What is the PANCE? Everything You Need to Know About this Exam

You’ve done it! You finished PA school and now it’s time to get certified! The final hurdle standing between aspiring PAs and their professional dreams is the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). In this blog, we will provide an overview of the PANCE exam and share key insights to help test-takers prepare effectively.

Exam Overview

The PANCE exam is a computer-based, multiple-choice test administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). You must graduate from an accredited PA program to be eligible to sit for the PANCE.

PANCE Content and Structure

The PANCE exam is divided into five 60-minute blocks. You are allowed a total of 45 minutes of break time to use however you’d like. The questions are divided into two different categories, Medical Content and Tasks, reflecting the expertise required to practice as a PA. Below is the breakdown of each.

Medical Content Categories Percentage

• Cardiovascular System 13%
• Dermatologic System 5%
• Endocrine System 7%
• Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat 7%
• Gastrointestinal System/Nutrition 9%
• Genitourinary System (Male and Female) 5%
• Hematologic System 5%
• Infectious Diseases 6%
• Musculoskeletal System 8%
• Neurologic System 7%
• Psychiatry/Behavioral Science 6%
• Pulmonary System 10%
• Renal System 5%
• Reproductive System (Male and Female) 7%

Task Categories Percentage

• History Taking and Performing Physical Examination 17%
• Using Diagnostic and Laboratory Studies 12%
• Formulating Most Likely Diagnosis 18%
• Managing Patients Health Maintenance, Patient Education, and Preventive Measures 10%
• Clinical Intervention 14%
• Pharmaceutical Therapeutics 14%
• Applying Basic Scientific Concepts 10%
• Professional Practice 5%

The Difference Between the PANCE and PANRE

The PANCE exam is the initial test you take after graduating to become a certified physician assistant. The PANRE is the exam you take to recertify after 10 years. PANCE consists of 300 questions and is taken over five hours and PANRE consists of 240 questions and is taken over four hours. The subject matter on both exams is the same.

How Long Do I Need to Study for the PANCE Exam?

We recommend anywhere between three and six months to prepare for the exam.

Top 3 Things You Need to Know If You’re Taking the PANCE

1. How many questions are on the exam?

There are 300 multiple choice questions on the PANCE exam.

2. What is a passing score?

The scores range from 200-800 with 350 being a passing score. The first-time test takers pass rate in 2022 was 92%. 

3. How many times can you take the PANCE? 

If you fail the exam, there is still opportunity to retake it. You are allowed to take it up to six times but must wait a minimum of 90 days between each attempt. You may take the PANCE up to six years following your graduation. After six attempts or six years since graduation you are no longer eligible to take the PANCE.

Tips to Prepare for the PANCE

1. Use the content outline to guide your study plan and ensure a well-rounded preparation.
2. Take practice tests to gauge your current knowledge and any weaknesses in content you may have.
3. Create a study schedule and stick to it. Allocate more time to high-yield content and any content you are struggling in. Remember that your focus should not be solely on memorization of the material, it should be integrating your knowledge and clinical reasoning skills together.
4. Invest in reputable review materials, such as study guides, review books, a mnemonic program like Picmonic, and a quality question bank like TrueLearn.
5. Answer practice questions daily. Arguably the most important component of successful exam prep is practice questions. The repeated act of recalling information reinforces what you already know and helps determine any gaps in your knowledge. The more you answer practice questions the more you will trigger your memory and the easier it will be to remember that information in the future. During each study session, start to incorporate more and more questions to enhance your testing endurance. Use the question rationales as another opportunity to advance your knowledge.
6. Prioritize your mental and physical well-being during your study period. It is important to get adequate sleep, so focus on getting at least seven hours each night. Be sure to eat plenty of nutritious food and move your body daily. Avoid burnout by planning time for your hobbies and spending time with your family and friends.

TrueLearn is here for you! Our PANCE SmartBank has over 800 questions that are mapped to the NCCPA content blueprint and all questions are written by board certified physician assistants. With our SmartBanks you have the ability to create custom quizzes tailored to your needs. Our performance dashboard lets you see where you stand in real time. We provide information on your strengths and weaknesses and show you where you stand in comparison to other students in the nation. We also offer a first time pass guarantee, so you can feel secure in your choice of choosing TrueLearn!