NCCAA Certified Professional REGISTRY

Use this tool to access a CAA Certificate.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Coming soon

Exams Administered in 2023

Managed by NCCAA

808

# of Total Exams

359

# of Total Cert Exams

449

# Total of CDQ Exams

Student and Program Data Summary

Certification Exam

1,225

Total # of Students

22

Total # of Programs

92.2%

Average Passing Rate

CAA Statistics and Performance

CDQ Exam

3,829

Total # of CAAs

341

Avg. New CAAs Each Year

97.7%

Average Passing Rate

Number of CAAs and Students by State
Self-Reported Residence Only
State CAAs Students
Alabama 35 3
Alaska
Arizona 2
Arkansas
California 6 1
Colorado 153 13
Connecticut 3
Delaware
District of Columbia 60
Florida 769 33
Georgia 1,206 56
Hawaii
Idaho 2
Illinois 15 4
Indiana 91 17
Iowa 1
Kansas 29 1
Kentucky 20
Louisiana 1
Maine
Maryland 35
Massachusetts
Michigan 42 1
Minnesota 4 1
Missisipi
Missouri 165 3
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada 2
New Hampshire 1
New Jersey 1
New Mexico
New York 9 2
North Carolina 64 2
North Dakota
Ohio 342 23
Oklahoma 23 1
Oregon 1
Pennsylvania 4 2
Rhode Island
South Carolina 54 3
South Dakota 1
Tenessee 3
Texas 336 16
Utah 5
Vermont 23
Virginia 34 4
Washington 3
West Virginia 1
Wisconsin 153 21
Wyoming

CERTIFICATION EXAM

The Certification Exam (Cert Exam) is a crucial step for students aiming to become Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAAs). Administered during their final year of training, this exam assesses the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to practice anesthesia safely and effectively. The exam covers a wide range of topics, including anesthesia principles, patient management, pharmacology, and emergency care. Passing the Cert Exam is essential for obtaining the CAA credential, which is recognized by many healthcare facilities and state medical boards as a requirement for practice. This credential ensures that CAAs are well-prepared for their professional responsibilities.
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CDQ EXAM

The "Continued Demonstration of Qualifications" (CDQ) Examination is a mandatory assessment for Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAAs) to maintain their certification and demonstrate ongoing proficiency. Administered by the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA), the CDQ Exam is first taken in the 4th year after initial certification and then every 10 years. The comprehensive exam covers advanced anesthesia principles, patient management, pharmacology, and emergency care. It ensures that CAAs remain current with evolving medical practices, maintaining exceptionally high standards of knowledge and skill throughout their careers.
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CME SUBMISSIONS

Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAAs) are required to register 50 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME) every two years to maintain their certification. This ongoing education is vital to ensure CAAs remain up-to-date with the latest advancements in anesthesia care. The 50 hours must include 40 hours in Anesthesia-specific CME (Category I), with the remaining 10 hours in General Medicine or Professional Development (Category II). These CME activities help CAAs enhance their knowledge and skills, ensuring they continue to provide high-quality care. The CME requirements are part of the broader commitment to lifelong learning and professional development.
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RE-ENTRY PROCESS

The Re-entry Program is designed for Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAAs) who have experienced a lapse in their certification, offering a pathway to restore their credentials. The re-entry requirements vary based on the length of time since certification lapsed. For those out of practice for more than four years, re-entry involves passing the Certification Exam, holding current ACLS and BLS certification, and completing a simulation skills assessment. For those with a lapse of less than four years, re-entry requires passing the Continued Demonstration of Qualifications (CDQ) Exam, maintaining ACLS and BLS certification, and bringing CME credits up to date.
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NCCAA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • If you are not a US citizen and have completed training in anesthesia outside the United States, you are not eligible to sit for the Certification exam to become a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) without graduating from an accredited university.

    Regardless of your prior training or experience in another country, all candidates—both non-US citizens and US citizens—must meet this requirement. The NCCAA maintains this standard to ensure all candidates have received education and training that meets the specific criteria established by Cahep for anesthesia education programs in the United States.

  • If you do not pass the Certification exam:

    • You are allowed up to six attempts to pass the exam within a two-year period from your initial attempt.
    • You are not required to take the next consecutive exam administration immediately after an unsuccessful attempt. You may choose when to retake the exam within the allowed two-year window.
    • It is important to utilize this flexibility to adequately prepare for your next attempt to maximize your chances of passing.
  • If you do not pass the Continuing Demonstration of Qualifications (CDQ) exam:

    • You are allowed a total of three attempts to pass the CDQ exam before decertification occurs.
    • You are required to register for the next consecutive exam administration following an unsuccessful attempt.
    • If you do not register for the next consecutive exam administration, you will become decertified. It is crucial to adhere to the registration timelines to maintain your certification status.
  • If you encounter an issue at the exam site:

    • You will have access to a Test Center Administrator (TCA) on the scheduled test day. If there is a problem with the computer during your exam, the exam will be resumed from the point of interruption, as your answers are continuously saved to a backup. If the exam cannot be resumed on the same day and must be rescheduled, a new CDQ Examination will be administered at no additional cost to you, provided the issue was caused by circumstances at the PSI test center.

    • Report any issues related to admission or administration of the CDQ Exam, including conditions at the PSI test center, immediately at the test center before leaving. Additionally, you must report these issues to the NCCAA by email at contact@nccaa.org within three (3) business days of the examination date.

    • Your report should include your full name, test center location and address, and a detailed description of the conditions that caused the issue(s). The NCCAA will review your report and may decide to administer a new CDQ Exam or take other appropriate action. The NCCAA will not consider issues reported more than three (3) business days after the exam date.
  • To cancel or reschedule your exam:

    • Log in to your NCCAA account and scroll to the bottom to click on the “Testing Center” button. You will then be prompted to re-enter your login credentials to connect to PSI’s scheduling platform.
    • The Candidate Information Bulletin available on the “Testing Center” page and PSI’s scheduling platform provides details about all aspects of the exam experience, including cancellation and rescheduling policies.
    Cancellation Policies:
    • No refunds will be issued for the following reasons:
      • Failing to schedule the exam with the PSI test center.
      • Canceling a scheduled examination less than 24 hours in advance.
      • Arriving more than 15 minutes late for the scheduled exam.
      • Failing to appear for the scheduled exam.
    • If an emergency occurs, you must provide a written description and documentation to the NCCAA via email at contact@nccaa.org within 24 hours of the scheduled exam date. Refunds due to emergencies are subject to a $100 administration fee.

    Note: Failing to bring the required photo identification or incorrectly recording the exam date, time, or location is not considered an emergency.

  • Here are the steps to change your address or name in the app:

    1. Log in to your NCCAA account.

    2. Select My Profile.

    3. Update your address or name as needed and click Save to confirm the changes.

Upcoming Dates

CME SUBMISSION

Due date for odd year cycle is . Due date for even year cycle is

CERTIFICATION EXAM

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Students are permitted 6 attempts within a 2-year period after graduation.

CDQ EXAM

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CAA’s are required to take the CDQ Exam first after 4 years, and then every 10 years thereafter.