CAQ-Neph - CAQ in Nephrology

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) to offer Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in 7 specialty categories to qualifying Physician Assistants. Only PAs currently certified by the NCCPA with a PA-C designation qualify for CAQs. The Certificate of Added Qualifications in Nephrology (CAQ-Neph) certifies PAs with advanced knowledge in nephrology beyond the expectations of entry-level or general practice PAs.

Exam Format

The CAQ-Neph exam includes 120 multiple-choice questions related to nephrology and targeted for PAs with experience in this specialty. The Nephrology CAQ exam blueprint includes:

• Chronic Dialysis (Hemo, PD) (CRRT) - 19%

• Renal Pathophysiology - 15%

• Chronic Kidney Disease - 14%

• Hypertension - 13%

• Clinical Pharmacology and Miscellaneous - 10%

• Diabetes Mellitus - 10%

• Secondary Glomerular/Vascular Disorders - 7%

• Kidney Transplantation  - 6%

• Acute Renal Failure/ICU Nephrology - 3%

• Tubular/Interstitial and Cystic Disorders - 3%

Pearson VUE administers the CAQ-Neph exam in two 60-question blocks. Candidates may answer the questions in any order and review or change responses during the allotted block time. Once finished with a block or the time expires, candidates can’t return to or review the questions.

Candidates who fail the CAQ-Neph exam may apply to retest but must meet the CAQ eligibility requirements when reapplying.

• Completion Time: Candidates have two hours to complete the CAQ-Neph exam, 60 minutes for each 60-question block

• Cost: $350 total, includes $100 registration fee and $250 exam fee / $250 exam retesting fee if still within the six-year eligibility period for completing the CAQ

Exam Scoring

Candidates receive their exam score after NCCPA completes all scoring and validation processes, approximately 8 to 10 weeks after exam administration. NCCPA notifies PAs via email when exam results post to their personal certification record. PAs may request NCCPA to mail a printed copy of their exam scores to their address on file.

Candidates who don’t pass the exam may reapply for the next exam administration. There’s no limit to the number of times PAs may attempt the exam, but they must pass the exam within 6 years of starting the CAQ process or must start the process over.

For more detailed information, review the CAQ Exam Policies and Procedures.

PAs seeking eligibility for the CAQ-Neph credential must demonstrate they have advanced knowledge and experience in nephrology. They must meet specialty-specific CME and field experience requirements. Once they meet these requirements and initiate the certification process by submitting the $100 administrative fee, they must complete the CAQ process within six years. The process has four components, including passing the CAQ-Neph  exam.

Eligibility

Prerequisites

• Current PA-C certification

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

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

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

Specialty CME Requirement

• Complete at least 75 Category 1 Continuing Medical Education credits related to nephrology within the six years before applying for the exam

  • At least 25 CMEs must be earned within the two years before the application date

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

Specialty Experience Requirement

• Complete at least 4,000 hours of experience as a PA in the nephrology specialty

  • Must include at least 2,000 hours in nephrology within 6 years of the date the applicant attested to the NCCPA that they completed the experience requirement

  • Candidates selected for an audit must submit documentation of their attested work experience

Specialty Procedure/Patient Case Requirement

Provide attestation from a physician, senior/lead PA, or post graduate program director in nephrology who’s familiar with the candidate’s knowledge and experience. Attestations must be submitted within 90 days of the candidate receiving their CAQ score.

To determine whether candidates satisfy the Specialty Procedures and Patient Case Requirement, they must be knowledgeable of the basics in the following areas:

• Case Management of Patients in one of the following subspecialties:

  • End-stage renal disease

  • Kidney transplants

  • Chronic kidney disease

  • Hospitalists’ care relating to acute dialytic therapy

• Diagnosis and management:

  • Primary and secondary hypertension

  • Anemia

  • Dialysis complications

  • Volume management

  • Metabolic bone disease

  • GFR and medication dose adjustment

  • Compromised renal function medication management

  • Hemodialysis complications / vascular access management

  • Nutritional management

  • Catheter infections and malfunction

  • Uremia

  • Preparation and placement of vascular access

  • Placement of peritoneal dialysis catheters

  • Acute dialytic therapy

  • Pre-transplant and post-transplant assessment, care and management of kidney donors and recipient

  • Urine specimen collection, examination, and interpretation

Once candidates satisfy the prerequisites, they may submit their $100 registration fee to begin the process. They have six years to submit documents, sign an attestation statement, and finish all requirements to sit for the CAQ-Neph exam. When they apply for the CAQ exam, they pay the $250 exam fee.

The CAQ-Neph certification is valid for 10years. To maintain their CAQ, 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-Neph exam within three attempts before 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 nephrology-based CME within the current 10-year cycle

Renewal Fee: $350 every 10 years

CAQ-certified PAs must earn and log at least 125 credits of Category 1 nephrology-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.

Recommended CME topics for CAQ-Neph candidates include:

• Kidney function evaluation

• Urinalysis

• Renal disease radiologic assessment

• Kidneys in systemic disease

• Chronic kidney disease

• Peritoneal dialysis

• Hemodialysis

• Kidneys and medications

• Kidneys in special circumstances, such as pediatrics, pregnancy, and aging

• Hypertension

• Billing and coding

• Kidney transplants

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

• The NCCPA offers sample questions to help PAs understand the exam question structure.

• NCCPA offers 60-question CAQ-Neph practice exams. Each exam is available for 180days and costs $50. PAs can only take the exam once but may repurchase practice exams as many times as they want.

To qualify for the CAQ-Neph, applicants must be Physician Assistant - Certified. Earning the  PA-C designation requires passing the NCCPA Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).

NCCPA also offers CAQ certifications in:

• Psychiatry (CAQ-Psy)

• Pediatrics (CAQ-Peds)

• Orthopaedic Surgery (CAQ-OS)

• Hospital Medicine (CAQ-HM)

• Emergency Medicine (CAQ-EM)

• Dermatology (CAQ-Derm)

• Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CAQ-CVTS)

• Palliative Medicine and Hospice Care (CAQ-PMHC)