The PANRE Review Course is designed for PAs preparing for either the traditional PANRE or PANRE-LA. It combines broad clinical review with board-style practice questions and a substantial CME allocation.
The 100 AAPA Category 1 CME credits apply specifically to the PANRE Review Course through the PANRE Clinical Review Module. They do not automatically apply to other CME Review Courses products, including the Pharmacology Course. Complete the required content, post-test, and evaluation, and claim only the credit amount supported by your participation.
Amazon and Apple Gift Cards may be added to the purchase in amounts from $100 to $1,500. These are paid add-ons, not free gifts or giveaways. The selected gift card amount increases the total purchase price. Before selecting an add-on, confirm that your employer’s CME policy permits this type of purchase.
Both assessment options are based on the NCCPA PANRE/PANRE-LA content blueprint. The difference is how you demonstrate your knowledge and how you must organize your preparation.
| Feature | Traditional PANRE | PANRE-LA |
|---|---|---|
| Testing format | One proctored examination at a Pearson VUE test center | Longitudinal assessment completed online |
| Question structure | 240 questions in four 60-question blocks | 25 questions per quarter |
| Timing | 60 minutes per block | Five minutes per question |
| References | Closed-book | Printed or online references permitted |
| Schedule | Generally taken in years 9 or 10 | Application in year 6; questions administered during years 7–9 |
| Participation | One scheduled testing event | Up to 12 quarters; at least 8 quarters must be completed |
| Scoring | Single scaled examination score | Final score based on the best 8 quarters |
According to NCCPA’s current certification-maintenance information, the traditional PANRE consists of four 60-question blocks with 60 minutes for each block. The testing appointment includes breaks and a tutorial, for a total scheduled time of approximately five hours.
PANRE-LA provides 25 questions during each quarter. You may complete the questions in multiple sessions before the quarterly deadline. You can skip up to four quarters, but you must meet the participation requirements, including completing at least one quarter in years seven and eight. Your final score is based on the best eight quarters.
The traditional PANRE requires concentrated preparation. You need to develop recall, pacing, and endurance for a single closed-book testing event. Your study plan should eventually include full 60-question blocks completed without references.
PANRE-LA requires consistent preparation over time. The open-book format allows you to consult references, but five minutes is not unlimited. You still need enough baseline knowledge to recognize the relevant diagnosis, treatment, contraindication, or next step before searching for confirmation.
PANRE-LA is not an excuse to postpone studying. It changes the frequency and intensity of preparation rather than eliminating the need for preparation.
A longitudinal assessment is best managed with smaller, repeatable study sessions.
Do not wait until the final week to complete all 25 questions. Schedule two or three sessions during the quarter. For example:
Use the same clinical references throughout your preparation. This improves your ability to locate information quickly during an open-resource question.
PANRE-LA provides immediate feedback, including an explanation and references. Treat each response as a learning event. Record whether an incorrect answer resulted from:
Your error log should identify patterns rather than simply list missed questions.
After completing a quarterly block, spend short sessions reviewing weak systems. If you missed questions involving renal disease, endocrine emergencies, or infectious disease, use the next several weeks to complete targeted review and additional questions.
The goal is to close knowledge gaps before the next quarterly assessment.
A practical PANRE-LA schedule may include 20–30 minutes of question-based study on several days each week, followed by one longer review session. The exact schedule depends on your clinical workload, but consistency is more important than occasional long study sessions.
Traditional PANRE preparation should become progressively more exam-specific.
Complete a mixed question set under timed, closed-book conditions. Analyze your performance by organ system and question type. A single overall percentage does not show whether your primary weakness is cardiology, psychiatry, pharmacology, diagnosis, or management.
Use the PANRE Review Course to work through high-yield clinical areas. The course includes 1,200+ questions across five 240-question exams, allowing you to review broad content while practicing board-style decision-making.
Prioritize systems where you repeatedly miss questions. Do not spend most of your time reviewing topics that are already strong simply because they are more comfortable.
As the exam approaches, transition from focused system review to mixed 60-question blocks. Complete these without outside references and monitor pacing. Your goal is to make the testing environment familiar before exam day.
The traditional PANRE is not only a knowledge test. It also tests sustained attention, rapid prioritization, and the ability to make safe decisions without searching for supporting information.
NCCPA requires certified PAs to earn and log CME during each two-year certification-maintenance cycle. The NCCPA certification-maintenance page provides the current requirements and administrative details.
The PANRE Review Course provides 100 AAPA Category 1 CME credits through its PANRE Clinical Review Module. This allows you to combine exam preparation with a significant portion of your CME work.
The course may be useful whether you select PANRE-LA or traditional PANRE:
Physicians may find the clinical content useful, but AAPA Category 1 attribution is intended for PAs. Physicians should verify whether the activity meets their applicable CME requirements and may need to claim it differently. Nurse practitioner acceptance of AAPA Category 1 credit varies by state board and employer. NPs should verify requirements before purchase.
The optional cme gift cards add another budgeting consideration. Amazon and Apple options from $100 to $1,500 can be added to the course purchase, but they are paid add-ons that increase the total price. They are not complimentary benefits. Review your employer’s reimbursement or CME-spending policy before choosing an amount.
Your patient is a 67-year-old man with a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia who presents to the ED with 90 minutes of substernal chest pressure radiating to the left arm. He is diaphoretic and nauseated. His HR is 104 bpm, BP is 158/94 mmHg, and SaO₂ is 97% on room air. ECG shows 1-mm ST-segment depressions in leads V4 through V6. Initial high-sensitivity troponin is elevated.
Question: Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Stable angina
B. NSTEMI
C. STEMI
D. Acute pericarditis
B. NSTEMI
The patient has ischemic chest pain, ST-segment depression, and an elevated troponin without ST-segment elevation. This confirms non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
Stable angina does not cause myocardial necrosis or troponin elevation. STEMI requires diagnostic ST-segment elevation in the appropriate leads. Acute pericarditis typically causes diffuse ST-segment elevation with PR-segment depression rather than localized ST depression and a corresponding troponin-positive ischemic presentation.
Choose PANRE-LA if you prefer smaller assessments, open-resource testing, immediate feedback, and a longer preparation timeline. It is a reasonable fit if you can maintain a quarterly routine and use each assessment to identify knowledge gaps.
Choose the traditional PANRE if you prefer one scheduled testing event, closed-book conditions, and a focused preparation period. This pathway requires deliberate practice with timed blocks and full-length exams.
A dedicated panre review course is more appropriate for recertification than general pance prep courses, although many of the same study skills apply: content mapping, question-based learning, error analysis, and timed practice.
Before making your final decision, verify your eligibility, application deadlines, and current examination requirements directly through NCCPA. Then match your preparation method to the format you will actually take.
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