2019 Re-certification and license Renewal for 2019
With the majority of PA students taking out student loans to finance their education we know it costs a lot to become a PA. Once you’re done with school the cost of being a PA does not end.
I’m up for renewal of my certification and license at the end of this year. I re-certified earlier this year and just sent in my application to renew my license.
To renew my license I had to complete an online application and pay $436. In order to maintain a PA license in my state it is required to do continuing medical education (CME). You can do this by doing the CME and submitting proof to the medical board, or by maintaining certification.
PA license is governed by the state and allows you to practice medicine in a state. If you were to move and get a job in a new state you would need to be licensed in the new state. Each state has rules on what is required to be licensed as a PA, so you have to know what is required in the state that you want to work.
PA certification on the other hand is national, once you are certified it does not matter what state you live in, your certification remains. Certification for PAs is done by the NCCPA. Initial certification is awarded after passing the PANCE. After initial certification you must maintain certification every two years by paying a fee and completing CME. Every 10 years you must take a test to re-certify (this was previously every 6 years). This year I paid $150 to re-certify, up from $130 when I previously re-certified.
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The $436 for the license and $150 for certification bring us to $586 to continue practicing as a PA for two more years. Of course this does not include the cost of CME. If you’re going to a conference the registration fee is going to be around $500 and that does not include the price of hotel and transportation, so add on at least $2,000 for additional expenses to obtain CME credits. You don’t have to go to a conference to get CME, but that does seem to be one of the easiest ways to get it, and if your employer give you time off for CME, you might as well use it.
Many employers will pay for most of the above fees. I have all of these fees covered through my employer. I just have to submit receipts and I get reimbursed. I have five days of time off for CME and an allowance of $2,500 for expenses. The fees for license and certification are reimbursed; but any membership to professional organizations, such as the AAPA comes out of the CME allowance.
If you’re looking for a job it is always good to keep these expenses in mind when negotiating. Not everyone gets these fees covered, and as you can see they can add up. You might not need to maintain certification in your state to keep your license, but it might make it easier. If you don’t get reimbursed for CME make sure to seek opportunities where you can get quality CME without spending a lot.
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