FAQs

The conference will be held Friday, May 15 – Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in New Orleans, La. Most conference events will take place inside the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, La. 70130 and the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Two Poydras St., New Orleans, La. 70130.

Registration details, including rates and letters for employers and PA programs can be found online.

AAPA has negotiated discounted hotel rates with several hotels in New Orleans. All reservations must be made while registering online through AAPA’s official housing site to receive these discounted rates. Remember, by booking in the AAPA 2026 official hotel block, you save $200 on your registration rate!

• There is no prepayment or deposit due at the time of booking.
• When attendees book their rooms through AAPA, it helps us negotiate lower room rates and lower conference expenses. This allows us to keep registration rates lower.
• You will be staying in the heart of all the action and surrounded by your fellow PAs.

AAPA provides roaming security personnel at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center during conference hours, and at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Thursday through Sunday. Additionally, both the Convention Center and Hilton New Orleans Riverside have internal security personnel to handle any situations that arise.

Admittance to AAPA’s House of Delegates Meeting in the Hilton New Orleans Riverside will be only by AAPA 2026 Conference Badge. There will be only one entrance to the meeting room and security personnel will be positioned to check badges for delegate and member access. In addition, a plain clothes officer will be present during the HOD proceedings.

As in any city, we remind conference attendees to be aware of your surroundings. If you see something, say something. We also recommend you remove your conference badge and have a buddy when you are walking around the city. We encourage all attendees to program the following security phone numbers in their cell phones before heading to New Orleans to ensure they are easily accessible should you need to reach security. Security at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center can be reached at 504-582-3040. Security at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside can be reached at 504-584-3887.

The following specific measures are being taken for our AAPA 2026 attendees:

• Firearms are not allowed on any premises during AAPA 2026, regardless of state laws.
• There is security on-site at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the Hilton New Orleans Riverside
• PA Night Out will remain a private event, only open to conference registrants.
• There will be ample signage at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the Hilton New Orleans Riverside on what to do if there is a problem.
• Safety and security information will be provided in the event app about what to do if there is a problem.
• Badges are required for all AAPA conference events.

Yes, guest passes are available for purchase on site at the conference for $50. Guests must be accompanied by a registered attendee. Please keep in mind guests are only allowed access to the Expo, the Main Stage events, and Opening Reception. Guests must be 18 years of age or older.

Separate guest tickets can be purchased through the Registration portal for PA Night Out. You must be 21 years of age or older to attend PA Night Out.

Yes. At AAPA 2026, we will be offering any retired PA who wishes to attend the conference and the HOD meeting, but does not need to claim CME, the opportunity to register as an HOD Observer. This registration gives access to the HOD meeting, the Main Stage(s), Expo, and anything happening in the public space at the convention center. The cost for this registration category is $200, or $0 should you also book a hotel in the AAPA hotel block via the registration website.

All retired PAs will be given the option for this complimentary registration during the registration process. Should you have any questions or issues, please reach out to [email protected].

You can earn up to 26.5 AAPA Category 1 CME credits in five days, depending on which sessions you attend. CME sessions include 60-minute lectures, 30-minute lectures, Small Interactive Sessions, and hands-on workshops.

SIS are case-based, CME sessions which are limited to 50 people, to allow for discussion and interaction between the faculty and the attendees. These sessions cover a variety of topics and are available throughout the conference. They require a ticket which can be purchased for an additional $10 fee, which is donated to the PA Foundation.

Yes. Workshops at AAPA 2026 aim to provide in-depth practical instruction to enhance your clinical skills, from reading EKGs and suturing to using bedside ultrasound. Purchase your tickets during the conference registration process. These sessions will be available for additional purchase starting in December 2025. The cost is based on the materials required for the session.

AAPA Conference on Demand gives you online access to sessions recorded at AAPA 2026 and is available for purchase through Learning Central. The full list of sessions to be recorded in New Orleans will not be available until July 2026 as it is dependent on individual speakers giving permission to be recorded. You must complete an evaluation at the conclusion of the presentation to be able to claim credit and receive your certificate.

Want CME from AAPA 2025? AAPA 2025 Conference on Demand is available now.

Yes. AAPA has opportunities for conference attendees to volunteer as moderators for CME sessions. Moderators will introduce the speaker, remind attendees of housekeeping notes, and help to keep the sessions on time. As a show of appreciation, moderators receive, upon completed moderator evaluation, a nominal gift card. Apply to be a moderator today.

You can submit a presentation idea during the Call for Presentations and/or you can volunteer to be a grader and review the submitted presentation ideas to help determine the content for the next conference. The call opens in May 2026 for the 2027 conference. Grader signups for 2027 will be available in May 2026. The deadline for conference submissions and grader applications for AAPA 2027 is July 31, 2026.

Please contact [email protected] for assistance! We will help you make sure your registration is correct in order to claim CME. An additional fee will be required.

Satellite Symposia are non-commercial clinical sessions carrying AAPA Category 1 CME credit supported by members of the healthcare industry to complement the conference CME program. They undergo a separate accreditation process that includes content review for bias and balance. These sessions are not a part of the official AAPA Conference program and are planned solely by the educational provider.

Yes, AAPA hosts Satellite Symposia at its annual meeting. Applications are due Jan. 31, 2026.

As of Oct. 1, 2025, Fellow Premium membership no longer includes complimentary access to the Annual Conference. However, members who purchased Fellow Premium membership prior to Oct. 1, 2025 and have a Fellow Premium membership active during the month of May 2026, expiring May 31, 2026 or later, will still receive complimentary access to AAPA 2026. The conference registration system will automatically offer you the proper registration fee based on this criteria. If you have questions, please contact [email protected].

Yes. If you are eligible, you must still register to attend the conference. The system will recognize you as a Fellow Premium Member and will offer you a complimentary registration. Make sure you book your hotel within the official AAPA 2026 hotel block to get the full discount, otherwise the system will prompt you to pay a registration fee of $200

Your complimentary registration includes everything standard registration includes. Additional ticketed CME, workshops, events, hotel reservations, and donations will be an extra charge.

Unfortunately, no. Your complimentary registration is only valid for the year your Fellow Premium Membership is valid.

Please contact Customer Care for assistance.

Please fill out the Event Request Form with all your event details. AAPA will assign space and send confirmations on Jan. 30, 2026.

Please fill out the form provided above. Event details will be posted in the online planner and AAPA Conference Mobile App.

Attendees of this conference are extremely interested in new products, any information that assists them in their care of patients, and in improving their efficiencies as a healthcare provider. This is an annual conference with a rich history of success for exhibiting companies.

Visit the Exhibitor Page for more information: What’s Included, Pricing, Rules and Regulations, How to Reserve a Booth, etc.

For connections and networking you won’t want to miss! Explore the Expo floor, learn about and try out the newest medical innovations, talk with hundreds of exhibitors, and collect swag. And don’t miss our Expo events! Expand your social network at the Opening Reception, keep your career moving forward at the PA JobSource Career Fair, get quick hits of essential knowledge, and more.

Leverage the prestige and network of AAPA to connect with key healthcare professionals. We offer a range of cost-effective networking and sponsorship opportunities designed to suit any budget. As an Event Sponsor, your brand/message will be out in front of thousands of PAs who practice in every medical and surgical specialty and setting and come from all across the country.

For questions or to start partnering with AAPA, please contact Heather. We do request that all event sponsors have a presence in the Expo.

Please see the Conference Policies page for a detailed explanation.

If you live within a 50-mile radius of New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, you are automatically eligible for the $200 discount on your registration fee.