The PANCE and PANRE Preparation Checklist

The ECB lists the diseases that you should focus on and describes which information you should study for each disease. Follow the link below: Break down the ECB into parts that are easy to handle, depending on the time you have before the exam. (You should know your study habit by now)

• View the NCCPA Exam Content Blueprint

New for 2019! I have also created two new interactive PANCE and PANRE/Pilot alternative blueprints accessible on my smartypance.com website which make studying blueprint topics a breeze. They are freely available in both an online and hyperlinked PDF format.

• Interactive Content Blueprint for the PANCE / (Download PDF)
• Interactive Content Blueprint for the PANRE / (Download PDF)

2. Identify Your Weak Areas

As a student, you may have been offered a mock, computer-based exam called the PACKRAT. The PACKRAT appears to predict PA student outcomes on the PANCE.  You can use your PACKRAT results to focus your review.

The NCCPA also allows you to take a mock PANCE or PANRE on their website for $35. They will score it and highlight your weak and strong areas. This is a good place to start and will give you a baseline from which to guide your studies.

• NCCPA Mock PANCE Exam $35
• NCCPA Mock PANRE Exam $35

You can also access my exams which will give you a feel for your level of preparation.

• The PA Life: Free PANCE and PANRE exams
• For topic-specific exams and an exhaustive set of review questions join the PANCE and PANRE Academy + Smarty PANCE.

Take a Free Practice Exam

3. Obtain Great Study Materials

It is completely up to you, but the most common sources of valid and not excessive references are as follows.  I still prefer hard copies over kindle format review books. My personal favorites are starred below.

• A Comprehensive Review for the Certification and Recertification Examinations for Physician Assistants: Published in Collaboration with AAPA and PAEA
• Appleton & Lange Review for the Physician Assistant (Appleton & Lange Review Book Series)*
• Swanson's Family Medicine Review: Expert Consult*
• PANCE PREP PEARLS; A practical comprehensive study and review guide for the PANCE and PANRE

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4. Listen to Review Material at the Gym or in the Car

I am a huge fan of the free Physician Assistant Exam Review Podcast by Brian Wallace. It is a great way to study while you are sitting in traffic, on a long trail run or working out on the elliptical at the gym.

I offer a FREE Audio PANCE and PANRE Board Review Podcast that covers 10 questions per episode. It is a great way to get into the habit of answering test question and makes a good complement to Brian's more in-depth topic review.

• Members of the PANCE and PANRE Academy + Smarty PANCE have access to all episodes and over 400 audio questions.

5. Consider Taking a PANCE/PANRE Review Course

Although this is costly and often overkill it will add an extra layer of security if you are feeling a bit anxious. I took the UMDNJ PANCE review course as part of my initial training 11 years ago. It was well done and the practice exams were worth the price of the course alone.

UMDNJ PANCE or PANRE Review Course

• The UMDNJ course is considered by many to be the gold standard. You can take it in person or online. They claim a 98.6% pass rate.
  • Get an instant 10% discount by entering the code 'PALIFE' at checkout
• Help Zebra: Don't let the archaic looking website fool you. This online program is one of the best-kept secrets!
• CME Resources: I have no experience with this course, but others have said it is quite good.
• RoshReview: I have also heard good things about this program although I have no personal experience with the course.

6. Practice, Practice, Practice

Practicing exam questions is a must! The more questions you practice the higher the likelihood of passing your exam. There are many resources available.

1. Take the practice exams in the review books:

The Appleton and Lange Q&A is constructed of nothing but practice question and you should work through the ones that focus on your weak areas. Swanson's Family Practice Review is similar but includes updated explanations and readings that complement the material as you progress through the questions. I love the immediate feedback and teaching points this book provides.

2. The PANCE and PANRE Academy + SMARTY PANCE

Speaking of immediate feedback and teaching points, I have built this into all of my exams as part of the PANCE and PANRE Academy and Smarty PANCE. Studies show that obtaining immediate feedback allows you to learn the course material at an accelerated rate.

For this reason, I urge you to take a look at the PANCE and PANRE Academy + Smarty PANCE and consider it an integral part of your study plan.

I also recommend signing up for the FREE  60-day email review series that will keep you on the ball by sending you one review question daily.

Join the PANCE and PANRE Academy + Smarty PANCE

3. Retake an NCCPA practice exam

In step 2 you took an NCCPA practice exam to guide your studies and gauge your preparedness. Now is a great time to take a second exam.

3. Exam master

For many students, their PA program has purchased this source of questions for them.

This website contains thousands of PANCE style questions that you can practice in areas that you want to get better in or diseases that you want to review. Follow this link if you would like more information, and ask your school if they have purchased access.

• Exam master Physician Assistant Exams
• They also have an app Exam master on iTunes

Finally, GOOD LUCK!

Study hard. Take the exam seriously. You only want to take it once every 10 years.