How quickly do you get PANCE results?

You can expect PANCE results to arrive within about four business days, though the official timeline from the NCCPA allows for up to two weeks, with many test-takers receiving scores by the end of the same week if they test on a Monday. The NCCPA sends an email with instructions on how to access your score in your online account.

How long does it usually take to get PANCE results?

How long does it take to get your PANCE exam results? While the NCCPA reports it can take up to two weeks to receive your scores, most individuals hear back after about four business days. For example, if you were to take your exam on a Monday, there's a good chance you'll know your score by the end of the week.

How do you tell if you passed the PANCE?

PANCE Passing Score

To pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), an examinee must reach or exceed the passing score of 350, which is determined via a process called standard setting.

How many people pass PANCE on First Try?

Most people pass the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination) on their first try, with national first-time pass rates typically hovering around 92-93%, though it can fluctuate slightly year to year, with figures around 89-95% reported in recent years (2020-2024). While overall pass rates (including retakes) are higher (95-97%), the first attempt is generally very successful for most graduates. 

What is a good first time PANCE pass rate?

The first-time pass rate is typically between 91–93% The overall pass rate (including retakes) is around 95–97%

Checking my PANCE Results…😮‍💨

How many people pass all 4 CPA exams on first try?

Only a small percentage of candidates pass all four CPA exam sections on their first try, with estimates generally falling between 13.9% and 20%, though some older data suggests around 13.6%. While individual section pass rates vary (often 40-70% depending on the section and quarter), successfully completing all four parts on the first attempt is a challenging feat, with many candidates taking longer or needing multiple attempts to pass all sections within the 18-month window, say sources like Accounting Today and UWorld. 

Is PA school harder than med school?

Neither PA school nor medical school is definitively "harder"; they are intensely rigorous but differ in focus, duration, and admission hurdles, with PA school often requiring more diverse patient care hours upfront but medical school demanding deeper foundational science and the challenging MCAT, culminating in longer, specialized residency for MDs versus direct PA practice. PA school condenses core medical knowledge into a fast-paced 2-3 years, while medical school (4 years + residency) offers broader, deeper, and longer specialization, making both demanding in different ways. 

Is PANCE harder than UWorld?

📚Uworld - level of difficulty was about the same or harder than questions on the PANCE so I definitely think it prepares you well. Reading explanations for things you get wrong & understanding it is key. The PANCE also looks EXACTLY like uworld so that helped me feel more familiar on test day!

What is the hardest PA school to get into?

The hardest Physician Assistant (PA) schools to get into are extremely competitive, often featuring <2.3% acceptance rates, like Duke University, with top-tier programs also including Baylor College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Emory University, and George Washington University. These programs demand exceptional academics (high GPAs), significant patient care hours (often thousands), strong GRE scores, and a deep understanding of the profession, making them far tougher than general university admissions, even at elite schools like the University of Pennsylvania. 

Is CPA harder than the bar?

Most people find the CPA exam harder than the Bar exam due to its multi-section format, requiring passing four parts within 18 months, compared to the Bar's intense but shorter, single-test focus; however, difficulty is subjective, depending heavily on your strengths, with the CPA testing broad accounting/business knowledge and the Bar testing legal reasoning, often leading to CPA candidates (especially those with JD/CPAs) finding the CPA more challenging, despite the Bar often having lower average pass rates in some jurisdictions. 

Is a PA basically a doctor?

No, a Physician Assistant (PA) is not the same as a doctor (MD/DO), though they have similar patient care roles, with PAs working under a physician's supervision and having less extensive training, meaning doctors handle more complex cases, have full autonomy, and can lead surgeries, while PAs excel in collaborative care, diagnostics, and prescribing within their scope, often providing a great work-life balance.
 

How many questions can I get wrong on PANCE?

The exam uses a scaled scoring system ranging from 200 to 800, with 350 being the minimum passing score. Candidates should note that each question on the PANCE carries equal weight. There is no penalty for incorrect answers, so it's advisable to attempt every question.

Is 60% enough to pass step 1?

Yes, around 60% correct is generally considered the approximate pass mark for USMLE Step 1, though the exact percentage varies with each exam form, and the score is reported as Pass/Fail, not a number, so consistently scoring higher (like 65-70%) on practice exams (NBMEs) is recommended for a comfortable pass. The official passing score (around 196 before 2022, now just "Pass") isn't a fixed number of questions, as some are experimental, but aiming for about 60% on practice tests is a good benchmark, with 70%+ being a safer target for a strong pass. 

How do you check if you passed the PANCE?

How to Know If You Have Passed The PANCE. The NCCPA will email you after your PANCE when your results are ready. The email will have instructions on how to find your PANCE score in your online account.

Is the PANCE changing in 2025?

Yes, the PANCE blueprint changed in 2025, with updates taking effect January 2025, reflecting the evolving medical field through percentage adjustments in content areas (like increased emphasis on Psychiatry and Infectious Disease, decreased Cardiology), new and moved topics (e.g., new musculoskeletal topics, revised neurology sections), and slight renamings to align with current medical terminology. These changes, determined by the NCCPA, ensure the exam remains relevant for new Physician Assistants.
 

Is 3 weeks enough to study for PANCE?

Yes, 3 weeks can be enough for PANCE prep, especially if you're a strong student with recent clinical knowledge, but it requires intense, focused study (8+ hours/day) on high-yield topics and practice questions, essentially condensing a longer plan; however, 2-3 months is often recommended for more thorough preparation, while others suggest 3-12 months for a less stressful review, so it depends heavily on your baseline knowledge and study efficiency. 

Who gets paid more, PA or NP?

Generally, Physician Assistants (PAs) tend to earn slightly more than Nurse Practitioners (NPs) nationally, with median salaries often a few thousand dollars higher for PAs, but this varies greatly by specialty, location, and experience, with high-paying NP roles sometimes exceeding PA salaries in specific areas like surgery or emergency medicine. Recent data shows PAs earning around $130,000-$134,000 and NPs around $129,000-$126,000 median, but PAs often work in higher-paying specialties like surgery, boosting their average. 

Is PA school harder than nursing?

Yes, PA school is generally considered harder than nursing school due to its faster pace, broader medical curriculum (like a condensed medical school), higher admission competitiveness (requiring significant healthcare hours), and focus on the medical model (diagnosing/treating), compared to nursing's nursing model (holistic care/patient management) which can be more flexible and specialized. Both paths are demanding, but PA programs are graduate-level master's degrees with intense didactic and clinical training, unlike the varied entry points (ADN, BSN, MSN) for nursing. 

What is the easiest PA school to get in?

Currently, the easiest PA program to get into is offered by Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, which only needs a 2.75 GPA to apply. IS THE PA PROGRAM HARD? Yes. PA programs are just as challenging as traditional medical school programs, with difficult coursework and rigorous clinical rotations.

Is 70% on UWorld bad?

No, 70% on UWorld is generally not bad; it's considered a solid, above-average score, especially on a first pass, indicating you're in good shape for exams like the NCLEX, where averages around this mark often predict high pass rates, though the key is learning from mistakes, not just the score itself.
 

How soon do you get PANCE results?

Schedule the PANCE for a Monday. Although the NCCPA says it can take up to 2 weeks to get your exam results, a common theme is that people taking the exam on a Monday receive their results on Friday of the same week. This is by no means a hard and fast rule, but I like those odds! The sooner you know, the better!

Is 500 a good PANCE score?

Though passing scores are no longer published, a PANCE score of 350+ is generally accepted as "passing," however, passing scores can and do range from 350-392. The highest score attainable on your PANCE is 800.

What can a PA do that a MD cannot?

A physician assistant (PA) cannot do things requiring ultimate medical authority, like independently performing complex surgeries or leading a healthcare team without physician oversight (though this varies by state), whereas doctors (MDs/DOs) have full autonomy, can run their own practices, and specialize independently, but PAs excel at providing high-quality, collaborative care, diagnosing, prescribing, and performing procedures alongside doctors, essentially acting as versatile "junior doctors" with broad scope under supervision.
 

What is the 32 hour rule in medical school?

The "32-hour rule" in medical school admissions refers to a policy where some medical schools focus on an applicant's GPA from their most recent 32 credit hours, often in post-baccalaureate coursework, to evaluate academic strength, giving a chance to those with a weaker overall undergraduate record but strong recent performance, like at LSU-New Orleans and Wayne State. It's a way for schools to see recent academic growth, with examples including focusing on recent semesters or post-bacc programs to demonstrate improvement.
 

Is a 3.7 GPA bad premed?

Here's the reality: the average GPA of students accepted to MD programs hovers around 3.75–3.8. That means half of all accepted students had higher. For DO schools, the average is slightly lower, typically around 3.5–3.6, but don't let that lull you into thinking it's easy. It's not.