PA-C
Medical abbreviation · Healthcare Credential
| Stands for | Physician Assistant-Certified |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
PA-C stands for Physician Assistant-Certified, a healthcare credential abbreviation.
Credential showing that a physician assistant has passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) and maintains certification with the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). State licensure usually requires it.
Example: Urgent care visit with Taylor Brooks, PA-C, for sinus symptoms.
Usage notes
To keep the credential, PAs complete 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and pass a recertification assessment every ten years. The "-C" is dropped if certification lapses. In 2021 the American Academy of PAs voted to change the profession's title to "physician associate", though legal titles depend on state law.
Related abbreviations
More healthcare credential abbreviations
- OD – Doctor of Optometry
- OT – Occupational therapist
- OTD – Doctor of Occupational Therapy
- OTR – Occupational Therapist, Registered
- OTR/L – Occupational Therapist, Registered, Licensed
- PA – Physician assistant
- PCA – Patient care assistant
- PCCN – Progressive Care Certified Nurse
- PCT – Patient care technician
- PharmD – Doctor of Pharmacy
- PMHNP – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- PNP – Pediatric nurse practitioner
See all 122 healthcare credential abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.