CAQ-Psy - CAQ in Psychiatry
- Cost $350
- Renews every 10 years
COURSE FORMAT
About
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 Certificates of Added Qualifications in Psychiatry (CAQ-Psy) certifies PAs with advanced knowledge in psychiatry beyond the expectations of entry-level or general practice PAs.
Course Format
Exam Format
The CAQ-Psy exam includes 120 multiple-choice questions related to psychiatry and targeted for PAs with experience in this specialty. The CAQ Psychiatry exam blueprint includes:
Depressive disorders - 14%
Substance-related and addictive disorders - 12%
Anxiety disorders - 10%
Bipolar and related disorders - 10%
Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders - 10%
Neurocognitive disorders - 8%
Neurodevelopmental disorders - 6%
Disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders - 5%
Trauma- and stressor-related disorders - 5%
Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders - 4%
Personality disorders - 4%
Sleep-wake disorders - 4%
Ethics, legal, and psychosocial issues - 2%
Feeding and eating disorders - 2%
Somatic symptoms and associated disorders - 2%
Dissociative disorders - 1%
Sexual dysfunction, gender dysphoria, and paraphilic disorders - 1%
Pearson VUE administers the CAQ-OS 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-OS exam may apply to retest but must meet the CAQ eligibility requirements when reapplying.
Completion Time: Candidates have 2 hours to complete the CAQ-OS 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.
Pearson VUE Test Centers administers all initial CAQ-Psy exams, available twice a year in the Spring and Fall.
Scheduling the Exam
Once NCCPA processes a fully executed exam application, candidates receive an email providing details and instructions on scheduling the exam at Pearson VUE.
Exam Day Instructions
Candidates should arrive at the Pearson VUE testing center at least 30 minutes before their scheduled exam appointment and no later than the acceptable cutoff time, usually 15 minutes. PAs who arrive too late won’t be admitted, forfeit their exam fee, and must reapply for the exam.
Pearson VUE staff collects a digital photo, signature, fingerprint, and/or palm vein image before allowing candidates to begin their exams. Candidates must undergo another digital fingerprint and/or palm vein scan anytime they leave or enter the exam room.
Candidates must present two forms of identification, one with a current, permanently affixed photo, to verify admission to the Pearson VUE Testing Center. Both forms of identification must be current and include the candidate’s legal name and signature. The name on the identification and the exam registration must match for admission to the testing center. Candidates whose name changes before their scheduled exam must notify NCCPA.
Personal items are prohibited in the testing center but can be stored in an assigned locker and accessible during scheduled breaks. Only food or medication is accessible during unscheduled breaks with prior NCCPA approval. Items not permitted include cell phones, electronic devices, exam notes, and study guides, among others.
Candidates have 15 minutes to complete the CAQ tutorial. Candidates receive one 15-minute scheduled break between the question blocks. A scheduled break notification and instructions appear on the testing screen after completing the first 60-question block. Taking longer than 15 minutes deducts time from the next block of questions. Candidates must manage their break times by using on-screen clocks.
An unscheduled break occurs when a candidate takes a break during a question block. Taking an unscheduled break deducts time from the time allotted to answer questions.
Rescheduling and Cancellation
Candidates may reschedule their in-person exam by contacting Pearson VUE at least 24 business hours before the scheduled exam date and time. Failure to reschedule within the 24-hour deadline results in forfeiture of exam fees. It requires a new application and full payment to take the exam in the future.
Candidates may also cancel their exam with Pearson VUE, but cancellation doesn’t signify withdrawal from the exam. Candidates must contact NCCPA directly via email, mail, or fax to withdraw from the exam.
The online exam is offered for certification maintenance only. CAQ-Psy-certified PAs may take this exam in place of the in-person for renewal purposes. NCCPA offers the online maintenance exam once a year in the Spring, with a testing window of approximately six weeks.
The online exam uses the same content blueprint and number of questions as the in-person Pearson VUE exam. Unlike the in-person exam, PAs can use online or printed resources during the exam and have 6 weeks to complete the entire exam. Although they only have 5 minutes to answer each question, PAs can take the full 6 weeks to answer all questions as long as they finish the exam before the deadline.
Certification
PAs seeking eligibility for CAQ-Psy must demonstrate they have advanced knowledge and experience in psychiatry. 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-Psy 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 credits of Category 1 Continuing Medical Education credits related to psychiatry 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 2,000 hours of PA experience in psychiatry within six years of the date they attested that they satisfied the experience requirement.
Candidates must provide documentation substantiating their work experience if selected for an audit
Specialty Procedure/Patient Case Requirement
Provide attestation from a physician, senior/lead PA, or post graduate program director in psychiatry 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 Patient Case Requirement, knowledge and experience should include psychiatrist-observed patient case management across a wide range of psychopathology and appropriate treatments that include the following aspects of psychiatric patient care and disorders:
Psychiatric interview, differential diagnosis, and treatment plan
Crisis intervention and risk management
Treatment implementation and intervention
Psychiatric pharmacology
Ethical and legal issues
Disorders
Anxiety disorders
Childhood disorders persisting into adolescence and adulthood
Delirium, dementia, and cognitive disorders
Dissociative disorders
Eating disorders
Ethics and forensic issues
Impulse control disorders not otherwise classified
Life cycle and adjustment disorders
Mood disorders
Personality disorders
Psychotic disorders
Sexual and gender identity disorders
Sleep disorders
Somatoform and factitious disorders
Substance-related disorders
Once candidates satisfy the prerequisites, they may submit their $100 registration fee to begin the CAQ process. They have six years to submit documents, sign the attestation statement, and finish all requirements to sit for the CAQ-Psy exam. When they apply for the CAQ exam, they pay the $250 exam fee.
Renewal
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-Psy 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 psychiatry-based CME within the current 10-year cycle
Renewal Fee: $350 every 10 years
Continuing Education
CAQ-certified PAs must earn and log at least 125 credits of Category 1 psychiatry-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-Psy candidates include those focused in psychiatry at the level appropriate for a PA practicing in this specialty.
Other Resources
The NCCPA offers sample questions to help PAs understand the exam question structure.
NCCPA offers 60-question CAQ-Psy practice exams. Each exam is available for 180-days and costs $50. PAs can only take the exam once but may repurchase practice exams as many times as they want.
Related Certifications
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:
Frequently asked questions
What is the timeframe for finishing the CAQ process?
Candidates have six years to complete the CAQ process once they submit their $100 registration fee and fulfill the first requirement. A candidate can apply for the exam during the application period if they work in the specialty and complete all non-exam requirements together.
What credential can I use after earning the CAQ-Psy?
After receiving notification of earning a CAQ, use the appropriate CAQ designation with your PA-C credential, such as PA-C, CAQ-Psy.
When do I need to submit my documentation of CAQ-Psy exam requirements?
PAs must meet basic licensure and PA-C status requirements, then submit specialty CME and experience requirements before applying and taking the CAQ-Psy exam. However, candidates may submit requirements for procedures/patient cases up to 90 days after receiving their CAQ exam results.
Can I count the time that I spent taking the CAQ-Psy exam as CME?
No, taking a CAQ exam doesn’t qualify as CME.
Why should I earn the CAQ-Psy?
Earning the CAQ-Psy or any CAQ helps PAs gain recognition for their specialty experience, skills and knowledge through credentialing. This can help PAs remain competitive in fields where credentials are increasingly important.
Can I pursue more than one CAQ certification?
Yes, PAs can have more than one CAQ certification at a time, if they meet the specific requirements for each CAQ specialty.