CAQ-Peds
Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) - Pediatrics (CAQ-Peds)
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Cheat sheet
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ExploreKey terms
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ExploreStudy plan
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ExploreCommon mistakes
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ExploreCase studies
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) is a specialty credential offered through NCCPA, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. NCCPA describes the CAQ as a way for PAs to "show your advanced expertise in your specialty," and it lists "Earn Specialty Certificates" as a distinct path alongside becoming certified and maintaining certification. The credential is aimed at PAs who are already Board Certified and who want documented recognition of focused, advanced practice in a specialty area such as pediatrics. NCCPA states that its certification programs reflect standards for clinical knowledge, clinical reasoning, other medical skills, and professional behaviors required both at entry into practice and throughout PAs' careers. Because this page could not confirm the Pediatrics-specific blueprint at retrieval, candidates should treat the exam as a specialty-focused, multiple-choice assessment of pediatric clinical knowledge and reasoning, and should verify the current content blueprint, eligibility rules, item count, time limit, fee, and passing standard directly with NCCPA before scheduling. For preparation, build a study plan around the published specialty blueprint, review core pediatric primary and acute care topics, work through applied clinical-reasoning cases rather than isolated facts, and use NCCPA's Specialty CAQ Resources and Specialty CAQ FAQs pages as the authoritative source for logistics. Confirm all details with NCCPA; this page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NCCPA.
What you'll study
About CAQ-Peds preparation
What exactly is the CAQ in Pediatrics?
It is a Certificate of Added Qualifications, an NCCPA specialty certificate intended to demonstrate advanced expertise in a focused area of practice. NCCPA groups it under "Earn Specialty Certificates," separate from initial certification and certification maintenance. Confirm current specialty availability and requirements on NCCPA's Specialty CAQ pages.
Who is eligible to sit for a specialty CAQ exam?
NCCPA administers the CAQ program, but the retrieved source did not state eligibility criteria for the Pediatrics CAQ. Check NCCPA's Specialty CAQ Resources and Specialty CAQ FAQs for current eligibility rules, application steps, and key dates before you plan your study timeline.
What is the exam format?
NCCPA's CAQ pages reference a "CAQ Online Maintenance Exam Agreement," which indicates an online exam format. The retrieved source did not confirm the Pediatrics item count, time limit, or whether any other question types are used, so verify those specifics with NCCPA.
How long is the exam and how many questions does it have?
These values could not be confirmed from the source at retrieval, because the CAQ specialties page returned an error. Do not rely on figures from older prep materials. Check NCCPA's current Specialty CAQ Resources page or contact NCCPA directly for the authoritative item count and time limit.
What score do I need to pass?
The passing standard for the Pediatrics CAQ was not stated in the retrieved source. NCCPA sets and periodically reviews passing standards, and older published numbers may no longer apply. Confirm the current standard through NCCPA rather than assuming a fixed percentage.
How much does the exam cost, and can I retake it?
Neither the fee nor the retake policy for the Pediatrics CAQ could be confirmed from the retrieved source. Both are set by NCCPA and can change. Review the current Specialty CAQ FAQs and any CAQ agreement documents, or contact NCCPA, before budgeting or scheduling a retake.
How should I order my studying?
Start with the official specialty blueprint, then map each content area to your own practice gaps. Study high-volume pediatric primary care first, then acute and urgent presentations, then less common conditions. Finish with applied case questions and timed practice to build reasoning speed rather than memorizing isolated facts.
What are common reasons candidates struggle?
Typical failure modes are studying general pediatrics broadly without aligning to the blueprint, memorizing facts instead of practicing clinical reasoning, skipping well-child and developmental content, and underestimating timing under exam conditions. Build question practice into every study block and review each wrong answer for the underlying reasoning gap.
How current is the information on this page?
This page is independent study material, not an official NCCPA publication. The source pages were retrieved on 2026-11-06, and the CAQ specialties page returned an error at that time, so several Pediatrics-specific values are marked for review. Always confirm details with NCCPA.