Tomorrow I Take My Board Exam (The PANCE)

Posted By: Kubin   |   Paul's Desk

After some internal debate, I’ve decided to throw caution to the wind and share up front that tomorrow I will take my board exam to become a physician assistant (the PANCE).  The debate centers around the fear that passing is not guaranteed, and once I’ve shared with the internet (read: the world) that I’m taking it, there’s no hiding how I do.  But I plan to pass with flying colors, and I will hold my head high either way.  This article shares a little about what the exam is like.

About The Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)

The PANCE is a 6 hour, 300-question exam that assess a new PA school graduate’s fitness to join the field as a nationally certified physician assistant.  It is taken at a “secure” Pearson Vue testing center, on computer, and consists of five 60-minute blocks of 60 questions plus one hour for breaks throughout the day.

Topics I will be tested on are listed by system according to the following table:

Organ System % of Exam
Content
Cardiovascular 16
Dermatologic 5
EENT(Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat) 9
Endocrine 6
Gastrointestinal/Nutritional 10
Genitourinary 6
Hematologic 3
Infectious Diseases 3
Musculoskeletal 10
Neurologic System 6
Psychiatry/Behavioral 6
Pulmonary 12
Reproductive 8
Total: 100%

Each organ system will be tested according to the following “task areas. ”  Notice that the two big areas are – understandably – diagnosis and treatment:

Tasks % of Exam
Content
History Taking & Performing Physical Examinations 16
Using Laboratory & Diagnostic Studies 14
Formulating Most Likely Diagnosis 18
Health Maintenance 10
Clinical Intervention 14
Pharmaceutical Therapeutics 18
Applying Basic Science Concepts 10
Total: 100%

All of the questions are multiple choice, just like the USMLE, and there are questions that require the examinee to interpret lab tests, photos of rashes, wounds, etc., imaging studies, and EKGs. The majority of the questions are in vignette format (“A 26 year old male comes into the ER complaining of…” Each section is timed, with one hour per 60 questions, and you can mark questions to come back to if you choose to jump around.

As you can see, the PANCE tests on a large content area.  If you want to look through the specific illnesses that are tested, you can do so on the NCCPA’s website (click this link and then scroll down).  It’s not all-inclusive by any means, but there’s plenty here.  The NCCPA also publishes practice tests for $35 made up of 120 questions each that have been previously used on the PANCE, but that have been retired.  This gives you a pretty good idea what the exam will look like.  A sample question from the NCCPA’s website can be found here, along with explanation of the right and wrong answer choices.  Yes, they do make money on this, but the real money is for the test itself – the registration fee is a breathtaking $475 – just another reason I hope to pass the first time!

How I’m Preparing For the PANCE

At this point in my learning, it’s about reviewing things I already know, getting comfortable with the question format, and filling in details that might have slipped through the cracks over the last two years.  Rather than studying from my primary resources (Current, Cecil Medicine, etc), it’s time to work from exam questions.  There are books of questions, some of which are good, and others not (KAPLAN’s were terrible for some reason) that you can use to get a feel for your weak areas.  I’m taking about 50 questions at a time, then going back and reading through the answer explanations – even for the questions that I got right – to assess for information I’ve either 1) never seen, or 2) forgotten.  I may make a few notes on a page for each organ system with the info that I need to learn, and then I move on to more questions.

So shortly after I post this article, I’m off to San Francisco to check into a hotel, review for one final day, and then take in a good night’s sleep before the fun starts at 8:00 AM tomorrow.

Wish me luck (please!)

Paul

22 comments

  1. Good Luck!
    But with all that you have shared it’s very clear you are going to crush that test and be a great PA very soon!

  2. Thank you for sharing all your experiences with us. You sound well prepared and I’m sure you’ll have a very successful test day.

  3. GOOD LUCK!!! I think the fact that you know so much about the break down is enough to show you’re going to do well. I’m not in PA school yet but this makes me nervous for the PANCE (just for the unknown of what comes between today and the PANCE for me)

    Can’t wait to see the blog entry that you’ve passed!

  5. I wish you the best of luck, Paul! Go get ’em!!!
    Tear it up! You have worked hard, and I feel certain that we will hear a positive report from you on the other side of your PANCE exam.
    Thank you for sharing your preparation process with us (the world)!

  6. Kenneth welcome says:

    Youve got the heart and the passion! As far as I’m converged you’ve already pass you will great tomorrow #praying

  9. Good luck Paul! You deserve to pass!
    Thank you for sharing your experience and making me understand the profession better and offer some guidance through the pre PA process (which made a big difference!).

  12. You will do great Paul!!

    I know this is a bit late to help you but I wanted to share the PANCE and PANRE review exams I put together on my PA site.

    They are in the “beta” stage (I am still correcting some of the database errors in the exams) but they are totally free, meant to simulate the real thing, and directly from the official PANCE and PANRE review course. I hope they offer a free alternative to the 35 dollar exam through NCCPA and give people a chance to do more questions.

    There are 3 exams, each 120 questions long. The third one should be up and running this weekend. but 1 and 2 are good to go.

    I suggest tonight you just rest your mind, but if you know of any readers or students who would benefit from this they can follow this link:

    http://thepalife.com/pance-panre/

    Best of luck to you Paul! I really enjoy your blog and look forward to hearing about your experience. I have taken both the PANCE and PANRE, each time I felt like I was abused during the exam, but always do better than I thought.

    Best wishes,

    Stephen P.

  13. Karim Tazi says:

    You are going to be just fine, I m sure this test will not be a challenge for you, get ready for the real work at the hospital.

  15. Best Wishes to you Paul! I hope all your endeavors are fulfilled to your expectations. Thank you for your website.
    Best in Health & Wellness.

  16. Good Luck! I know you will pass with flying colors!
    You will be a great PA!

    Keep us posted.

  17. I worry about you like a nut worries about hitting the ground. So have SO got this. Can’t wait to celebrate. Can we wear wigs?

    Sundance

  18. Congrats on finishing the PANCE! I listen to your podcasts and they are really helpful. Thank you!

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