Maintaining your professional credentials requires a strategic approach to Continuing Medical Education (CME). For Physician Assistants, finding a reliable source for pharmacology-specific credits is essential for meeting state-specific prescriptive authority requirements and NCCPA maintenance cycles. Our Pharmacology Review Course provides a streamlined, high-yield solution for clinicians who need to earn credits efficiently without sacrificing the quality of their education.
Price: $399.99
Duration: 30 Months of Access
Deliverables: 12 AAPA Category 1 Pharmacology CME Credits
Practice Assessment: 120 Pharmacology-Specific Questions
Efficient Pharmacology Credits for PAs and NPs
The Pharmacology Review Course at CME Review Courses is designed by physician assistants, for physician assistants. While the content is tailored to the needs of PAs, nurse practitioners and physicians also find significant value in our high-yield summaries and practice assessments.
For PAs, the 12.0 hours of AAPA Category 1 CME earned through this course are classified as self-assessment credits. This is a critical distinction for your NCCPA logging. The NCCPA provides a 50% weighting bonus for self-assessment activities. This means that completing our 12-credit pharmacology course actually counts as 18 credits toward your 100-hour NCCPA cycle requirement.
Maximizing Your CME Budget with Gift Card Add-Ons
We recognize that most clinicians have an annual CME stipend that must be used or lost. To help you further enrich your professional resources, we offer CME with Gift Card add-ons. When purchasing the Pharmacology Review Course, you have the option to add an Amazon or Apple Gift Card ranging from $100 to $1,500 to your order.
This allows you to utilize your professional development funds to acquire the hardware or textbooks you need: such as a new iPad for clinical use or the latest medical reference guides: while simultaneously securing your required pharmacology hours. This is an efficient way to manage your educational budget and ensure you have the tools necessary for your practice.
Comprehensive Content and Extended Access
Unlike many online programs that limit access to 90 days, our Pharmacology Review Course provides 30 months of full access. This extended window ensures that you can revisit the material whenever you encounter a complex prescribing scenario in your daily practice.
The course content covers a wide range of essential topics, including Cardiology, Infectious Disease, Neurology, and Psychiatry pharmacotherapy. All content was written by experienced PAs to ensure that the information is practical, relevant, and focused on the clinical applications you see in the clinic or hospital.
Clinical Education and Assessment
The following scenarios represent the type of high-yield content found within our pharmacology question bank. These vignettes are designed to challenge your clinical decision-making and ensure you are prepared for both the PANRE and real-world prescribing.
Question 1
Your patient is a 64-year-old male with a history of hypertension and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). His current medications include lisinopril and carvedilol. During a follow-up visit, his blood pressure is 142/88 mmHg and his HR is 62 bpm. Laboratory results reveal a potassium level of 4.2 mEq/L and a serum creatinine of 1.1 mg/dL. You decide to add an aldosterone antagonist to his regimen. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in monitoring this patient?
A. Check serum potassium and creatinine in 1 week.
B. Perform an EKG to evaluate for a prolonged QT interval.
C. Order a 24-hour urine collection for protein.
D. Check a liver function panel in 4 weeks.
Explanation
A. Check serum potassium and creatinine in 1 week. Aldosterone antagonists, such as spironolactone or eplerenone, significantly increase the risk of hyperkalemia, especially when used in combination with ACE inhibitors or ARBs. Clinical guidelines recommend monitoring renal function and potassium levels within 3 to 7 days of initiation or dose escalation. B is incorrect as aldosterone antagonists do not typically affect the QT interval. C is not a standard monitoring requirement for this drug class. D is incorrect as these medications are not primarily hepatotoxic.
Question 2
Your patient is a 28-year-old female who presents with a 3-day history of increased vaginal discharge, malodor, and mild pruritus. On examination, you note a thin, grayish-white discharge. The vaginal pH is 5.0. A saline wet mount reveals "clue cells" and a positive whiff test (KOH preparation). She is not pregnant and has no known drug allergies. Which of the following is the first-line pharmacologic treatment for this condition?
A. Metronidazole 500 mg BID for 7 days.
B. Fluconazole 150 mg PO as a single dose.
C. Azithromycin 1g PO as a single dose.
D. Ceftriaxone 500 mg IM as a single dose.
Explanation
A. Metronidazole 500 mg BID for 7 days. This patient presents with classic signs of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), including clue cells and a positive whiff test. The first-line treatment for non-pregnant patients is oral metronidazole for 7 days or intravaginal metronidazole gel. B is the treatment for candidiasis, which would typically present with a lower pH and hyphae on wet mount. C and D are the treatments for chlamydia and gonorrhea, respectively, which do not match the clinical findings of clue cells.
Question 3
Your patient is a 55-year-old male with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Despite lifestyle modifications and metformin 1000 mg BID, his A1c remains 8.2%. You intend to add a medication that provides both glycemic control and cardiovascular benefit. Which of the following drug classes is most appropriate?
A. GLP-1 receptor agonist.
B. Sulfonylurea.
C. DPP-4 inhibitor.
D. Thiazolidinedione.
Explanation
A. GLP-1 receptor agonist. For patients with Type 2 DM and established ASCVD, GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as liraglutide or semaglutide) or SGLT2 inhibitors are recommended because they have proven cardiovascular benefits beyond glucose lowering. B (Sulfonylureas) is associated with hypoglycemia and weight gain without cardiovascular benefits. C (DPP-4 inhibitors) is generally weight neutral and cardiovascularly neutral. D (Thiazolidinediones) can cause fluid retention and is often avoided in patients with heart failure or high cardiovascular risk.
Expanding Your Review Beyond Pharmacology
While pharmacology is a primary focus for many, our platform also offers comprehensive review materials for the entire NCCPA Blueprint. If you are preparing for your recertification exam, our PANRE Review Course (and other individual modules) offers a more expansive curriculum.
The PANRE Review course provides 100 hours of AAPA Category 1 credit, covering everything from Cardiology and Pulmonology to GI and Musculoskeletal systems. Like our pharmacology course, these hours also count as self-assessment credits, maximizing your return on time invested.
Whether you need a quick 12-hour pharmacology boost or a full 100-hour PANRE review, our courses provide the flexibility and depth required for modern clinical practice. By utilizing our CME with Gift Card options, you can satisfy your educational requirements and enhance your professional toolkit simultaneously.