Susan Kirk, a physician’s assistant with Texas Children’s Hematology Center, has been nationally recognized for earning a specialty credential called a Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
Kirk was recognized for earning a CAQ in Pediatrics, a distinction earned by meeting licensure, education and experience requirements and then passing a national exam in the specialty. She is one 13 certified PAs in Texas to earn a CAQ in Pediatrics since the program’s inception in 2014.
As a 7-year veteran of the hospital, Kirk said she pursued a CAQ in pediatrics to demonstrate her dedication to the field and validate her subspecialty skills.
“Certified PAs who earn the CAQ demonstrate a strong commitment to lifelong learning and attention to evolving medical advancements in their area of practice,” says Dawn Morton-Rias, president and CEO of NCCPA. “Not only have they maintained certification through continuing medical education programs and assessments throughout their careers, they have pursued and been awarded this additional credential that attests to their knowledge and skills in their specialty.”
CAQs are offered to certified PAs in seven specialties: cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, emergency medicine, hospital medicine, orthopaedic surgery, nephrology, pediatrics and psychiatry.
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is the only certifying organization for PAs in the United States. The PA-C credential is awarded by NCCPA to PAs who fulfill certification, certification maintenance and recertification requirements. There are more than 131,000 certified PAs in the U.S. today. For more information, visit www.PAsDoThat.net.