IN THE CASE OF: BOARD DATE: 18 February 2014 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20130016469 THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE: 1. Application for correction of military records (with supporting documents provided, if any). 2. Military Personnel Records and advisory opinions (if any). THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST, STATEMENT, AND EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant requests payment of Non-Physician Board Certification Pay (NPBCP) for the period March 2009 through March 2010. 2. The applicant states: * he is a physician assistant in area of concentration (AOC) 65D in the U.S. Army Reserve * in 2009, the U.S. Army Human Resources Command Incentives Branch offered NPBCP to all officers mobilized/deployed in AOC 65D if they were certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) * he has been certified as a physician assistant since he graduated in 1998 * he was mobilized to Iraq in March 2009 through March 2010 * his point is, he was eligible for this board certification pay, but he never received it from the time it was offered 3. The applicant provides: * letter from the NCCPA, dated 4 September 2013, * mobilization orders * release from active duty orders (not available) CONSIDERATION OF EVIDENCE: 1. The applicant was commissioned as a Reserve officer on 5 April 2000. He was ordered to active duty on 13 March 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served as a physician assistant in Kuwait/Iraq from 5 June 2009 to 21 February 2010. On 23 March 2010, he was released from active duty. 2. His records contain a letter from the School of Allied Health Professions, dated 29 October 2012, which states: * he completed all the requirements for the Master of Physical Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree as of 31 August 2012 * he will be awarded the MPAS degree on 14 December 2012 3. He provided documentation, dated September 2013, which shows he is board certified by the NCCPA. The period of certification is effective 2 December 1998 to 31 December 2013. 4. He was promoted to major effective 4 September 2013. 5. An advisory opinion was obtained from the Chief of the Army Medical Department Special Pay Branch of the Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG) in the processing of this case. The advisory official states: a. The eligibility criteria for receipt of NPBCP required the officer to be board certified by their national profession board, such as NCCPA, and to be trained at the master's degree level of education for their specialty. b. A review of supporting documentation and available special pay and finance data indicates the applicant is certified by the NCCPA; however, records indicate he was not conferred his MPAS by the University of Nebraska Medical Center School of Allied Health Professions until December 2012. c. Based on the eligibility criteria for NPBCP, he would not qualify for payment until December 2012 and, therefore, is not eligible for payment of NPCBP for the requested mobilization period of March 2009 through March 2010. 6. On 24 October 2013, the advisory opinion was furnished to the applicant for comment. He did not respond. 7. OTSG has published policies and procedures for entitlement to board certification pay for non-physician health care providers, known as NPBCP. This pay is authorized for personnel who are not physicians but who are care givers, such as psychologists, dieticians, physical and occupational therapists, podiatrists, and nurse practitioners. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. The evidence shows the applicant is board certified by the NCCPA; however, he was not conferred his MPAS until December 2012. 2. The advisory opinion notes the applicant would not qualify for NBPCP until December 2012. Therefore, he is not eligible for payment of NPCBP for the requested mobilization period of March 2009 through March 2010. BOARD VOTE: ________ ________ ________ GRANT FULL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF ________ ________ ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING ___x____ ____x____ ___x___ DENY APPLICATION BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION: The evidence presented does not demonstrate the existence of a probable error or injustice. Therefore, the Board determined the overall merits of this case are insufficient as a basis for correction of the records of the individual concerned. _______ _ _x______ ___ CHAIRPERSON I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case. ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130016469 3 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1 ABCMR Record of Proceedings (cont) AR20130016469 2 ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 1