PANCE Exam Format | PANCE Course Contents | PANCE Course Outline | PANCE Exam Syllabus | PANCE Exam Objectives

The material on NCCPA's certification and recertification exams can be organized in two dimensions:
Organ systems and the diseases, disorders and medical assessments physician assistants encounter within those systems; and
The knowledge and skills physician assistants should exhibit when confronted with those diseases, disorders and assessments.



Please note that while the subject matter covered on the certification and recertification exams is the same, there is some difference in the nature of the questions on those exams. Generally, the questions on the initial certification exam are more specific, while questions on the recertification exam tend to address broader clinical issues. This difference is most apparent in the questions related to applying basic science concepts and reflects the different functions of the two exams.



Note: Because of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) publication, NCCPA will adapt its content blueprints, disease and disorder lists, and psychiatry-related terminology within test questions to conform to DSM-5 classifications and diagnostic criteria for all of our examinations.

In NCCPA examinations, psychiatry-related terminology within test questions will include the DSM-5 terminology followed by the DSM-IV-TR terminology in parentheses. Example: illness anxiety disorder (hypochondriasis)



Based on delays in implementation of DSM-5 guidelines within the field of psychiatry, NCCPA will continue to present psychiatry-related terminology within test questions in the manner outlined above until further notice.



Beginning in 2019, there was a new content blueprint released for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). The content blueprint provides guidance on the information assessed on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). The examination is categorized in two dimensions:

Knowledge of the diseases and disorders physician assistants encounter; and Knowledge and skills related to tasks physician assistants perform when treating patients.

The detailed listings provided under each of these two categories represent examples of the material that may be covered on PANCE. It is not possible to include all topics on a single exam, and it may be possible that some questions on the exam cover content that is not listed in the examples.



The content blueprint for PANCE is based on information provided from certified physician assistants who participate in profession-wide practice analysis studies. Certified PAs are involved throughout the exam development process, including: reviewing results of the practice analysis, writing questions that appear on PANCE, reviewing exams before they are administered, reviewing performance data for exam questions, and developing recommendations for the passing standard. Certified PAs work with NCCPA to continuously review the content included on PANCE to ensure it is relevant and current, as the practice of medicine changes and treatment guidelines are revised or new ones introduced.



Cardiovascular System 13%

Dermatologic System 5%

Endocrine System 7%

Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat 7%

Gastrointestinal System/Nutrition 9%

Genitourinary System (Male and Female) 5%

Hematologic System 5%

Infectious Diseases 6%

Musculoskeletal System 8%

Neurologic System 7%

Psychiatry/Behavioral Science 6%

Pulmonary System 10%

Renal System 5%

Reproductive System (Male and Female) 7%

History Taking and Performing Physical Examination 17%

Using Diagnostic and Laboratory Studies 12%

Formulating Most Likely Diagnosis 18%

Managing Patients

Health Maintenance, Patient Education, and Preventive Measures 10%

Clinical Intervention 14%

Pharmaceutical Therapeutics 14%

Applying Basic Scientific Concepts 10%

Professional Practice 5%