If you are planning your next NCCPA CME cycle, the label on a course matters. “CME” is not enough by itself. You need to know whether the activity is Category 1 or Category 2, whether it is designated as self-assessment, how many credits you can claim, and whether the activity is approved by a recognized accreditor.
Current PANRE Review Course details:
The course is available through the PANRE Review Course with Gift Card page. Amazon and Apple gift cards from $100 to $1,500 are optional paid add-ons. They are not free gifts and are priced separately from the CME course.
AAPA Category 1 CME is not simply any medical information you read or any activity that feels educational. The activity must meet the requirements of a recognized CME accreditor and be formally designated for Category 1 credit.
For an online enduring activity, the provider should identify:
You should claim only the amount of credit supported by your participation and the course documentation. The AAPA CME FAQs provide additional guidance on approved CME activities and credit types.
This is why the source of the credit matters. A course may be clinically useful but still fail to meet the Category 1 requirement if it was not appropriately approved or designated.
Self-assessment CME is designed to help you identify knowledge gaps through questions, case analysis, testing, or another structured evaluation process. When the activity is properly designated as Category 1 Self-Assessment CME, it remains Category 1 credit for NCCPA purposes.
This distinction matters because self-assessment is often associated with board preparation. However, not every question bank or exam review product automatically qualifies. Look for the official accreditation statement and the exact credit designation.
NCCPA gives Category 1 Self-Assessment CME additional weight in its tracking system. For example, an activity worth 20 Category 1 Self-Assessment credits may count as 30 credits toward NCCPA requirements after the applicable multiplier is applied.
You should not calculate or alter the credit amount yourself. Log the face-value credit shown on your documentation and identify the activity as self-assessment when the provider designates it that way. NCCPA applies the appropriate calculation in its system.
Category 2 learning is different. It may include medically related reading, teaching, independent study, or other educational activities that are not formally approved as Category 1. Category 2 can contribute to the overall CME total, but it does not satisfy the minimum Category 1 requirement.
For a standard NCCPA certification maintenance cycle, the basic requirement is:
This means you cannot complete 100 Category 2 credits and assume the cycle is complete. At least 50 credits must be Category 1.
A course providing 100 AAPA Category 1 credits can simplify your tracking because the activity may cover the full numerical CME requirement before any applicable NCCPA weighting. You still need to complete the activity correctly and log it according to NCCPA rules.
Review the current requirements directly through the NCCPA Continuing Medical Education page, especially if your certification cycle or reporting deadline is approaching.
When you complete an approved course, do not enter a rounded or estimated number that differs from the course documentation. Use the activity title, completion date, credit amount, and activity type shown by the provider.
For Category 1 Self-Assessment CME, the practical process is generally:
For the CME Review Courses PANRE Review Course, the post-test requires a score of at least 70%. Missed questions may be retaken to reach the passing score. The course issues documentation for the precise amount of credit earned after the completion requirements are met.
The 100 AAPA Category 1 credits discussed in this post apply to the PANRE Review Course. They do not apply to the separate Pharmacology course. The Pharmacology CME Review Package is a different product with its own credit designation.
Category 2 can be useful, but it has a different role in your CME plan.
A Category 1 course is formally reviewed and designated by an accrediting organization. Category 2 activities are generally self-reported and may include professional learning that does not have formal Category 1 approval. Category 2 can help you reach the 100-credit total after you have met the 50-credit Category 1 minimum.
A practical approach is to complete enough Category 1 CME early in the cycle to protect the minimum requirement. You can then use Category 2 activities to supplement your total if needed.
This is also why a low-cost activity is not necessarily the best value. If it does not meet the Category 1 requirement, it may not solve the problem you are trying to solve.
AAPA Category 1 credit is designed primarily for physician assistants. PAs should verify that the activity is appropriate for their NCCPA certification maintenance requirements.
Physicians may find the clinical content useful, but AAPA Category 1 credit generally does not function as Category 1 CME for physician certification purposes. A physician should verify whether the activity qualifies as Category 2 credit or meets the requirements of the physician’s specific certifying organization.
Nurse practitioners should also verify state-specific rules. Some state boards and employers accept AAPA Category 1 credit for NP continuing education, while others require nursing-specific approval. Acceptance can vary by state, employer, and certification body.
The PANRE Review Course with Gift Card is designed for practicing PAs who want PANRE or PANRE-LA preparation combined with a substantial Category 1 CME activity.
The current course listing includes:
The course page lists the package at $499.99. Optional Amazon or Apple gift card add-ons range from $100 to $1,500 and are added to the purchase price. These are paid add-ons, not complimentary gifts. The value of the package should be evaluated first on the educational content, the Category 1 credit, the access period, and the relevance of the PANRE preparation.
Your patient is a 64-year-old woman with 12 hours of fever, RUQ pain, and jaundice. She is confused and appears ill. Vital signs are T 39.1°C, HR 122, BP 88/54 mm Hg, RR 24/min, and SaO₂ 94% on room air. Laboratory studies show leukocytosis and an elevated total bilirubin. Ultrasound demonstrates a dilated common bile duct. What is the most appropriate management?
A. Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy
B. MRCP before initiating treatment
C. Oral antibiotics and outpatient follow-up
D. IV broad-spectrum antibiotics, hemodynamic resuscitation, and urgent biliary drainage with ERCP
E. Observation with repeat liver tests in 24 hours
Correct answer: D. IV broad-spectrum antibiotics, hemodynamic resuscitation, and urgent biliary drainage with ERCP.
This patient has severe acute ascending cholangitis with hypotension and altered mental status. Initial treatment requires IV fluids, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and urgent source control through biliary drainage. Elective cholecystectomy does not address the immediate obstruction. MRCP may define anatomy but should not delay treatment in an unstable patient. Oral antibiotics and observation are inadequate.
Before purchasing or logging an activity, confirm:
If you are a PA preparing for recertification, the PANRE Review Course combines board-style practice with 100 hours of AAPA Category 1 CME. If you are looking for PANCE prep courses rather than PANRE preparation, CME Review Courses also offers PAtopia.
You can try the PAtopia web version without downloading anything. PAtopia is also available through the iOS App Store and Google Play for Android.
The key point is straightforward: count your credits by category, confirm the accreditor, follow the logging rules, and choose educational products that solve both your exam-preparation and CME needs.
Jeremy Boroff, MPAS, PA-C is a practicing emergency medicine physician assistant and the sole faculty member for the CME Review Courses PANRE review activity. He has extensive clinical experience and has served in physician assistant leadership and education roles. His review materials are written for PAs and focus on practical clinical reasoning, board-style assessment, and evidence-based management.
Educational content should not replace the current requirements published by NCCPA, AAPA, a state medical board, a state board of nursing, or another certifying organization. Verify your individual CME requirements before logging credit.
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