PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT NATIONAL CERTIFYING
EXAM 2026 STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE
CLINICAL MEDICINE DIAGNOSIS AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ When and where was the first PA program started? Answer: In
1965 at Duke University
◉ When did the first class of PAs graduate? Answer: In 1967 from
Duke University
◉ Who was the first female PA graduate? Answer: Joyce Nichols - in
1970
- also first African American PA graduate
◉ When was the PANCDE introduced? Answer: in 1981
"Physician Assistant National Certification Exam"
◉ Who was the first woman elected president of AAPA? Answer:
Judith B. Willis
- born in Fort Wayne
,◉ What major event happened in 2007? Answer: All 50 states allow
PAs to prescribe, with IN being the last
◉ What major event happened in 2021? Answer: The AAPA House of
Delegates passed a resolution affirming "Physician Associate" as the
official title for PA profession
◉ AAPA Answer: American Academy of Physician
Assistants/Associates
◉ what does the AAPA do? Answer: - Sets the ethical guidelines for
the PA profession
◉ NCCPA Answer: National Commission on Certification of Physician
Assistants
◉ what does NCCPA do? Answer: It is a state regulatory body agency
that develops standards for the clinical skills of PAs. It issues
certificated to PAs after passing the PANCE and governs re-
certification and CME hours
◉ PA-C Answer: physician assistant-certified
◉ PAEA Answer: PA Education Association
,◉ what does PAEA do? Answer: Provides supplemental PA education
material for colleges, faculty, and students
ex: Packrat, PA education, Board Review/EOR exams
◉ ARC-PA Answer: Accreditation Review Commission on education
for the Physician Assistant/Associate
◉ what does ARC-PA do? Answer: Responsible for ensuring the
quality of PA education programs in the US. Sets standards for PA
programs and evaluates them to ensure they meet those standards.
◉ State PA Organizations Answer: Organizations that advocate for
PAs within their states and on capital hill
◉ PANCE Answer: Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam. To
attain their initial certification and the PA-C designation, graduates
of ARC-PA accredited programs must pass the PANCE. Administered
almost year-round by the NCCPA, PANCE is a computer-based,
multiple-choice test comprised of 300 questions that assess general
medical and surgical knowledge.
◉ PANRE Answer: Physician Assistant National Recertifying
Examination. Register to take it the last 2 years of your 10 year cycle.
Maximum of 4 attempts.
, ◉ PANRE-LA Answer: Physician Assistant National Recertification
Examination - Longitudinal Assessment
- apply for in the 6th year of the cycle
- administered over 12 quarters in year 7-9
- if you do not pass at the end of the 12 quarters, you have 3
attempts to take and pass PANRE
◉ Credentialing Answer: Medical systems credential their providers
to work with them
◉ CME hours Answer: Continuing Medical Education
5-2 year cycles
100 hours of CME logged every two yeats
50 hours of CME must be category 1
Remaining 50 hours can be category 1 or 2
Fee = $180
Due on Dec. 31 of certification expiration year
Keep all records- can be audited!
EXAM 2026 STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE
CLINICAL MEDICINE DIAGNOSIS AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ When and where was the first PA program started? Answer: In
1965 at Duke University
◉ When did the first class of PAs graduate? Answer: In 1967 from
Duke University
◉ Who was the first female PA graduate? Answer: Joyce Nichols - in
1970
- also first African American PA graduate
◉ When was the PANCDE introduced? Answer: in 1981
"Physician Assistant National Certification Exam"
◉ Who was the first woman elected president of AAPA? Answer:
Judith B. Willis
- born in Fort Wayne
,◉ What major event happened in 2007? Answer: All 50 states allow
PAs to prescribe, with IN being the last
◉ What major event happened in 2021? Answer: The AAPA House of
Delegates passed a resolution affirming "Physician Associate" as the
official title for PA profession
◉ AAPA Answer: American Academy of Physician
Assistants/Associates
◉ what does the AAPA do? Answer: - Sets the ethical guidelines for
the PA profession
◉ NCCPA Answer: National Commission on Certification of Physician
Assistants
◉ what does NCCPA do? Answer: It is a state regulatory body agency
that develops standards for the clinical skills of PAs. It issues
certificated to PAs after passing the PANCE and governs re-
certification and CME hours
◉ PA-C Answer: physician assistant-certified
◉ PAEA Answer: PA Education Association
,◉ what does PAEA do? Answer: Provides supplemental PA education
material for colleges, faculty, and students
ex: Packrat, PA education, Board Review/EOR exams
◉ ARC-PA Answer: Accreditation Review Commission on education
for the Physician Assistant/Associate
◉ what does ARC-PA do? Answer: Responsible for ensuring the
quality of PA education programs in the US. Sets standards for PA
programs and evaluates them to ensure they meet those standards.
◉ State PA Organizations Answer: Organizations that advocate for
PAs within their states and on capital hill
◉ PANCE Answer: Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam. To
attain their initial certification and the PA-C designation, graduates
of ARC-PA accredited programs must pass the PANCE. Administered
almost year-round by the NCCPA, PANCE is a computer-based,
multiple-choice test comprised of 300 questions that assess general
medical and surgical knowledge.
◉ PANRE Answer: Physician Assistant National Recertifying
Examination. Register to take it the last 2 years of your 10 year cycle.
Maximum of 4 attempts.
, ◉ PANRE-LA Answer: Physician Assistant National Recertification
Examination - Longitudinal Assessment
- apply for in the 6th year of the cycle
- administered over 12 quarters in year 7-9
- if you do not pass at the end of the 12 quarters, you have 3
attempts to take and pass PANRE
◉ Credentialing Answer: Medical systems credential their providers
to work with them
◉ CME hours Answer: Continuing Medical Education
5-2 year cycles
100 hours of CME logged every two yeats
50 hours of CME must be category 1
Remaining 50 hours can be category 1 or 2
Fee = $180
Due on Dec. 31 of certification expiration year
Keep all records- can be audited!
