PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT EXAM UPDATED EXAM QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS - COMPREHENSIVE STUDY RESOURCE
2026/2027
AAPA - ANSWER American Academy of Physician Assistants. Recognized
as the national voice for PAs in medical and surgical specialties.
AAPA HOD - ANSWER The American Academy of Physician Assistants
House of Delegates (AAPA HOD). The AAPA HOD establishes the policies
that are implemented by Board of Directors (BOD) of the American
Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). The HOD meets annually during
the annual AAPA Conference. The HOD consists of representatives from
the chartered chapters, the officially recognized specialty organizations,
Caucuses, and the Student Academy of the American Academy of
Physician Assistants (SAAAPA).
ARC-PA - ANSWER Accreditation Review Commission on Education for
the Physician Assistant. The Accreditation Review Commission on
Education for the Physician Assistant approves and revises Accreditation
Standards for Physician Assistant Education, reviews applications for
accreditation, appoints site visitors, awards accreditation, imposes
sanctions and advises programs and institutions on accreditation issues.
ADA - ANSWER American with Disabilities Act
AMA - ANSWER American Medical Association
CME - ANSWER Continuing Medical Education
DO - ANSWER Doctor of Osteopathy. A D.O. is a professional doctoral
degree for physicians and surgeons offered by medical schools in the
United States. One notable difference between D.O. and M.D. training is
that D.O. training adds 300 - 500 hours studying techniques for hands-on
manipulation of the human musculoskeletal system.
,Generalist - ANSWER a physician trained in general practice who has not
has specialty training
MD - ANSWER Medical Doctor. Latin-Medicinae Doctor, meaning
"teacher of medicine," abbreviated M.D. MD is the terminal medical degree
for practitioners of medicine.
MEDEX - ANSWER Medicine Extension. MEDEX is a term coined by
Richard Smith, MD.
Medic - ANSWER a technician trained to provide basic medical care in
combat conditions
Medicaid - ANSWER a program operated by the state that provides
medical care to low-income persons; the state Medicaid programs receive
federal funding and they must comply with federal guidelines
Medicare - ANSWER This is a program that is part of the Social Security
Administration. It provides the funds for the elderly and some other
population to receive medical care.
Nurse - ANSWER a person who has been trained in the field of nursing,
and who meets nursing standards in education and medical competencies.
Different designations of nurses exist. A licensed practical nurse may
practice under the direction of a registered nurse or physician.
NCCPA - ANSWER National Commission on Certification of Physician
Assistants. NCCPA is the only credentialing organization for physician
assistants in the United States, and is dedicated to assuring the public that
certified physician assistants meet established standards of knowledge
and clinical skills upon entry into practice and throughout their careers.
PAEA - ANSWER Physician Assistant Education Association. PAEA's
mission is to pursue excellence, foster faculty development, advance the
body of knowledge that defines quality education and patient-centered
care, and promote diversity in all aspects of physician assistant education.
PA--Physician Assistant - ANSWER
PA-C - ANSWER Physician Assistant-Certified. PA-C is a title that can be
used by PAs who have obtained and maintained national certification
requirements established by the NCCPA. It is a mark of professional
accomplishment, indicating the achievement and maintenance of
, established levels of knowledge and clinical skills. The PA-C credential is
widely recognized within the medical professions and is required in all 50
states, the District of Columbia and the
American territories for licensure or registration as a physician assistant. -
ANSWER
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. To maintain NCCPA certification, PA certificate holders must
pass the PANRE before their certificate expires at the end of the sixth year
of their certification maintenance cycle. The examination is comprised of
240 multiple-choice questions designed to assess general medical and
surgical knowledge.
Profession - ANSWER An occupation that requires prolonged training
and qualification
SAAPA - ANSWER Student Academy of the American Academy of
Physician Assistants. SAAAPA has its own structure within the AAPA and
includes representation from each PA Program's student society.
Specialist - ANSWER a physician who has undergone generalist training,
and has continued on to specialty training which usually involves a 3-5
year residency. Examples of specialties include family medicine,
pediatrics, emergency medicine, surgery, cardiology, orthopedics, internal
medicine, obstetrics and gynecology.
Addiction medicine - ANSWER Specialists in addiction medicine treat
substance abuse and addiction.
Allergy / Immunology - ANSWER Specialists in allergy and immunology
treat conditions that involve the immune system. Examples include
allergies, immune deficiency diseases, and autoimmune diseases.
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS - COMPREHENSIVE STUDY RESOURCE
2026/2027
AAPA - ANSWER American Academy of Physician Assistants. Recognized
as the national voice for PAs in medical and surgical specialties.
AAPA HOD - ANSWER The American Academy of Physician Assistants
House of Delegates (AAPA HOD). The AAPA HOD establishes the policies
that are implemented by Board of Directors (BOD) of the American
Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). The HOD meets annually during
the annual AAPA Conference. The HOD consists of representatives from
the chartered chapters, the officially recognized specialty organizations,
Caucuses, and the Student Academy of the American Academy of
Physician Assistants (SAAAPA).
ARC-PA - ANSWER Accreditation Review Commission on Education for
the Physician Assistant. The Accreditation Review Commission on
Education for the Physician Assistant approves and revises Accreditation
Standards for Physician Assistant Education, reviews applications for
accreditation, appoints site visitors, awards accreditation, imposes
sanctions and advises programs and institutions on accreditation issues.
ADA - ANSWER American with Disabilities Act
AMA - ANSWER American Medical Association
CME - ANSWER Continuing Medical Education
DO - ANSWER Doctor of Osteopathy. A D.O. is a professional doctoral
degree for physicians and surgeons offered by medical schools in the
United States. One notable difference between D.O. and M.D. training is
that D.O. training adds 300 - 500 hours studying techniques for hands-on
manipulation of the human musculoskeletal system.
,Generalist - ANSWER a physician trained in general practice who has not
has specialty training
MD - ANSWER Medical Doctor. Latin-Medicinae Doctor, meaning
"teacher of medicine," abbreviated M.D. MD is the terminal medical degree
for practitioners of medicine.
MEDEX - ANSWER Medicine Extension. MEDEX is a term coined by
Richard Smith, MD.
Medic - ANSWER a technician trained to provide basic medical care in
combat conditions
Medicaid - ANSWER a program operated by the state that provides
medical care to low-income persons; the state Medicaid programs receive
federal funding and they must comply with federal guidelines
Medicare - ANSWER This is a program that is part of the Social Security
Administration. It provides the funds for the elderly and some other
population to receive medical care.
Nurse - ANSWER a person who has been trained in the field of nursing,
and who meets nursing standards in education and medical competencies.
Different designations of nurses exist. A licensed practical nurse may
practice under the direction of a registered nurse or physician.
NCCPA - ANSWER National Commission on Certification of Physician
Assistants. NCCPA is the only credentialing organization for physician
assistants in the United States, and is dedicated to assuring the public that
certified physician assistants meet established standards of knowledge
and clinical skills upon entry into practice and throughout their careers.
PAEA - ANSWER Physician Assistant Education Association. PAEA's
mission is to pursue excellence, foster faculty development, advance the
body of knowledge that defines quality education and patient-centered
care, and promote diversity in all aspects of physician assistant education.
PA--Physician Assistant - ANSWER
PA-C - ANSWER Physician Assistant-Certified. PA-C is a title that can be
used by PAs who have obtained and maintained national certification
requirements established by the NCCPA. It is a mark of professional
accomplishment, indicating the achievement and maintenance of
, established levels of knowledge and clinical skills. The PA-C credential is
widely recognized within the medical professions and is required in all 50
states, the District of Columbia and the
American territories for licensure or registration as a physician assistant. -
ANSWER
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. To maintain NCCPA certification, PA certificate holders must
pass the PANRE before their certificate expires at the end of the sixth year
of their certification maintenance cycle. The examination is comprised of
240 multiple-choice questions designed to assess general medical and
surgical knowledge.
Profession - ANSWER An occupation that requires prolonged training
and qualification
SAAPA - ANSWER Student Academy of the American Academy of
Physician Assistants. SAAAPA has its own structure within the AAPA and
includes representation from each PA Program's student society.
Specialist - ANSWER a physician who has undergone generalist training,
and has continued on to specialty training which usually involves a 3-5
year residency. Examples of specialties include family medicine,
pediatrics, emergency medicine, surgery, cardiology, orthopedics, internal
medicine, obstetrics and gynecology.
Addiction medicine - ANSWER Specialists in addiction medicine treat
substance abuse and addiction.
Allergy / Immunology - ANSWER Specialists in allergy and immunology
treat conditions that involve the immune system. Examples include
allergies, immune deficiency diseases, and autoimmune diseases.
