Retake

Examination Candidacy

The eligibility period for the initial Certifying Examination shall extend for no more than two (2) years from the date of graduation from an NCCAA-approved anesthesiologist assistant educational program and shall begin on the date of the first attempt at the Certifying Examination. During the period of eligibility, the examination candidate shall have a maximum of six (6) opportunities to take the Certifying Examination. Exam candidates will be responsible for reapplication fees for successive exam attempts while in the eligibility period.

During the eligibility period, the following shall be considered use of an examination opportunity:

  1. An examination candidate fails to appear for a scheduled Certifying Examination, or
  2. An examination candidate fails to complete a scheduled Certifying Examination, or
  3. An examination candidate fails to pass a Certifying Examination.

When either the two-year eligibility period or the maximum six (6) attempts at the Certifying Examination have been exhausted, the candidate loses eligibility to take the Certifying Examination. The only way to establish new eligibility to take the NCCAA Certifying Examination is to enter and complete an unabridged, NCCAA-approved educational program for anesthesiologist assistants. The program must be accredited or eligible for accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs [CAAHEP], as described in the latest edition of the CAAHEP publication, Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Anesthesiologist Assistant or an equivalent successor organization as deemed by the NCCAA.

Eligible Status

A candidate who holds "certification eligible” status with the NCCAA has successfully completed an accredited anesthesiologist assistant educational program and has been granted eligibility status to take the NCCAA Certification Exam. The candidate with certification eligible status has not passed the Certification Exam required to be a certified anesthesiologist assistant (CAA), is not certified by the NCCAA, and may not use the designation “CAA” after their name.

Ineligible Status

Candidates will be found ineligible to take the Certification Exam for any one or more of the following reasons:

  • The minimum academic and clinical requirements have not been met or adequately documented.
  • If, in the sole determination of the NCCAA, the candidate is guilty of cheating on the Certification Exam.
  • Failure to make any required eligibility attestations and to provide sufficient documentation to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of the NCCAA.
  • Failure to meet any of the other eligibility requirements, including failure to sign or accept a waiver of liability and agreement of authorization, confidentiality, and nondisclosure statements if requested by NCCAA.
  • Failure to pass the Certification within two (2) years following graduation from an NCCAA-approved anesthesiologist assistant educational program.