A redesigned recertification exam for graduating physician assistants!
The PANCE is changing.
We are here to walk you through it!
There is a new certification exam for graduating physician assistants taking their exam in 2019 and beyond.
The biggest change to the exam is the addition of professional issues and the percent allocation changes on the medical content categories on the boards!
How will the PANCE change?
This new PANCE is designed to test your medical knowledge but may also focus up to 20% of the exam on general surgery topics and 5% of professional practice issues. The PANCE will test your knowledge on diseases and disorders we will see most often as well as the knowledge and skills related to tasks you will be typically performing when treating patients. I know it sounds scary but we will give you peace of mind!
As an emergency medicine physician assistant, if you diagnose a thoracic dissection, your job is not to manage the thoracic dissection but to find assistance. Therefore, thoracic dissection is considered a Level 1 area topic; you diagnose and get help.
Topics categorized as Level 2 are medical diseases that require a PA to diagnose and initially manage before recruiting help. If you identify a septic patient, you would start IV fluids and antibiotics before contacting the appropriate specialist.
Level 3 content covers topics PAs need to have in-depth knowledge of from start to finish. Risk factors, treatments, management of comorbid conditions and complications, and patient education will all be included.
Why do PAs need to take the PANCE?
The mission of PAs is to provide extraordinary health care, no matter what field of medicine you practice in. Taking a national recertification exam helps us do that. It doesn’t matter if you’re in orthopedics or dermatology, if you can identify a pulmonary embolism or melanoma in a patient and get them adequate care, you are a better practitioner.
Physicians have to recertify and as PAs, we should hold ourselves to that standard. The NCCPA is adamant about two things:
- We will always have a recertification exam, as there are a number of other organizations involved within our credentialing process, including the American Medical Association.
- The NCCPA is committed to lateral mobility. PAs are able to jump between fields. This is not possible without a universal exam.
Study efficiently and effectively!
Innovative PANCE
We’re calling the changes to the certification exam the iPANCE™ because it’s an Innovative PANCE. Our job is to make your studying as efficient and effective as possible. We are going to teach the content you need to know for the PANCE through videos, study resources and live conferences.
What You Need to Know
Not sure about the PANCE?
Still wondering about the PANCE?
Do you still have questions about the new PANCE? Our team is here to help you adequately prepare to become a more efficient medical professional. Contact us using the form below and we will contact you promptly.