Physician’s Assistant’s Cardiology Board Exams

Current Cardiac Physician’s Assistant Exams Available: 

1.  Advanced EKG Physician Panel Reader’s Exam
2.  Emergency EKG Physician Exam
3.  12-Lead EKG Exam
4.  Cardiovascular Physician's Assistant Exam

CVPA Exam

This exam was developed specifically for Physician’s Assistants working in cardiology.  A great challenge for Cardiology Fellows preparing for their Cardiology Board Exams from the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Exam Cost:  $375 single examinee,  $325 for 5-15, or $275 for 16-30
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Price Options

Single Examinees $375.00 Groups of 5-15 $325.00 Groups of 16-30 $275.00

Benefits of CVPA Certification:

· Demonstrate accountability to employers or potential employers

· Career Advancement

· Potential Income Incentive

Exam Preparation:

The ABCM provides a list of items to study for the Cardiac Physician’s Assistant Board Certification Exam and makes reading recommendations of approved reference texts.  The ABCM does not offer practice exams for this exam but will in the near future. Check back with us again to see if the practice exam is ready for release by visiting the Exam and Prep Center section of this web site.    

Exam Results:

After your Exam is completed, the ABCM will process your score and send results to you within three weeks, along with a list of those diagnoses you had trouble with in the exam.  This valuable feedback provides our Exam clients with the information they need to further their studies in Cardiology.  

Sample Question 1:
The ECG below was recorded from a 68 year old man with known coronary artery disease.  Identify the rhythm disturbance.
Answer at bottom of this page.

T

Sample Question 2:

Dilated cardiomyopathy frequently has all the following except:  (Answer at the bottom of the page.)

a.  systolic dysfunction
b.  diastolic dysfunction
c.  mitral regurgitation
d.  dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction
e.  apical thrombus

Exam Locations:

The CVPA Board Certification Exams are now available in your home city or town by proctor.  Travel has become cost prohibitive for many and time off is often difficult for many.  We are therefore making every effort to ensure this vital CVPA Board Certification Exam is easily available. 

CVPA Review Courses Available:

If you are interested in hosting or attending a Clinical Cardiology Course for Advanced Cardiac Physician’s Assistants and Advanced Nurse Practitioners, we recommend you contact the Marriott Heart Foundation (MHF), “Home of the American College of Cardiovascular Nurses (ACCN),”  who will help you plan the course or direct you to one that is already planned.   The ABCM will work with the MHF/ACCN to bring the exams to your doorstep.  To start the process call:  (813)394-4968 or email: info@ecgcertify.org

Why Become Board Certified:

Most importantly is that Physician’s Assistants need to demonstrate professional accountability in their everyday practice which includes the diagnosis and management of cardiac patients.  And in this day of high litigation, employment shifting, and Joint Commission accountability, these Exams are a perfect way to assess the overall competency of Physician’s Assistants practicing in Cardiology.  Prove to yourself and your colleagues that you have achieved competency in Cardiology by taking the ABCM's CVPA Board Certification Exam. 

Cardiac Physician’s Assistant Awards Certificate: 

The ABCM issues CVPA Awards Certificates to those achieving a 70% or higher score on the Exams.  These frameable Awards Certificates are good for a three-year renewable period with proof of 50 continuing medical education (CME)hours in cardiology every three years, and by paying the renewal fee of $75 USD.     

History and the Need:

One of our Founders, Jonni Cooper, along with a team of Cardiac Professionals, developed the Cardiac Physician’s Assistant Board Certification Exam in 2009.  Prior to these developments, there was no standard with which to measure the competency of a Cardiac Physician’s Assistant whose professional role demands s/he be in the forefront of diagnosis and management of cardiac patients. They have to be as knowledgeable as the physicians they serve.   

We do not have a current track record to share for this exam as it was just released in December, 2009.  Two test sites are set up for 2010; one in Reno, NV on October 3, and one in Clearwater Beach, FL on October 31.  Results of these two sites will be posted here. Visit www.accn.net to see the brochure outlining a CVNP/CVPA Review Course outline for these two exam dates.

Answer to Sample Question 1:

Type II (infranodal) second degree AV block with 1:1 and 2:1 conduction.  Emergency personnel should have no difficulty recognizing genuine type II AV block:  the normal PR + BB are typical and, of course, the clincher is the unchanging PR interval when consecutive impulses are conducted before the first dropped beat.  The level of the block is at the bifurcation of the bundle of His or below causing the wide QRS of bundle branch block. 

Answer to Sample Question 2: 

d.  Dynamic left ventricular outflow track obstruction