Course price: $399.99 for the PANRE Review Course
Access: 30 months
CME: Up to 100 AAPA Category 1 CME credits through the PANRE Clinical Review Module
Practice material: 2,500+ questions, including five full-length 240-question practice exams
Gift card options: Paid Amazon or Apple Gift Card add-ons from $100 to $1,500
If you are approaching the recertification portion of your certification cycle in 2026, you have two exam pathways: the traditional PANRE or the PANRE-LA. Both assess core medical knowledge and use the same NCCPA Blueprint, but the testing experience, schedule, scoring system, and preparation strategy are different.
The important point is simple: choose the format that fits how you perform best, then prepare consistently for the content both assessments test.
| Feature | Traditional PANRE | PANRE-LA |
|---|---|---|
| Testing format | Single-day, closed-book exam | At-home, open-book longitudinal assessment |
| Timing in certification cycle | Years 9–10 | Years 7–9 |
| Number of questions | 240 questions in one exam | 25 questions per quarter |
| Assessment window | One scheduled testing appointment | Up to 12 quarters |
| Minimum participation | One exam attempt | At least 8 quarters |
| Final scoring | Scaled score of 379 required | Cumulative score of 1150 required |
| Final score calculation | Performance on the exam form | Best 8 quarters |
| Testing environment | Proctored test center | Your own device and location |
The traditional PANRE is a single-day, closed-book, proctored examination taken at a Pearson VUE test center. It contains 240 questions, administered in four 60-question blocks. You receive 60 minutes for each block, with scheduled time for breaks and the examination tutorial.
Traditional PANRE eligibility occurs during years 9 and 10 of the certification maintenance cycle. A scaled score of 379 is required to pass. The PANRE score scale ranges from 200 to 800, so the passing score is not a percentage-correct calculation.
The main advantage is completion. You prepare, sit for one exam, and usually receive results within approximately two weeks. The main limitation is concentration. Your performance is concentrated into one testing day, and the exam is closed-book.
The PANRE-LA is an at-home, open-book longitudinal assessment. It provides 25 questions per quarter over a maximum 12-quarter window during years 7 through 9 of the certification cycle.
You must complete at least 8 quarters. Your final score is based on your best 8 quarters, and the cumulative passing score is 1150. You must participate at least once during year 7 and at least once during year 8. You may work through the questions at your own pace during each quarterly window, but all 25 questions for that quarter must be completed by the deadline.
The open-book format does not mean you can ask another person for help. You may use printed or online references, but you may not consult with others. Each question provides immediate feedback, including the correct response, explanation, and references.
The PANRE-LA can reduce the pressure of a single high-stakes exam day. However, it requires reliable follow-through over several years. Missing quarterly deadlines or postponing participation can create avoidable problems.
The two passing scores: 379 for PANRE and 1150 for PANRE-LA: are reported on different scales and are not directly comparable.
There is no universal best option. Your work habits, test-taking history, schedule, and preferred learning environment should guide the decision.
Do not select PANRE-LA simply because it is open-book. The questions still require clinical reasoning, and the assessment continues across multiple quarters. Likewise, do not select traditional PANRE solely because it is familiar. A single 240-question exam requires sustained concentration and broad preparation.
Both options test the same core medical knowledge. Your preparation should therefore begin with the NCCPA Blueprint rather than with isolated specialty review.
A practical preparation plan includes four steps:
Assess your baseline. Complete a diagnostic set of mixed questions. Do not focus only on your practice specialty. PANRE content covers multiple areas, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, GI, endocrine, infectious disease, neurology, psychiatry, dermatology, musculoskeletal, reproductive, and emergency topics.
Identify weak systems. Track incorrect answers by organ system and task. A missed question may represent a knowledge gap, a diagnostic reasoning error, or a failure to identify the key detail in the vignette.
Study the rationale. Correct answers are not enough. Review why the correct option is preferred and why the distractors are less appropriate. This approach is particularly important for PANRE-LA, where immediate feedback is part of the learning process.
Use spaced repetition. For traditional PANRE, spaced study prevents a rushed final review. For PANRE-LA, a consistent weekly or monthly routine helps you remain prepared for each quarterly assessment.
The PANRE Review Course from CME Review Courses is designed for both pathways. It includes more than 2,500 board-style questions, five full-length 240-question practice examinations, system-based modules, cited explanations, and a complete PANRE study library. The content is delivered online and remains available for 30 months.
Passing PANRE or PANRE-LA is only one part of maintaining NCCPA certification. You must also meet the applicable CME requirements for your certification maintenance cycle.
The PANRE Clinical Review Module provides up to 100 AAPA Category 1 CME credits when you complete the required course content, post-test, and evaluation. These credits apply to the PANRE Review Course specifically. The separate Pharmacology Course has its own credit designation and should not be represented as providing the PANRE course’s 100 AAPA Category 1 credits.
The course is listed at $399.99 with 30 months of access. It can be used as a structured review program while also helping you apply your CME budget toward certification maintenance.
The course also offers optional cme gift cards through Amazon and Apple. These are paid add-ons, not free gifts. Available add-on amounts range from $100 to $1,500, and the selected gift card cost is added to the total package price.
Gift cards are generally delivered by email within two to three business days. Before purchasing, confirm that your employer or CME allowance permits this type of bundled expense. The gift card add-on is separate from the AAPA Category 1 CME credit.
Review the PANRE Review Course with Gift Card options
Your patient is a 64-year-old man with a history of hypertension and tobacco use who presents with sudden-onset substernal chest pressure that began 45 minutes ago. The pain radiates to his left arm. HR is 104/min, BP is 156/92 mm Hg, RR is 20/min, and SaO₂ is 96% on room air. ECG demonstrates ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. The nearest percutaneous coronary intervention-capable facility is 35 minutes away.
What is the most appropriate next step?
A. Administer IV alteplase immediately
B. Administer aspirin and activate the cardiac catheterization laboratory
C. Obtain a CT angiogram of the chest
D. Perform a treadmill stress test
E. Administer warfarin and arrange outpatient cardiology follow-up
Correct answer: B. Administer aspirin and activate the cardiac catheterization laboratory.
This patient has an acute inferior STEMI. Give aspirin promptly and pursue emergent PCI when it can be performed within the appropriate treatment window. IV fibrinolysis is considered when timely PCI is not available, but a 35-minute transport time supports activating the PCI pathway rather than delaying for additional diagnostic testing. CT angiography and stress testing are inappropriate in a patient with diagnostic ECG findings and active ischemic symptoms. Warfarin has no role in immediate STEMI reperfusion.
When reviewing questions like this, focus on the decisive clinical information: ischemic symptoms, diagnostic ECG changes, and the time-to-reperfusion decision.
Jeremy Boroff, MPAS, PA-C
Jeremy Boroff is a physician assistant with 24 years of emergency medicine experience. He is an author, educator, and founder of CME Review Courses. His review materials are written for physician assistants and emphasize practical clinical reasoning, board-style questions, current references, and efficient preparation for certification and recertification exams.
Yes. Both assessments use the same NCCPA Blueprint and evaluate core medical knowledge. The format differs, so traditional PANRE candidates should add full-length timed practice exams, while PANRE-LA candidates should emphasize consistent quarterly review and explanation-based learning.
Not necessarily. Open-book access allows you to verify information, but you still need to interpret clinical vignettes efficiently. The assessment also requires consistent participation over multiple quarters.
Start early enough to identify knowledge gaps before your testing window. Candidates for traditional PANRE should build a scheduled review plan before years 9–10. PANRE-LA participants should maintain regular study habits beginning before the first quarterly assessment in year 7.
Some pance prep courses cover overlapping core medical content, but PANRE preparation should use resources designed for the recertification exam and its broader expectations for practicing PAs. PA students can explore PAtopia’s web-based review library for PANCE, PACKRAT, EOC, and EOR preparation.
For practicing PAs, the decision is between a concentrated, proctored exam and a structured longitudinal assessment. Review the official NCCPA PANRE and PANRE-LA requirements, confirm your certification-cycle timeline, and select the format that matches your strengths and schedule.
Then build a preparation routine that includes practice questions, system-based review, and repeated analysis of incorrect answers.
Base price: $399.99Access: 30 monthsCME: Up to 100 Category 1 AAPA CME credits through the…
PA students are stretched thin financially. A look at why affordable, high-quality prep matters —…
Most PA programs end up buying exam prep twice. The program licenses something institutional, and…
Course price: $399.99 for the PANRE Review CourseAccess: 30 months from purchaseCME deliverable: Up to…
Course price: $399.99Access: 30 monthsCME: Up to 100 AAPA Category 1 CME creditsIncluded study material:…
If you are planning recertification, the first decision is not which review resource to buy.…