ACPA Has Announced the Creation of its Physician Advisor Certification Exam

February 10, 2024

The American College of Physician Advisors (ACPA) is pleased to announce the creation of its Physician Advisor Certification Exam.  

This 100-question exam tests physician advisors on their practical knowledge in the subject areas of utilization review (UR), clinical documentation integrity (CDI), and case management (CM).  Upon passing, physician advisors are American College of Physician Advisors Certified with the credential designation of ACPA-C.  

To be eligible to take the exam, physician advisors must satisfy one of two pathways.  The first pathway requires completion of the ACPA’sphysician advisor curriculum either online via the TLC (The Learning Center) certification module bundle or in-person via attendance at Essentials & Fundamentals.  The second pathway requires physician advisor experience in the form of at least threeyears working as a physician advisor or evidence of prior, alternative certification.  

“We are thrilled to make this curriculum and exam available to the physician advisor community at-large.  This has truly been a process led by physician advisors for the benefit of physician advisors.  We hope theyfind value in demonstrating their uniqueskills and wear their ACPA-C credential with pride,” said ACPA President, Clarissa Barnes, MD, FACP.  “I would be remiss to not say a special thank you to the Certification Committee members: Ahmed Abuabdou, MBBS, MBA, FACP, SFHM,  Juliet B. Ugarte Hopkins, MD, Charles Locke, MD, Anuja Mohla, DO, MBA, FACP, Carolyn Dutton MD, FACEP, FACP, Ronald Hirsch, MD, FACP, CHCQM, CHRI, Tiffany Ferguson, LMSW, CMAC, ACM, and Adriane Martin, DO, FACOS, CCDS, and the committee’s chair, Ben Kartchner, MD.”  

Dr. Ronald Hirsch, Vice President of the Regulations and Education Group for R1 PAS, Inc. and member of the ACPA Advisory Board notes, “I was present at the gathering of physician advisors when the concept of ACPA was first envisioned – an organization led by physician advisors advancing the practice of physician advisors.  This examination meets their goal, focusing on the daily activities of a hospital-based physician advisor and addressing many of the common regulatory and clinical scenarios.  Understanding these regulatory processes and operational nuances is critical to the role of the physician advisor and ensuring the examination addressed practical information was paramount on our minds.”

“When I started out as a physician advisor, it took about a year for me to discover the ACPA was the only organization truly dedicated to providing education in the topics germane to physician advisors and fostering their success,” commented ACPA Immediate Past President, Juliet B. Ugarte Hopkins, MD.  “Even at that time, before I was well-ingrained into the leadership of the College, I could see their trajectory was headed toward producing a truly functional and results-oriented certification for clinicians entering the field.  Ten years later, I am thrilled to see this goal come to fruition and benefit the greater physician advisor community in all stages of their careers.”

For more information about certification and how to qualify, please see the ACPA website here.

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The American College of Physician Advisors is the national organization dedicated to “promoting and expanding the prominent role of the Physician Advisor in today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment through education, certification, mentorship and collaboration.”

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