CAQ-CVTS - CAQ in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery

The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredits the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) to offer Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in specialty categories to qualifying physician assistants (PAs). Only certified PAs currently certified by the NCCPA with a PA-C designation qualify for CAQs. The Certificates of Added Qualifications in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CAQ-CVTS) certifies PA-Cs with advanced knowledge in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery beyond the expectations of entry-level or general practice PA-Cs.

Prerequisites

• Current PA-C certification

• Valid, unrestricted PA-C license in at least one U.S. jurisdiction

• All PA-C licenses must be unrestricted if PA-C has multiple licenses

• Attestation from a physician, senior PA-C or post-graduate program director familiar with the PA-C’s practice and experience

Specialty CME Requirement

• Complete at least 75 credits of Category 1 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits related to cardiovascular/thoracic surgery practice within six years of applying for the exam

• Earn at least 25 CMEs within two years before application date

  • CME credits may also be used to maintain PA-C credential

Specialty Experience Requirement

• Complete at least 4,000 hours of PA-C experience in cardiovascular/thoracic surgery within six years of attestation of satisfying the experience requirement

• Provide documentation substantiating work experience if selected for an audit

Specialty Procedure/Patient Case Requirement

• Provide attestation from a physician, senior/lead PA-C or post-graduate program director in cardiovascular/thoracic surgery familiar with the candidate’s knowledge and experience

  •  Attestations must be submitted within 90 days of candidates receiving their CAQ scores

  • Attestation of knowledge and skills must show that the PA-C has completed or understands patient management skills and when and how to perform procedures

The NCCPA considers the following topics and procedures when determining whether a PA-C can satisfy the Specialty Procedures and Patient Case Requirement:

• Anesthesia

• Advanced wound management

• Diagnostic radiography

• Resuscitation

• Cardiopulmonary

• Perioperative and intraoperative care

  • Surgical Assisting

  • Conduit vessel harvesting

  • Thoracic closure and reentry

  • Decannulation and/ or separation from cardiac bypass

  • Organ procurement for transplantation

• Diagnostic/ therapeutic procedures

  • Specialty infusion and monitoring lines

  • Invasive drainage devices

  • Pacemakers and balloon pumps

  • Gastric tubes

Applicants have six years to submit documents, sign their attestation statement and finish all requirements to sit for the CAQ-CVTS exam. Candidates must submit their $100 registration fee to begin the CAQ process after they satisfy their prerequisites. They pay the $250 test fee when they apply for the exam.

Completion Time: Candidates have 2 hours to complete the CAQ-CVTS exam, 60 minutes for each 60-question block

Cost: $350 total, including a $100 registration fee and $250 exam fee

Exam Format

The CAQ-CVTS exam includes 120 multiple-choice questions. The exam blueprint includes:

• Clinical tasks related to:: 

• Patient presentation

• Anatomy and physiology

• Preoperative evaluation and management

• Invasive and noninvasive imaging

• Operative and non-operative intervention

• Postoperative management

• Content areas:

  • Cardiac 40%

  • Thoracic 15%

  • Vascular 5%

  • Assistive devices 5%

  • ICU management 15%

  • Clinical skills 5%

  • Pharmacotherapy 10%

  • Quality metrics 5%

Test Dates

Pearson VUE is NCCPA’s exam administration. Candidates may take the CAQ-CVTS exam during one of two yearly test times that occur once in the Spring and once in the Fall. First-time test takers must create a Pearson VUE web account then choose a testing site after they apply to test.

• Satisfy all prerequisites

• Submit $100 registration fee to begin CAQ-CVTS process 

  • Applicants have six years to submit documents, sign the attestation statement, and finish all requirements to sit for the CAQ-CVTS exam

• Submit application to NCCPA with $250 exam fee

• Provide supporting documents

• Schedule exam within 180 days

• Pass CAQ-CVTS exam

  • Exam must be taken within 180 days of notification of eligibility or candidate must pay another $250 fee

  • Candidates must continue to meet all the prerequisites

To maintain their CAQ-CVTS credential, candidates must: 

• Hold a current, valid, unrestricted and unencumbered PA-C certification

• Submit required information for any state licenses or governmental agency privileges

• Pass the CAQ-CVTS exam within three attempts before the current certification expires

  • Renewal candidates who don’t pass after the third attempt must meet initial eligibility requirements and reapply to test as an initial candidate during the next exam administration

• Earn at least 125 credits of Category 1 cardiovascular/thoracic surgery-based CME within the current 10-year cycle

Renewal Fee: $350 every 10 years

CAQ-certified PAs must earn at least 125 credits of Category 1 cardiovascular/thoracic surgery-based CME over each 10-year certification period.

• These credits also satisfy PA-C certification requirements. 

• PAs may submit their CME credits before or during their exam application

• The NCCPA offers practice examinations. Each exam is available for 180-days and costs $50. PAs can only take the exam once but may repurchase practice exams.

• Pearson VUE provides tutorials.
  
  

Related certifications include:

• Physicians Assistant-Certified (PA-C) 

• PA-C Certificate of Added Qualifications in Emergency Medicine (CAQ-EM)

• PA-C Certificate of Added Qualifications in Hospital Medicine (CAQ-HM)

• PA-C Certificate of Added Qualifications in Nephrology (CAQ-Neph)

• PA-C Certificate of Added Qualifications in Orthopaedic Surgery (CAQ-OS)

• PA-C Certificate of Added Qualifications in Pediatrics (CAQ-Peds)

• PA-C Certificate of Added Qualifications in Psychiatry (CAQ-Psy)

• PA-C Certificate of Added Qualifications in Dermatology (CAQ-Derm)

• PA-C Certificate of Added Qualifications in Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care (CAQ-PMHC)