits in each two-year cycle — at least 50 Category 1, with the other 50 in either category — and pay a certification maintenance fee each cycle. There are five of these two-year cycles inside the full 10-year certification period.
Category 1 vs. Category 2 CME
The distinction matters, because half your credits must be Category 1:
- Category 1 — formally structured, accredited activities from providers approved by the AAPA, AMA, AOA, or AAFP. Board-review courses, accredited conferences, and accredited online modules carry Category 1 credit.
- Category 2 — other self-directed learning related to medicine or the PA role, such as reading journals or teaching, that isn’t formally accredited.
The 10-year cycle and recertification exam
CME is only half of certification maintenance. Across the 10-year cycle you also sit a recertification exam — the PANRE, or the longitudinal PANRE-LA — generally taken toward the end of the cycle. The CME keeps you current year to year; the exam confirms it.
Self-assessment and PI-CME: optional, but they count for more
Self-assessment CME and performance-improvement CME (PI-CME) are no longer required, but NCCPA rewards them with bonus weighting toward your 100-credit total:
- AAPA Category 1 Self-Assessment credits get an extra 50% — log 20, and they count as 30.
- NCCPA doubles the first 20 PI-CME credits you earn each cycle.
Do CME requirements vary by state?
The 100-credits-every-two-years rule is the NCCPA national standard. Individual state licensing boards may set their own CME requirements for license renewal. Most states accept current NCCPA certification toward that licensure CME, but it varies by state — confirm with your state board.
The fastest way to meet your requirement
Our AAPA Category 1 CME packages are built to cover your cycle efficiently. Total Program Access awards up to 468.75 AAPA Category 1 credits across all 14 specialty modules — enough to cover multiple cycles in one purchase. Prefer to focus on one area? Browse the individual specialty CME packages, or get exam-ready with the PANRE & PANRE-LA review exams. For the official rules, see the NCCPA certification maintenance page.
Frequently asked questions
How many CME credits do PAs need every two years?
PAs need 100 CME credits per two-year cycle, at least 50 of which must be AAPA Category 1.
How often do PAs have to take a recertification exam?
Once per 10-year certification cycle — either the PANRE or the PANRE-LA.
Do self-assessment CME credits count for more?
Yes. NCCPA applies a 50% bonus to AAPA Category 1 Self-Assessment credits, so 20 logged credits count as 30 toward your 100-credit requirement.
Do PA CME requirements vary by state?
The NCCPA standard of 100 credits every two years is national. States may add their own licensure CME requirements, so check with your state board of medicine.