How soon after failing PANCE can you retake?

After failing the PANCE, you must wait 90 days before your next attempt, with a limit of three attempts per calendar year and a total of six attempts within six years of graduation; if you haven't passed by then, you must repeat an accredited PA program. You can request a waiver for the 90-day wait through the NCCPA's "Exceptions to Policy" process, especially if you have extenuating circumstances, but this is not guaranteed.

How soon can you take the PANCE after failing?

Since you failed PANCE or PANRE, you have to wait 90 days. Take a week off from the exam and get your mind in order. Now that you have a list of the subjects you need to study, a review course can help. The HELP PANCE PANRE review let's you choose exactly what you need to study.

What happens if you fail the PANCE exam?

During that six-year period, PANCE may be taken a total of six times. When either the six attempts or six years are exhausted, whichever occurs sooner, the individual loses eligibility to take PANCE. The only way to establish new eligibility is to complete an unabridged ARC-PA accredited PA educational program again.

How often can you retake the PANCE?

If you want to retake the exam you will have to wait 90-days before your next attempt. While you wait, we strongly recommend using a Qbank that includes robust performance tracking. UWorld's PA QBank includes detailed performance tracking by subject and system.

What percent of people fail the PANCE?

How Many People Pass the PANCE? As of recent NCCPA data: The first-time pass rate is typically between 91–93% The overall pass rate (including retakes) is around 95–97%

My PANCE study schedule and Strategy (rambling & life update)

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. 

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. 

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. 

What should I do if I fail the exam?

Dealing with Exam Failure: What to Do Next

1. Wait for the Retake Opportunity. If you fail an exam part, you'll need to wait for 30 days before you can retake it. ...
2. Take a Break. ...
3. Be Kind to Yourself. ...
4. Stay Motivated. ...
5. Analyze Your Performance. ...
6. Re-evaluate Your Study Plan. ...
7. Seek Help. ...
8. Practice, Practice, Practice.

What if I fail the PANRE?

If you fail the PANRE, you can retake it after a 90-day waiting period. You are permitted to take the PANRE a maximum of four times in your certification maintenance cycle (two times in your 9th year and up to three times in your 10th year). While you wait, we strongly recommend taking advantage of the UWorld PA QBank.

What is the average PANCE score?

The average PANCE score for first-time test takers in 2024 was 455. Remember, the score needed to pass is 350, so if the average is 455, this should be encouraging to you! This means that many PANCE test-takers do well on the exam, regardless of where they did their schooling.

What to do after failing PANCE?

Multiple times, in fact. So, while it may be disappointing if you didn't pass the first time, take a deep breath because it's not the end of your PA career. The unfortunate thing is that when this happens you do need to wait a full 90 days before trying again.

How long after failing the bar can you retake it?

If you're looking at the California bar exam, you're in luck regarding attempts allowed – there's no limit. You just register, pay your fees, and give it another shot if you need to.

What happens if you fail PMP 3 times?

And if you really fail a third time, then you'll have to wait one year to reapply. So why not give yourself a clean slate? Instead of going headfirst through this wall and failing for the third time, simply let your PMP Exam application expire, apply again and give yourself another year and 3 fresh attempts.

What percent of the PANCE is surgery?

Some questions on the exam will cover surgical topics (8% to 10%), and some will focus on conditions in pediatric patients (12% to 15%).

How fast do PANCE results come back?

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.

Has the PANCE gotten harder?

After trending upward to 95% in 2020, the PANCE pass rate has been declining, with PANCE pass rates down to 92% for the past three years. While a 92% PANCE pass rate is nothing to scoff at, it does indicate a downward trend in PANCE performances that test-takers need to understand to strengthen their exam strategies.

What is the easiest PA school to get into?

There isn't a single "easiest" PA school, as it depends on your profile, but programs like Advent Health University, West Coast University, University of North Dakota, and Mercy College are sometimes cited for lower minimum GPAs or acceptance rates, while others like Barry University, Marquette University, and Loma Linda University accept applicants with lower scores but still require strong applications overall, with many schools looking for GPAs around 3.0 and beyond, plus clinical experience. 

Is the CPA Exam harder than 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. 

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 MD 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. 

How rare is a 525 MCAT?

A 525 MCAT score is extremely rare and exceptional, placing you in the 100th percentile, meaning you scored better than 100% of test-takers in recent years (2022-2024) and are just 3 points shy of a perfect score (528). This score is considered a top-tier score for the most selective medical schools, putting you in a statistically tiny fraction of applicants, as scores above 520 represent the top 1-3%.