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Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) guides

2 source-backed guides for the PANCE, from registration and scoring to what to study, exam day and retakes.

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New to the PANCE? These answer the first questions most candidates have.

  1. 1What to study

    PANCE Blueprint: What's on the PANCE, by Organ System and Task

    NCCPA's current PANCE blueprint, the one 2027 test dates use unless NCCPA announces a change: the 15 content categories and their percentages, the seven task areas, what changed from the 2019 version, and how to study from it.

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  2. 2Exam format & scoring

    PANCE Pass Rate and Passing Score: What NCCPA Publishes

    NCCPA's five-year PANCE pass rates for first-time and all test takers, what the passing score of 350 on a 200 to 800 scale means, how the standard is set, how to find a PA program's rate, and the retake rules that apply to 2027 candidates.

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Exam format & scoring1 guide

Questions, sections, timing and the score you need to pass.

What to study1 guide

The content areas, skills and topics the exam actually tests.