American Academy of Physician Assistants Clinical Teaching

With the number of accredited PA programs on the rise, access to clinical training sites and preceptors is widely recognized as one of the rate limiting steps to growth of the profession. Clinical preceptors open up their practices to students and spend time educating them on the proper clinical evaluation and treatment of their patients. Clinical teaching is eligible for American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) Category 1 CME credit because it is a self-reflective learning activity for the preceptor and provides invaluable opportunities to advance the knowledge and professionalism of students and providers alike.

Preceptors are needed in all areas of medicine, including Behavioral Medicine & Psychiatry, Cardiology, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine, Hematology & Oncology, OB/GYN, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Inpatient & Outpatient Surgery and more! 

Clinical Year 

  • Start Date: 6/10/2019
  • End Date: 5/15/2020

Eligibility Requirements

  • Eligibility is limited to ARC-PA accredited PA programs.
  • Only PA programs that have submitted an application and received approval are authorized to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for precepting.
  • Eligibility for AAPA Category 1 CME credit is currently limited to preceptors who are practicing PAs.
  • Preceptors must be fully licensed to practice at the clinical site where the training will occur.
  • Preceptors must disclose any relevant financial relationships with ACCME-defined commercial interests to PA students.
  • All other AAPA CME Standards apply.

Awarding Credit (Applies to rotations prior to July 1, 2019)

  • CME Credit Calculation - Preceptors may be awarded 0.5 CME credits per 2 weeks of clinical teaching. If the preceptor has more than one student at a time, they may be awarded an additional 0.25 CME credits per student per 2 weeks. 
  • PA programs must receive a completed evaluation form from the PA preceptor prior to awarding Category 1 CME credit.
  • The evaluation form may include a self-report and attestation of the number of weeks the preceptor taught as well as the number of students precepted. The form must be completed and submitted by the preceptor requesting credit.
  • For purposes of credit calculation, a week is defined as 40 hours of precepting.
  • A maximum of 10 Category 1 CME credits per calendar year may be awarded to each precept
  • Credit Calculation Formula: Total credits awarded = (Number of Weeks)*(0.25+ 0.125*(Number of additional students))
  • PA preceptors cannot directly apply to AAPA for Category 1 CME credit associated with your clinical teaching activities. Please contact the PA program that schedules your students and request that they award eligible preceptors with credit.
  • Credit calculation examples:
     
    Number of WeeksNumber of Students
     1234
    20.5 Credit0.75 Credit1 Credit1.25 Credit
    41 Credit1.5 Credits2 Credits2.5 Credits
    61.5 Credits2.25 Credits3 Credits3.75 Credits
    82 Credits3 Credits4 Credits5 Credits

    Awarding Credit (Effective July 1, 2019)

    • Approved PA programs may award 2 AAPA Category 1 CME credit per student for each week of clinical teaching.
    • PA programs must receive a completed evaluation form from the PA preceptor prior to awarding CME credit.
    • The evaluation form may include a self-report and attestation of the number of weeks the preceptor taught as well as the number of students precepted. The form must be completed and submitted by the preceptor requesting credit.
    • For purposes of credit calculation, a week is defined as 40 hours of precepting.
    • A maximum of 20 AAPA Category 1 CME credits per calendar year may be awarded to each preceptor.
    • All CME beyond 20 credits may be awarded and considered at Category 2 CME.

    Overall Learning Objectives

    • Demonstration of core medical knowledge about medical conditions for the patients in their area of practice.
    • Demonstration of critical decision making and lifelong learning skills.
    • Demonstration of effective communication with patients and their families, physicians and other health care professionals.
    • Demonstration of high quality health care and a commitment to patient safety.
    • Demonstration of personal responsibility, ethical standards, and sensitivity to diverse patient populations.
    • Demonstration of ongoing evaluation and improvement of their patient care practices.
    • Demonstration of the ability to effectively interact with different types of health care delivery systems.
    Course summary
    Available credit: 
    • 20.00 AAPA
    Course opens: 
    07/01/2019
    Course expires: 
    05/15/2020
    Cost:
    $0.00
    Rating: 
    0

    Des Moines University has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit to eligible PA preceptors. Approval is valid from 7/1/2019 to 5/15/2020. AAPA reference number: CME- 007032.

    PAs may earn a maximum of 20 AAPA Category 1 CME credits for clinical precepting during any single calendar year. 

    This program was planned in accordance with AAPA's CME Standards.

    Available Credit

    • 20.00 AAPA

    Price

    Cost:
    $0.00
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