Daily CME Tips: Category 1 vs Category 2 AAPA Credit. What the Difference Means When You Spend Your CME Budget, and Where a Paid $100–$1,500 Gift Card Add-On Fits

PANRE Review Course with Gift Card: $499.99 for 30 months of access. The course awards up to 100 AAPA Category 1 CME credits through its PANRE Clinical Review Module. Optional Amazon or Apple gift card add-ons cost an additional $100–$1,500 at checkout; they are paid add-ons, not free gifts.

Category 1 and Category 2: the practical difference

For PAs, Category 1 and Category 2 both recognize relevant learning, but they are not interchangeable in every setting.

Category 1 CME has been reviewed against criteria established by an organization that approves the activity. AAPA Category 1 activities are reviewed and approved through the AAPA CME process. The activity identifies the credit available, and you can receive documentation, typically a certificate, showing the credit you actually earned.

Category 2 CME is relevant learning that has not been designated Category 1. Examples include reading medical journals or texts, clinical research online, and certain professional activities. PAs record these activities themselves and should retain their own supporting records.

The distinction matters because an employer, hospital credentialing committee, or state licensing board may ask specifically for Category 1 credit. Category 2 may still be useful learning and may count toward applicable NCCPA requirements, but self-reported Category 2 hours may not meet a requirement that explicitly calls for Category 1.

NCCPA requires PAs to earn 100 CME credits during each two-year cycle, including at least 50 Category 1 credits. The remaining 50 may be Category 1, Category 2, or a combination. Confirm current requirements and documentation expectations directly with NCCPA and your state board.

Why the category matters when you use an employer CME allowance

An employer CME allowance is a budget, but it is also subject to policy. Before choosing a course, check what your employer expects: Category 1 specifically, a certificate, a particular approval source, or a receipt of eligible expenses. (We don’t discuss receipts here; just check your employer’s documentation rules.) An activity that only gives you Category 2 credit may support your learning but leave you short if your credentialing packet requires Category 1.

A practical way to compare options is to ask:

• What credit type will I receive?
• What is the maximum credit, and what must I complete to earn it?
• Will the course provide a certificate stating my actual credit?
• Does my employer allow the full purchase, including any add-on, to be charged to my CME allowance?

The AAPA CME FAQs describe Category 1 and Category 2 credit and NCCPA logging. Keep your course documentation and claim only credit you have earned.

PANRE Review Course: course details and credit requirements

The PANRE Review Course with Gift Card costs $499.99 for 30 months of access before any gift card add-on. It includes 2,500+ board-style practice questions across 15 body-system question modules, mapped to the NCCPA PANRE Blueprint, and five full-length, 240-question mock exams (1,200 questions total). It also includes 10+ hours of high-yield video lectures with downloadable slides, a PANRE Readiness Dashboard, and a money-back guarantee for full-course purchasers who do not pass on their first attempt; see the terms.

The PANRE Clinical Review Module is an AAPA-approved Enduring Material activity, reference CME-2016187, approved August 26, 2026 through August 26, 2027. It offers up to 100 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. To earn credit, review all module content, complete the module post-test with a score of 70% or higher, and complete the activity evaluation. Missed questions may be retaken. Once both requirements are complete, you receive a certificate stating your precise credit.

The 100-credit award applies to the PANRE Review Course only, not the Pharmacology course. Credit is not automatic: claim only what is commensurate with your participation and completion.

Where the paid gift card add-on fits

At checkout, you can choose a paid Amazon or Apple gift card add-on from $100 to $1,500. The selected card cost is added to the course price, so the total package price includes both the course and the add-on. The package is processed as one purchase, but that does not guarantee your employer will reimburse every component. Check your employer’s CME policy before buying and confirm whether a course-plus-gift-card package is eligible.

Gift cards are emailed within 2–3 business days of purchase; you do not have to finish the course first. Gift card packages are nonrefundable. CME Review Courses is not affiliated with Amazon or Apple. If you purchase two or more CME courses, 20% is automatically deducted from the courses; gift card add-ons remain at face value. Total Program Access, which includes all 14 modules, is $2,999.99.

For current pricing and add-on options, visit the PANRE Review Course with Gift Card product page. You can also try the free PANRE Review test drive before purchasing.

Clinical practice question

A 68-year-old patient presents to your ED with palpitations and mild dyspnea. ECG shows atrial fibrillation with a ventricular rate of 148/min. BP is 128/76 mm Hg, HR 148/min, SaO₂ 97% on room air. The patient is alert, has no chest pain or signs of acute heart failure, and has no known reduced LVEF. What is the most appropriate initial approach?

A. Begin rate control with an IV beta blocker or diltiazem, if no contraindication, and assess stroke risk and anticoagulation needs
B. Perform immediate synchronized cardioversion because the ventricular rate exceeds 140/min
C. Start IV amiodarone as the required first-line treatment for all stable patients with AF and RVR
D. Defer treatment until spontaneous conversion occurs

Correct answer: A. The patient is hemodynamically stable, so initial rate control is appropriate while you evaluate contributing causes and determine the longer-term rhythm and anticoagulation plan. A beta blocker or nondihydropyridine calcium channel blocker can be considered when clinically appropriate and no contraindication is present.

• B is incorrect: Synchronized cardioversion is indicated for hemodynamic instability attributable to the arrhythmia, not a heart-rate threshold alone.
• C is incorrect: Amiodarone is not mandatory first-line therapy for every stable patient; drug selection depends on the clinical context.
• D is incorrect: Observation alone does not address persistent symptomatic RVR or the need to evaluate stroke risk.

Real-world note: Check for contraindications before giving AV nodal blockers, including reduced LVEF when considering diltiazem or verapamil. If the patient becomes unstable, reassess promptly for synchronized cardioversion.

Before you spend your CME budget

Category 1 offers a documented, pre-approved credit designation; Category 2 is self-reported learning. When a policy or credentialing requirement specifies Category 1, check the activity’s approval details and completion rules before paying. If you are an NP, acceptance of AAPA Category 1 credit for renewal varies by state, verify with your state board of nursing. For physicians, this activity meets AAPA Category 1 requirements for PAs but is generally reported as Category 2 for physicians’ own CME.

Use the product page to review the course and select a paid Amazon or Apple add-on at checkout, if it fits your employer’s policy. If you are also comparing pance prep courses, confirm the intended exam, credit type, and certificate requirements for each option.

Author

Jeremy Boroff, MPAS, PA-C is an Emergency Medicine PA with 24 years of clinical experience, a PA educator, author, and CME developer. He is the sole faculty member for this activity and has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.