title: Perceptions of physician assistants regarding a specialty certification examination.
abstract: A national sample of physician assistants (PAs) responded to a survey about their perceptions of specialty certification. Fewer than one-third planned to certify. Of three factors, advantage of specialization was most related to awareness, plans to certify, and demographics. Respondents were unsure whether certification would increase PA salaries. Many felt specialty certification will be the undoing of the profession.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Muma
authors.forename: Cassandra L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Montoya
authors.forename: Amanda K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pettijohn
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002568:Certification; D006801:Humans; D010465:Perception; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000523:psychology*; D013038:Specialization / Q000592:standards*