Many Physician Assistants (PAs) look to complete their Physician Assistant CME requirements off 100 CME credits every year by attending a CME conference.
CME conferences are the most popular type of CME activity amongst many PAs for numerous reasons. One reason is that conferences often span multiple days in popular vacation destinations such as Las Vegas, Hawaii, and Florida. These conferences give PAs the opportunity to use their CME allowance to escape their hectic everyday lifestyle in a relaxing and luxurious vacation destination while they learn about the most relevant and critical topics and best practices in their industry.
Another vital reason conferences are a top choice is the opportunity to learn from industry leaders. Most conferences will feature highly hailed speakers that host various types of sessions, that give attendees to learn in multiple formats. The conferences also give the unique opportunity to network with and learn from fellow attendees, something online courses usually can’t do.
There are numerous conferences held by organizations across the world every year. To make your search easier, we have identified the best 5 Physician Assistant CME conferences in 2020 to attend to meet your annual CME requirements as well as improve your PA expertise.
American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) 2020 National PA Conference
The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) 2020 Conference is the only national physician assistant CME conference and will be held at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN from May 16-20, 2020.
The conference offers attendees the ability to earn over 35 hours of AAPA Category 1 CME. In total, there are over 46 therapeutic categories covered CME eligible sessions that offer 250 combined hours of Category 1 CME. Attendees can earn these credits by participating in various CME eligible sessions and events including:
- CME Lectures
- Fast 15 Sessions
- Workshops
- Small Interactive Sessions
CME Lectures
The CME lectures are the most traditional CME sessions that will take place at the conference. These lectures will feature prominent PA speakers who will give insights regarding trending PA topics to large groups of attendees.
Fast 15 Sessions
Fast 15 sessions are sessions that are broken into two 15 minute parts. During the first 15 minutes, attendees are given insight into a specific specialty of their interest. The second 15 minutes is a Q&A, where attendees can ask the presenter about the information covers or other relevant questions related to the specialty.
These specialty based sessions give PAs the ability to get the most relevant information regarding a specialty of interest to them quickly and efficiently. The info can usually be directly applied to one’s everyday practice.
Workshops
Workshop sessions tend to be small in group size but total size is dependent on the specific session. These sessions are perfect for attendees looking for hands-on experience. Some workshops offer the chance for one-on-one learning with the instructor which is a great chance to get personalized learning. Do note, that workshop sessions require attendees to purchase a separate ticket for attendance.
Small Interactive Sessions
Similar to workshops, small interactive sessions require an additional fee to attend. These sessions are limited to 50 attendees per session. These sessions are cased-based and require active participation from participants to get the most out of them.
AAPA is known to hold one of the best PA CME conferences every year. Registration rates for AAPA 2020 vary depending on the member type of the attendee. Rates start as low as $50 for all days and there are discounts available if you stay at a hotel in the AAPA hotel block.
Check out the video below for more info on AAPA 2020.
Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts CME Conference for PAs - Las Vegas, Nevada
Skin, Bones, Hearts, and Private Parts is a popular provider amongst Physician Assistants looking to meet their CME requirements. They host many conferences a year and their conferences are “a unique and modern approach to the traditional method of earning CME credits.”
One of the most anticipated conferences the organization will host this year will take place at Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel & Casino at Las Vegas, NV from November 10-13, 2020.
PAs can earn up to 26 AAPA Category 1 CME credits by attending this conference. While earning credits, PAs will also have the opportunity to network with other PAs from across the country during intimate interactive sessions. This unique opportunity provides a great chance for PAs to pick up best practices from their peers from across the country themselves.
The sessions themselves will feature highly renowned speakers who will help PAs gain new perspectives in the medical field related to several key topics. Some of the topics the conference will focus on this year are:
- Dermatology
- Orthopedics
- Sports Medicine
- Cardiology
- Women’s Health
- Diabetes
- Emergency Medicine
Currently, rates for the conference depend on when the participant registers. Standard rates are $877 dollars for access to the entire conference. As previously mentioned, the conference in Las Vegas, NV is just one of many CME conferences Skin, Bones, Heart & Private Parts is putting on this year. Other location options include Destin, FL, Myrtle Beach, SC, Virginia Beach, VA, Atlanta, GA, and a Carribean Cruise.
14th Annual Primary Care Spring Conference
The 14th Annual Primary Care Spring Conference is two sessions and will be held from March 23-27, 2020 (Session 1) and April 6-10, 2020 (Session 2) at the Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Florida. This conference is hosted by Continuing Education Company as part of its Primary Care Conference Series which has been going on for 25 years.
PAs can earn up to 35 CME credits by purchasing a special deal to the conference. The special deal offers 20 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM for attending the conference and gives access to a free online CME course that offers 15 CME credits. Note, this offer is only available to attendees who attend all 5 days of the Spring conference.
This conference will place an emphasis on practical and useful information for clinical practice. The organization says after attending the conference PAs will better be able to:
- Assess and provide patients with an accurate diagnosis and optimal care for a broad range of disorders seen in primary care.
- Utilize current guidelines in the diagnosis and management of commonly encountered therapeutic issues.
- Formulate comprehensive evidence-based interventions and treatment strategies that will lead to the reduction of modifiable risk factors and improved long term outcomes.
Another benefit of this conference is that this conference will be held in close proximity to St. Augustine, FL. St. Augustine is a historic location that features many historic sites and attractions and has many activities for attendees to participate in during their free time while attending the conference.
See the video below for more information on St. Augustine.
PAs can attend this conference for $650.
Also, check out the top 3 Physician Assistant CME conferences that took place in 2019.