Course Title: PANRE Review Course
Price: $499 – $1,999 (Depending on Gift Card Add-on)
Duration of Access: Lifetime Access
Deliverables: 100 Hours of AAPA Category 1 CME Credit, 1,000+ Practice Questions, Comprehensive Video Modules
Logging your Continuing Medical Education (CME) should not be a time-consuming administrative burden. With the recent updates to the NCCPA PA Portal, the process has been streamlined to allow for rapid entry, provided you have your documentation organized. Efficiently managing your certification cycle allows you to focus on clinical practice and exam preparation rather than data entry.
The 5-Minute Logging Strategy
The NCCPA updated its portal to improve user experience and consolidate the attestation process. Follow these steps to log your credits from CME Review Courses or other providers in under five minutes.
1. Access the PA Portal and Sign In
Navigate to the NCCPA PA Portal. Use your NCCPA credentials to log in. Once on the dashboard, locate the “CME” tab in the left-hand navigation menu. This section provides a real-time summary of your current and future certification cycles, showing exactly how many credits you have logged versus what is required for your two-year cycle.
2. Accept the Global Logging Agreement
One of the most significant updates to the portal is the Logging Agreement. Previously, PAs were required to attest to the accuracy of every single credit entry. Now, you will typically be presented with a logging agreement at the start of your session. Once you read and accept this, you can batch-log multiple activities without repeated individual attestations.
3. Select the Correct Activity Type
When you click “Log New CME”, you must choose the category that matches your certificate.
- PANRE Review Course: This should be logged as Category 1 CME. specifically under "Certificate Program" or "Other Category 1 CME" depending on the specific module.
- Self-Assessment (SA) or Performance Improvement (PI): If your course specifically offers these designations, select them to take advantage of the NCCPA’s weighting rules (e.g., PI-CME credits are doubled for the first 20 credits logged).
4. Enter Course Details
For a standard entry, you will need the following details from your completion certificate:
- Activity Title: Enter the name of the course (e.g., "Comprehensive PANRE Review").
- Provider: Enter "CME Review Courses."
- Dates: The date of completion as listed on your certificate.
- Credits: Enter the total number of credits earned. For our PANRE Review Course, this is 100 hours of AAPA Category 1 CME credit.
5. Upload Documentation Immediately
The new portal allows for direct file uploads. We recommend uploading your PDF certificate immediately upon logging. This ensures that if you are selected for a random audit, your documentation is already stored within the NCCPA system, eliminating the need to search through old files or emails later.
Maximize Your CME Budget with Gift Card Add-ons
At CME Review Courses, we provide an efficient way to utilize your employer-provided CME allowance. Many healthcare organizations provide a fixed annual budget for professional development. Our packages allow you to bundle high-quality clinical education with Amazon or Apple Gift Cards ranging from $100 to $1,500.
This model allows you to fulfill your 100-hour Category 1 requirement for the PANRE while also obtaining the tools you need for further education, such as medical texts, hardware, or clinical supplies. You can explore these options at our CME with Gift Card page.
Clinical Content for Your PANRE Review
Our curriculum was developed by physician assistants for physician assistants. While the PANRE Review Course provides 100 hours of AAPA Category 1 credit, we also offer specialized content in:
- Emergency Medicine
- Internal Medicine / Hospitalist
- Family Medicine
- Orthopedics and Rheumatology
- Cardiology and EKG Interpretation
While our courses are primarily targeted at PAs, nurse practitioners (NPs) and physicians often find significant value in our modules. For physicians, our courses typically count as Category 2 CME. Nurse practitioners should verify with their state boards, as some states accept AAPA Category 1 credit toward their continuing education requirements.
Clinical Assessment: Cardiovascular and Internal Medicine
The following clinical scenarios are representative of the content found in our PANRE review materials and the NCCPA Blueprint.
Scenario 1
Your patient is a 68-year-old male with a history of hypertension and tobacco use who presents to the emergency department with sudden onset, tearing chest pain radiating to the back. On physical exam, his BP is 190/110 mmHg in the right arm and 165/95 mmHg in the left arm. A new diastolic murmur is noted at the right sternal border.
What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?
A. Initiate intravenous beta-blockers (e.g., esmolol or labetalol) to reduce heart rate and blood pressure.
B. Administer 324 mg of aspirin and start a heparin drip.
C. Order an immediate transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE).
D. Perform an urgent needle thoracostomy in the second intercostal space.
Explanation:
A is the correct answer. This patient’s presentation is highly suggestive of an acute aortic dissection (tearing pain, BP discrepancy, new aortic regurgitation murmur). The primary goal in management is to reduce shear stress on the aortic wall by lowering the heart rate (target <60 bpm) and blood pressure (target systolic 100-120 mmHg) using IV beta-blockers. B is incorrect as anticoagulation is contraindicated in suspected dissection. C is incorrect as a CT Angiogram or transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is more definitive and should follow stabilization. D is incorrect as the symptoms do not suggest a tension pneumothorax.
Scenario 2
Your patient is a 54-year-old female with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus who presents for a routine follow-up. Her BP is 142/88 mmHg. A repeat measurement ten minutes later is 144/90 mmHg. Her last two visits also showed BP readings in the 140/90 range. Her current medications include metformin. Labs show a serum creatinine of 1.1 mg/dL and an albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) of 45 mg/g.
Which of the following is the most appropriate initial antihypertensive agent for this patient?
A. Lisinopril (ACE inhibitor)
B. Amlodipine (Calcium channel blocker)
C. Hydrochlorothiazide (Thiazide diuretic)
D. Metoprolol (Beta-blocker)
Explanation:
A is the correct answer. In patients with diabetes mellitus and albuminuria (ACR >30 mg/g), ACE inhibitors or ARBs are the first-line antihypertensive agents because they provide Reno-protective effects beyond blood pressure control. B and C are effective antihypertensives but do not offer the same degree of renal protection in the setting of albuminuria. D is generally not used as a first-line agent for hypertension unless there is a specific compelling indication like heart failure or post-MI status.
Strategic Preparation for the PANRE and PANRE-LA
Whether you are pursuing the traditional PANRE or the longitudinal PANRE-LA, your review should be structured around high-yield clinical pearls. The NCCPA Blueprint emphasizes the ability to diagnose and manage common conditions across the primary care spectrum.
Our courses, such as the Cardiovascular Blueprint, break down complex topics into manageable modules. By integrating these modules into your daily routine and logging your CME as you complete them, you can maintain your certification with minimal stress.
Remember, the goal of CME is not just to satisfy a requirement but to ensure you are providing the most current evidence-based care to your patients. Using a comprehensive review program that rewards your effort with both credits and educational tools like Amazon gift cards is the most efficient way to manage your professional development.
For more information on our specific specialty modules or to start your PANRE review, visit CME Review Courses.