PANRE Exam Information and Outline
Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam
PANRE Exam Syllabus & Study Guide
Before you start practicing with our exam simulator, it is essential to understand the official PANRE exam objectives. This course outline serves as your roadmap, breaking down exactly which technical domains and skills will be tested. By reviewing the syllabus, you can identify your strengths and focus your study time on the areas where you need the most improvement.
The information below reflects the latest 2026 course contents as defined by NCCPA. We provide this detailed breakdown to help you align your preparation with the actual exam format, ensuring there are no surprises on test day. Use this outline as a checklist to track your progress as you move through our practice question banks.
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
Exam Code: PANRE
Exam Name: NCCPA PANRE Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam
Total Number of Questions: 240 multiple-choice questions
Exam Structure: Divided into four blocks of 60 questions each.
Time Allotted: 4 hours total (60 minutes per block)
Passing Score: The NCCPA uses a scaled score (ranging from 200 to 800) based on standard setting by PAs. The minimum passing scaled score is typically 379.
1. Cardiovascular System 13%
- Hypertension (essential, secondary, hypertensive emergency)
- Coronary artery disease / Acute coronary syndromes (STEMI, NSTEMI, unstable angina)
- Heart failure (systolic, diastolic, right-sided, acute decompensated)
- Valvular disorders (mitral stenosis/regurgitation, aortic stenosis/regurgitation, tricuspid regurgitation, pulmonic stenosis)
- Cardiomyopathies (dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, peripartum)
- Pericardial diseases (pericarditis, pericardial effusion, tamponade)
- Arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation/flutter, SVT, ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, bradycardias, heart block)
- Conduction disorders (1st, 2nd, 3rd degree AV block, bundle branch blocks)
- Congenital heart disease (ASD, VSD, PDA, tetralogy of Fallot, coarctation – adult presentation)
- Peripheral vascular disease (PAD, venous thrombosis, varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency)
- Aortic disease (aneurysm, dissection)
- Shock (cardiogenic, hypovolemic, distributive)
- Syncope
- Dyslipidemia
2. Pulmonary System 10%
- Asthma (including occupational and exercise-induced)
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis, emphysema)
- Acute/chronic bronchitis and bronchiolitis
- Pneumonia (community-acquired, healthcare-associated, aspiration, viral, fungal)
- Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis
- Lung cancer (small cell, non-small cell, solitary pulmonary nodule)
- Pleural diseases (pleural effusion, pneumothorax, hemothorax)
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Interstitial lung disease / Pulmonary fibrosis
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- Sarcoidosis
- Occupational lung diseases (asbestosis, silicosis, coal worker’s pneumoconiosis)
- Cystic fibrosis (adult presentation)
3. Gastrointestinal System / Nutrition 9%
- Esophageal disorders (GERD, esophagitis, Barrett esophagus, motility disorders, strictures)
- Gastric disorders (peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, H. pylori, Zollinger-Ellison)
- Gallbladder and biliary disease (cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, cholangitis, biliary dyskinesia)
- Liver diseases (acute/chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, NAFLD/NASH, portal hypertension, esophageal varices)
- Pancreatic disorders (acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic insufficiency)
- Small intestine (malabsorption syndromes, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, small bowel obstruction)
- Large intestine (ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, appendicitis, ischemic colitis, C. difficile colitis)
- Colorectal cancer and screening
- Constipation and diarrhea (acute/chronic)
- GI bleeding (upper and lower)
- Hernias (inguinal, umbilical, incisional)
- Anorectal disorders (hemorrhoids, anal fissure, abscess, fistula)
- Nutrition (malnutrition, obesity, vitamin/mineral deficiencies)
4. Musculoskeletal System 8%
- Osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Crystal-induced arthropathies (gout, pseudogout)
- Seronegative spondyloarthropathies (ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis)
- Systemic lupus erythematosus and connective tissue diseases
- Osteoporosis and osteopenia
- Fractures and dislocations (common sites: hip, wrist, ankle, stress fractures)
- Sprains, strains, and overuse syndromes (rotator cuff, lateral/medial epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis)
- Low back pain (disc herniation, spinal stenosis, sciatica, cauda equina)
- Pediatric orthopedics (scoliosis, Osgood-Schlatter, slipped capital femoral epiphysis)
- Compartment syndrome
- Septic arthritis and osteomyelitis
5. EENT (Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat) 7%
- Conjunctivitis, keratitis, corneal abrasion/ulcer
- Glaucoma (open-angle, acute angle-closure)
- Cataract, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy
- Retinal detachment, retinal vascular occlusion
- Otitis media, otitis externa, cerumen impaction
- Hearing loss (conductive vs sensorineural)
- Sinusitis (acute/chronic), allergic rhinitis
- Epistaxis
- Pharyngitis/tonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess
- Oral leukoplakia, oral cancer, salivary gland disorders
- Vertigo (BPPV, vestibular neuritis, Ménière disease)
6. Reproductive System (Female) 5% & Genitourinary System (Male and Female) 5%
- Menstrual disorders (amenorrhea, abnormal uterine bleeding, dysmenorrhea)
- Menopause and hormone replacement
- Breast diseases (fibrocystic changes, mastitis, breast cancer screening, fibroadenoma)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease, endometritis
- Cervical dysplasia and cancer screening
- Contraception and family planning
- Vaginitis (bacterial vaginosis, candida, trichomoniasis)
- Endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine leiomyoma
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Benign and malignant ovarian tumors
- Prostate disorders (BPH, prostatitis, prostate cancer)
- Erectile dysfunction
- Testicular torsion, epididymitis, orchitis
- Urinary incontinence (stress, urge, overflow)
- Urologic cancers (bladder, renal cell, testicular)
7. Endocrine System 5%
- Diabetes mellitus (Type 1, Type 2, gestational, complications: DKA, HHS)
- Thyroid disorders (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis, nodules, cancer)
- Adrenal disorders (Addison disease, Cushing syndrome, pheochromocytoma)
- Pituitary disorders (diabetes insipidus, acromegaly, hypopituitarism)
- Parathyroid disorders (hyper/hypocalcemia, hyperparathyroidism)
- Metabolic syndrome
- Dyslipidemia (already listed under CV but tested again here)
8. Neurology 5%
- Headache (migraine, tension, cluster, secondary causes)
- Seizure disorders and epilepsy
- Stroke (ischemic, hemorrhagic, TIA)
- Dementia (Alzheimer, vascular, Lewy body)
- Parkinson disease and movement disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Peripheral neuropathy (diabetic, B12 deficiency, Guillain-Barré)
- Myasthenia gravis and neuromuscular junction disorders
- Meningitis and encephalitis
- Brain tumors and metastases
9. Psychiatry / Behavioral Health 5%
- Mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia)
- Anxiety disorders (GAD, panic disorder, PTSD, OCD)
- Psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective)
- Substance use disorders (alcohol, opioid, stimulant, cannabis)
- ADHD (adult presentation)
- Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia)
- Personality disorders
- Suicide risk assessment
- Somatoform and factitious disorders
10. Dermatology 5%
- Bacterial infections (impetigo, cellulitis, folliculitis, MRSA)
- Viral infections (herpes simplex, zoster, warts, molluscum)
- Fungal infections (tinea, candida, onychomycosis)
- Parasitic (scabies, lice)
- Acne, rosacea, hidradenitis suppurativa
- Psoriasis, lichen planus
- Eczema (atopic, contact, seborrheic)
- Urticaria and angioedema
- Drug eruptions
- Bullous diseases (pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid)
- Skin cancer (basal cell, squamous cell, melanoma, actinic keratosis)
11. Infectious Diseases 5%
- Sepsis and septic shock
- HIV/AIDS and opportunistic infections
- Tuberculosis and latent TB
- Sexually transmitted infections (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, herpes, HPV)
- Tick-borne diseases (Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis)
- Viral hepatitis (A, B, C)
- Osteomyelitis
- Endocarditis (native valve, prosthetic valve, culture-negative)
- Fever of unknown origin
12. Hematology 3%
- Anemias (iron deficiency, B12/folate deficiency, hemolytic, aplastic)
- Thrombocytopenia (ITP, TTP, HIT)
- Coagulopathies (hemophilia, von Willebrand, acquired)
- Leukemia (ALL, CLL, AML, CML)
- Lymphoma (Hodgkin, non-Hodgkin)
- Multiple myeloma and plasma cell disorders
- Transfusion reactions
13. Renal System 3%
- Acute kidney injury
- Chronic kidney disease and ESRD
- Glomerulonephritis and nephrotic syndrome
- Electrolyte disturbances (hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, etc.)
- Acid-base disorders
- Nephrolithiasis
- Pyelonephritis and urinary tract infections