Your employer CME allowance has a defined value and, in many organizations, an expiration date. If unused funds do not carry forward, the practical goal is to apply them to education that supports your certification requirements, exam preparation, and long-term clinical development.
The PANRE Review Course with Gift Card combines a comprehensive review program with a paid Amazon or Apple gift card add-on from $100 to $1,500. The gift card is not a free gift or giveaway. It is an optional add-on that increases the total purchase price and allows you to use more of your available CME budget in one transaction.
Course Details at a Glance
- Course price: $499.99 before the gift card add-on
- Access period: 30 months
- CME: Up to 100 hours of Category 1 AAPA CME through the PANRE Review Course
- Practice testing: Five full-length exams with 240 questions each, for 1,200 board-style questions
- Add-on choices: Amazon or Apple gift cards from $100 to $1,500
- Delivery: Online, self-paced access from a computer, tablet, or phone
The course covers the organ systems and task areas reflected in the NCCPA PANRE/PANRE-LA Content Blueprint. The course also includes the PANRE Study Library, cited answer rationales, and post-test requirements for claiming the applicable CME.
How the CME Gift Card Add-On Works
The basic calculation is straightforward:
Total purchase price = $499.99 PANRE Review Course + selected paid gift card add-on
The gift card amount is added at face value. For example:
| Available CME budget | Course | Paid add-on | Total purchase |
|---|---|---|---|
| $600 | $499.99 | $100 | $599.99 |
| $1,000 | $499.99 | $500 | $999.99 |
| $1,500 | $499.99 | $1,000 | $1,499.99 |
| $2,000 | $499.99 | $1,500 | $1,999.99 |
These examples are before any applicable taxes or employer-specific requirements. Your employer may have limits on eligible CME expenses, so confirm the policy before selecting an add-on.
The advantage is administrative efficiency. Instead of purchasing a review course now and attempting to use the remaining allowance on another educational resource before the year ends, you can select the course and add-on together. You receive the educational component immediately and use the selected gift card value toward additional tools that support learning.
Amazon and Apple gift cards are processed by email, generally within two to three business days. Gift card packages are nonrefundable, so choose the denomination carefully.
Three Practical Ways to Use Your CME Allowance
1. Match the add-on to your remaining balance
Suppose you have $1,000 remaining in your employer CME account. The PANRE Review Course costs $499.99. Selecting a $500 Amazon or Apple gift card produces a total of $999.99, leaving approximately one cent of the allowance unused before taxes.
This approach works particularly well near the end of the employer budget year. You are not buying a gift card separately; you are purchasing a CME package that includes the course and a paid add-on selected at checkout.
2. Use a larger add-on for a larger annual stipend
A PA with a $2,000 annual CME allowance could select the $1,500 add-on. The course and add-on total $1,999.99 before taxes.
The add-on value can be directed toward educational tools such as:
- Medical reference books
- Digital clinical references
- Study accessories and supplies
- A tablet or computer used for coursework
- Apps and technology that support exam preparation
- Professional reading and clinical education resources
The specific use of the card is up to the purchaser. The educational value of the package comes from the PANRE review content and CME credit; the add-on provides additional purchasing flexibility.
3. Select a lower add-on when your budget is limited
A smaller budget does not eliminate the value of the course. If you have $600 available, the $100 add-on brings the total to $599.99 before taxes.
This option gives you the full PANRE Review Course, 30 months of access, and the opportunity to earn the course’s 100 hours of Category 1 AAPA CME after completing the required activity components.
The Core Educational Value: 100 Hours Through the PANRE Review Course
The PANRE Review Course provides up to 100 hours of Category 1 AAPA CME upon completion of the PANRE Clinical Review Module requirements. You must review the content, complete the post-test with a passing score, and complete the activity evaluation. Credit should be claimed commensurate with your participation.
The course also includes five 240-question full-length practice examinations. That provides 1,200 questions for timed practice, knowledge assessment, and review of explanations. The content is designed for practicing PAs preparing for the PANRE or PANRE-LA while completing meaningful CME.
The Pharmacology Course is separate. It also offers Category 1 AAPA CME, with up to 12.5 hours available through the pharmacology module, but it does not carry the 100 hours associated with the PANRE Review Course. Review the Pharmacology CME Review Package if you need pharmacology-specific education.
Who Can Claim the Credit?
The AAPA Category 1 designation applies directly to physician assistants. PAs may use the credit toward applicable NCCPA CME requirements according to NCCPA policy.
The audience is broader than PAs, but the credit treatment differs:
- Physician assistants: May claim the applicable AAPA Category 1 CME.
- Physicians: Physicians purchasing the content generally receive Category 2 CME rather than Category 1 physician CME. Verify acceptance with your credentialing organization.
- Nurse practitioners: Some state boards and employers accept AAPA Category 1 credit for NP continuing education, but this varies by state. NPs should confirm requirements with their state board of nursing and certifying organization before purchasing.
The course may be clinically useful for physicians, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, and other clinicians, but each professional is responsible for confirming how the activity applies to their own renewal requirements.
PANRE Practice Question
Your patient is a 64-year-old man with hypertension and tobacco use who presents with 45 minutes of substernal chest pressure radiating to the left jaw. He is diaphoretic. Vital signs are BP 158/92, HR 104, RR 20, and SaO₂ 96% on room air. ECG shows 2-mm ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF.
Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?
A. Order CT angiography of the chest
B. Arrange emergent coronary angiography with PCI
C. Repeat the ECG in 30 minutes
D. Administer an oral beta-blocker and observe
E. Schedule outpatient stress testing
Correct answer: B. Arrange emergent coronary angiography with PCI.
This patient has an acute inferior STEMI. Emergent PCI is the preferred reperfusion strategy when it can be performed within the recommended time frame. CT angiography is not indicated when the ECG establishes an acute coronary occlusion pattern and would delay reperfusion. Repeating the ECG or arranging outpatient testing delays definitive treatment. An oral beta-blocker does not address the immediate need for reperfusion and may be unsafe in patients with bradycardia, hypotension, conduction disease, or evolving right ventricular infarction.
This type of question illustrates the course’s practical emphasis: recognize the presentation, identify the time-sensitive diagnosis, and select the management step that changes outcomes.
How This Compares With PANCE Prep Courses
The PANRE Review Course is intended for PAs preparing for recertification rather than students preparing for initial certification. However, the clinical foundation overlaps with the broader medical content found in many PANCE prep courses, including cardiology, pulmonary medicine, infectious disease, emergency medicine, and pharmacology.
If you are already practicing and need recertification preparation plus CME, a PANRE-focused course may be more appropriate than an entry-level PANCE resource. If you are a PA student, select a course designed for your examination and training stage.
Use Your CME Budget Before It Expires
The most efficient purchase depends on your allowance, your remaining CME needs, and your certification timeline. Before choosing an add-on:
- Confirm your employer’s CME spending rules.
- Identify the amount remaining in your allowance.
- Select the PANRE Review Course if you need broad exam preparation and Category 1 AAPA CME.
- Add the $100–$1,500 Amazon or Apple gift card tier that fits your budget.
- Complete the course requirements and claim only the credit you earn.
- Use the add-on value toward appropriate educational tools, references, or study resources.
Explore the PANRE Review Course with Amazon and Apple gift card add-on options. The package provides 30 months of access, 1,200 full-length practice questions, and up to 100 hours of Category 1 AAPA CME through the PANRE Review Course.
About the Author
Jeremy Boroff, MPAS, PA-C is an emergency medicine physician assistant with 24 years of clinical experience as a PA-C and seven additional years of experience as a registered respiratory therapist. He is a PA educator, CME developer, and author of PANRE, PANCE, EOR, and specialty medical review courses at CME Review Courses.