The American Academy of Physician Associates' (AAPA) ongoing strategic plan includes a commitment to growing the PA profession. 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 the profession's growth. In short, more preceptors equal more PAs. AAPA is excited to collaborate with the PA Education Association (PAEA) to increase the number of preceptors and ultimately grow the profession. 

Clinical Year 

• Start Date: September 1, 2025
• End Date: July 24, 2026

Category 1 CME for Precepting for Accredited PA Programs

Definition

Through a partnership between PAEA and AAPA, ARC-PA accredited PA programs may submit an annual application to receive eligibility to award AAPA Category 1 CME to their PA preceptors. Individual preceptors may be awarded AAPA Category 1 CME credits at a rate of 2 AAPA Category 1 CME credits per PA student per 40-hour week, with no limit.

Accreditation Period

Up to 24 consecutive months. Clinical year start and end dates are specified within the application.

Type of Credit Issued

AAPA Category 1 CME credit

Eligibility Criteria

• This request type is only available to PA educational programs with full or provisional accreditation by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
• Eligibility for AAPA Category 1 CME credit is currently limited to preceptors who are practicing PAs.
• Preceptors must disclose any financial relationship with commercial interests to PA students.
• Preceptors must be fully licensed to practice at the clinical site where the training will occur.
• PA programs are responsible for having a mechanism in place to document credits awarded, issue certificates, and report summary statistics to AAPA.
• The preceptor CME activity must comply with AAPA CME Criteria.

Overall Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate core medical knowledge about medical conditions for patients in their practice area.
• Demonstration of critical decision-making and lifelong learning skills.
• Effective communication with patients, their families, physicians, and other healthcare professionals is demonstrated.
• Demonstration of high-quality health care and a commitment to patient safety.
• Demonstrating personal responsibility, ethical standards, and sensitivity to diverse patient populations.
• Demonstrate ongoing evaluation and improvement of their patient care practices.
• Demonstration of the ability to effectively interact with different healthcare delivery systems.