 FAQs – American College of Physician Advisors Certification (ACPA-C)General InformationWhat is ACPA-C?ACPA-C means an individual has passed the exam, created by the American College of Physician Advisors. The exam associated with earning the designation of ACPA-C is engineered to be practical and immediately useful – designed by physician advisors, for physician advisors. It mirrors the topics covered in the American College of Physician Advisors’ Essentials and Fundamentals one-day, in-person course as well as the virtual TLC (The Learning Center) Certification Preparation Course. This exam is really meant to be a way to check your knowledge about the day-to-day skills of a physician advisor. For example, do you truly understand the basics of the Medicare Two-Midnight Rule? Do you understand what is involved in clinical validity denials and how to effectively appeal them? What is the value of ACPA-C to me as a physician advisor?The value of ACPA-C is dependent on your physician advisor career stage. If you haven’t yet started working as a physician advisor, this is a great way to demonstrate to potential employers that you know the basics. Later in your career, it may be a good way to brush up on your knowledge base. What is the value of ACPA-C to me as an employer?ACPA-C means that your physician advisor hires are familiar with and tested on topics essential to the day-to-day activities of a physician advisor working in Utilization Review, Clinical Documentation Integrity, and/or Case Management. Is this exam/certification required for employment in a physician advisor role?No, it is not required. However, as this industry grows, it is likely to become increasingly important to have an outside validation of the essential skills required in this profession. Why should the American College of Physician Advisors (ACPA) be involved in certification?The physician advisor industry is growing and it's important for ACPA, as the preeminent physician advisor association led and run by physicians, to set the standards of what knowledge and skills are expected to excel in the role. ACPA-C is the direct result of requests made by our membership for a way to demonstrate their knowledge to themselves and current and/or future employers. Why are there so many pathways to certification?The ACPA wants to give individuals with varying learning styles, different options for exploring the material. The TLC Certification Preparation Course gives people the flexibility to learn at home or in the office at their own pace. The one-day, in-person Essentials and Fundamentals course gives participants the ability to absorb the material in-person and ask the faculty questions. For physician advisors who have already been working in the field for a few years, there is also an option to take the test directly, without pre-test preparation. What is the timeline for completing Certification?With the purchase of the Test Only pathway or completion of Essentials and Fundamentals, participants will have 3 months from the date of notification of approval to complete up to 3 attempts to pass the test with a required two-week wait period between attempts. With the purchase of the Preparation Course and Exam package, participants will have 6 months from the date of purchase to complete the 13 modules and then 3 months from receiving notification of the completion of the modules to complete up to 3 attempts to pass the test with a required two-week wait period between attempts. Becoming CertifiedDo I have to be a physician or a physician advisor to become certified?No, certification is available to anyone who wishes to be well-versed in the hospital case/utilization management and clinical documentation integrity issues physician advisors address. What is the difference between the TLC (The Learning Center) Preparation Course and Essentials and Fundamentals?TLC’s Preparation Course is virtual and on-demand, allowing individuals to review the material at any time before and after becoming certified, for as long as the modules are supported by ACPA. Essentials & Fundamentals is a live, in-person, one-day symposium with limited enrollment to allow full interaction between the participants and all the speakers over the course of the event, including during breaks and lunch, which are provided. Essentials & Fundamentals generally takes place immediately before the National Physician Advisor Conference. Participants receive the same set of Power Point slides that are used during the day’s presentations. Some people prefer one format over the other. Others may elect to do both as learning and then review. How do I get my member discount when I purchase certification?If you are logged in to the ACPA website when you purchase any of The Learning Center products, you will automatically receive the member discount of 10%. The price on the payment page will reflect the discount. Test-Only PathwayWhat are the qualifications to bypass the Preparation Course and/or Essentials and Fundamentals requirement to purchase the Test-Only option for certification?If you have worked in a physician advisor role for three or more years or hold an alternative, accepted physician advisor certification (accepted as a bypass method until August 1, 2025), individuals are allowed to forego the educational portion of the certification process and can proceed to take the test. Applicants will be asked to upload either CV or alternative certificate to prove qualification. Once the CV or alternative certification has been approved, the participant will receive an email letting them know that their test is open and how to access it. They will have 3 months from that date to complete up to three attempts at the test with a required two-week wait period between attempts. Once an applicant has uploaded their CV and/or alternative certificate and paid for the exam, can they take the test right away?No, the CV and/or alternate certificate will be evaluated in our office, first. Once the review is complete, the applicant will receive an email instructing how to access the test or, if more information is required, what is missing and needs to be provided. They will have 3 months from that date to complete up to three attempts at the test with a required two-week wait period between attempts. Preparation Course PathwayWhat does the Preparation Course consist of?TLC’s Preparation Course is virtual and on-demand, allowing individuals to review the material at any time before and after becoming certified, for as long as the modules are supported by ACPA. You can see a list of modules included by clicking this link. How long do I have to complete the Preparation Course?Once purchased, you will have six months from the date of purchase to complete the 13 modules that come with the Preparation Course. What happens if I don’t complete the Preparation Course in six months?If you do not complete the modules in the allotted six-month period, you will move into the three-month allotted time you are given to take your test but will not be eligible to take the test until you complete the modules. If the three months allotted to take the test expires without completing the modules and/or up to three test attempts that come with the Preparation Course and Exam package, all remaining test attempts will be considered expired, and you will have to repurchase additional attempts once all the modules are completed. How long does is the Preparation Course?The course consists of 13 modules with videos and/or slide decks which will take between 30-60 minutes each to complete. After each module there is a quiz containing a few questions about the material. After passing the quiz, you will receive a certificate that grants you CME for the time spent and the course will be identified as complete. Do I get CME for the modules in the Preparation Course?Yes, CME is granted separately for each module completed. You will have received a total of eight CME credit hours, accumulated with each module completed, once the Preparation Course is completed. Can I get a copy of the slides from the module presentations?ACPA does not distribute the slides associated with The Learning Center modules, however you can rewatch the videos as often as you would like. Will I maintain access to the modules even after I become certified?Modules purchased through The Learning Center will be available under the username they are attached to as long as ACPA supports that module. Some modules may be removed or replaced based on content changes. Modules purchased through the Preparation Course and Exam package will be turned off when the test is turned on and then reinstated once the test results are processed. I have finished the Preparation Course, where is the test?Once you have completed the modules in the Preparation Course, they will be processed in the Education Office and you will be notified by email that you are now eligible to sit for the exam. Once you receive this email, you can contact the Education Office when you are ready to take the test. This process takes time and you will not be able to take the test until your request is processed and you have been notified that the test has been turned on, so advanced notification will be required. Essentials and Fundamentals (E&F) PathwayWhat is Essentials and Fundamentals?This one-day, in-person event is specifically designed to cover the basics of utilization management, care management, and clinical documentation integrity. It has proven to be an excellent opportunity for new physician advisors, clinicians considering transition into this critical and dynamic administrative career, or those looking to brush-up or expand their knowledge base. Completion of Essentials & Fundamentals is also a pathway for eligibility to take the ACPA certification exam to become American College of Physician Advisors Certified (APCA-C). Participation in E&F automatically makes a person eligible to sit for the exam, at an additional cost, but does not require it take place immediately. New physician advisors may decide that E&F combined with some experience in the field will better prepare them for the exam. Once the experience has given them the confidence in their knowledge as a physician advisor, they can then claim their eligibility and choose to sit for the exam. Who should attend E&F?This one-day, in-person event is specifically designed to cover the basics of utilization management, care management, and clinical documentation integrity. It has proven to be an excellent opportunity for new physician advisors, clinicians considering transition into this critical and dynamic administrative career, or those looking to brush-up or expand their knowledge base. It is also good for those who have specialized in one area of being a physician advisor but who want to take the exam and need some exposure to other areas that are covered on the test. Do I get access to the Preparation Course or any of the Learning Center modules when I purchase or attend E&F?Participating in Essentials and Fundamentals does not include the modules from The Learning Center nor those included in the Preparation Course. Do I have to take the ACPA-C Exam if I attend E&F?The ACPA-C Exam is not included with your E&F purchase since E&F is not designed for only those seeking certification. Although, if you attend E&F, you will qualify to sit for the ACPA-C Exam. What materials do I get when I attend Essentials and Fundamentals?You will receive an electronic version of the set of slides that the speakers will use during their presentations. I’ve attended E&F, how do I take the certification exam?
Where Can I Find My Test?I finished my modules, why don’t I see my test?Completion of the modules will be processed in the ACPA Education Office and once they are verified, you will receive an email with how to move to the test. I purchased the Test Only pathway and uploaded my CV but don’t see the test.Your CV and/or alternative certificate will be verified in the ACPA Education Office and once verified you will receive an email with how to move to the test or a request for more information. The TestHow long is the test?The test is timed and you will have 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete it. The test cannot be paused or saved and must be completed in one contiguous sitting. What if I go over time on the test?If you do not submit your test within the allotted 1 hour and 40 minutes the test will be considered ineligible for certification and count as one of your test attempts. You will have to wait two weeks before you can make another attempt if you have any of the three total attempts remaining. Do I have to take the test at a testing center?No, the test is taken online from a computer of your choice. Internet access is required and shortages or outages of internet connection resulting in non-completion of the test in the allotted time will still count as one of your attempts. When do I get my test results?You will be able to see your test score and whether you passed the test as soon as you submit the test. What is a passing score on the exam?You must receive a score of 80% or better to pass the ACPA-C Exam. What happens if I don’t pass?Once test results are processed in the ACPA Education Office, you will receive an email confirming your results. If you were unsuccessful, you will need to wait at least two weeks before making another attempt. To make another attempt, you must be within your three attempts that come with the purchase of the test and not past the expiration date of your purchase. Will I get any feedback on questions I missed if I fail?After the first attempt, you will not receive any feedback about your answers. After the second attempt, if you are not successful, you can choose to have your test answers from the first and second test anonymously submitted to the Certification Committee to be reviewed. The committee will provide feedback on areas where more study may help on your third attempt. My Purchase Has ExpiredI was notified that my modules have expired, what happens now?If you have exceeded the six months allotted to complete your Preparation Course, you will move into the three-month period allotted to attempt the ACPA-C test up to three times. However, you must first complete the Preparation Course to become eligible to sit for the exam. Once your completed modules are verified in the Education Office, you will be notified that you are eligible to take the test. Once you receive this email, you can contact the Education Office when you are ready to take the test. This process takes time and you will not be able to take the test until your request is processed and you have been notified that the test has been turned on, so advanced notification will be required. I was notified that my test attempts have expired, what happens now?If you have exceeded the three months you were allotted to take the ACPA-C Exam up to three times (with a two-week wait period between attempts) and you want to continue to pursue becoming ACPA Certified, you will need to purchase three more attempts to pass the test by purchasing the exam again. To purchase three more attempts that need to be completed within 3 months of being approved, you must contact the Education Office for a link to the Repurchase Form. You can reach them at [email protected]. How do I purchase more attempts at the ACPA-C Exam?If you originally purchased the Preparation Course and Exam package, you must first complete all 13 modules in the Preparation Course before you can purchase additional test attempts. Once the Preparation Course is complete, to purchase three more attempts that need to be completed within 3 months of being approved, you must contact the Education Office for a link to the Repurchase Form. You can reach them at [email protected]. If you originally purchased certification through the Test Only option or the Essentials and Fundamentals (E&F) option, you may purchase three more attempts that need to be completed within 3 months of being approved, you must contact the Education Office for a link to the Repurchase Form. You can reach them at [email protected]. Once I’m CertifiedHow can I use my ACPA-C credentials?Once you have passed the ACPA-C Exam, you are considered ACPA Certified. This means that you can use the ACPA-C credential in your signature and identify yourself as ACPA Certified. Using the phrase “a certified physician advisor” in conjunction with acquiring the ACPA-C designation should be reserved for those who are a physician/physician advisor. Renewing My CertificateHow often do I have to renew my ACPA-C?You will have to renew your ACPA-C every three years after the year you receive it. All expirations dates are December 31, of the expiration year. See Renewal Schedule Graphic. On the first and then every other renewal period, you will need to attend at least one NPAC in-person or virtually between the date you received your certificate and/or last renewed your certificate and the date it expires. On the second and then every other renewal period, you will need to attend at least one NPAC in-person or virtually between the date you last renewed and the date your certificate expires as well as retake and pass the current ACPA-C Exam. How do I renew my certificate?Instructions for renewal will be released soon.  © 2025 by American College of Physician Advisors. All rights reserved. |