Course Price: $399.99 (Base)
Access Duration: 30 Months
Deliverables: 100 Hours of AAPA Category 1 Credit, 1,672 Board-Style Questions
Preparing for the Physician Assistant National Recertification Exam (PANRE) or the PANRE-LA requires a strategic approach to the NCCPA blueprint. This guide outlines the essential components of a successful review, the logistics of obtaining high-volume CME credit, and how to maximize your employer-provided CME budget.
High-Yield PANRE Review Strategies
Effective PANRE preparation focuses on the thirteen core organ systems identified by the NCCPA. At CME Review Courses, our content is developed by physician assistants who have successfully navigated the recertification process. This professional perspective ensures that the material is high-yield and clinical in nature.
The PANRE Review Course covers essential clinical domains:
- Cardiology and Pulmonology: Focusing on EKG interpretation and obstructive vs. restrictive disease.
- Emergency Medicine and Orthopedics: Managing acute traumas and musculoskeletal injuries.
- Internal Medicine and Hospitalist Care: Managing complex, multi-system chronic diseases.
- Dermatology, Psychiatry, and Neurology: Identifying classic presentations and standard pharmacologic interventions.
100 Hours of AAPA Category 1 Credit
A primary benefit of the PANRE Review Course is the awarding of 100 hours of AAPA Category 1 Credit. This is a significant volume of credit that can satisfy the majority of your two-year cycle requirements in a single course.
It is important to note that the NCCPA applies an additional 50% weighting to self-assessment credits. When you log 100 hours of Category 1 self-assessment credit from this course, it is recognized as 150 credits toward your NCCPA requirement. This efficiency allows you to focus more on clinical practice and less on administrative credit tracking.
While the PANRE course provides 100 hours of Category 1 credit, our Pharmacology Review Course provides specialized credit focused strictly on pharmacotherapeutics. Note that credit for Nurse Practitioners and Physicians may vary; MDs and DOs typically claim these hours as Category 2 CME.
Maximizing CME Budgets with Gift Card Add-ons
Many PAs and NPs receive an annual CME allowance that must be used or lost. We offer an efficient way to utilize these funds. Our packages allow for Amazon or Apple Gift Card add-ons ranging from $100 to $1,500.
When you purchase a package, the gift card is included as part of the educational bundle. This allows you to purchase necessary educational tools, such as medical texts, tablets, or other clinical equipment, through the gift card while staying within your professional development budget. Detailed purchasing instructions are available to ensure your receipt reflects the total package price for reimbursement purposes.
Practice Questions and Clinical Vignettes
Active recall is the most effective method for long-term retention of medical knowledge. The following clinical vignettes represent the style and depth of the 1,672 questions included in our comprehensive question bank.
Clinical Scenario 1: Cardiology
Your patient is a 64-year-old male presenting to the emergency department with sudden onset substernal chest pain that radiates to his left jaw. He is diaphoretic. Vital signs are HR 102, BP 148/92, and SaO2 96% on room air. An EKG is performed immediately.
Which of the following EKG findings is most indicative of an acute posterior wall myocardial infarction?
A. ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF
B. ST-segment depression in leads V1 through V3 with tall R waves
C. Pathologic Q waves in leads I and aVL
D. New-onset left bundle branch block (LBBB)
Correct Answer: B. ST-segment depression in leads V1 through V3 with tall R waves.
In the setting of a posterior MI, the anterior leads (V1-V3) show "mirror images" of the posterior wall activity. Therefore, instead of ST-elevation and Q waves, you see ST-depression and tall R waves. Choice A indicates an inferior wall MI. Choice C suggests a lateral wall MI. Choice D is often associated with an anterior MI but is less specific for the posterior wall.
Clinical Scenario 2: Orthopedics
Your patient is a 22-year-old female athlete who felt a "pop" in her knee while pivoting during a soccer match. She presents with immediate swelling and an inability to bear weight. On physical exam, she has a positive Lachman test.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear
B. Meniscal tear
C. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear
D. Patellar tendon rupture
Correct Answer: C. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear.
The classic presentation of a pivoting injury followed by an audible "pop" and immediate hemarthrosis (swelling) is highly suggestive of an ACL tear. The Lachman test is the most sensitive physical exam maneuver for this injury. MCL tears (Choice A) usually result from a valgus stress. Meniscal tears (Choice B) often present with delayed swelling and mechanical symptoms like locking. Patellar tendon ruptures (Choice D) present with an inability to extend the knee and a high-riding patella.
Clinical Scenario 3: Dermatology
Your patient is a 34-year-old male presenting with a pruritic, "tapioca-like" vesicular rash on the lateral aspects of his fingers and palms. He mentions that the rash seems to flare during periods of high stress.
What is the most appropriate first-line treatment for this condition?
A. Oral Griseofulvin
B. Topical Clobetasol propionate
C. Oral Acyclovir
D. Topical Permethrin
Correct Answer: B. Topical Clobetasol propionate.
The description of "tapioca-like" vesicles on the hands is pathognomonic for dyshidrotic eczema (pompholyx). First-line treatment consists of high-potency topical corticosteroids. Griseofulvin (Choice A) is used for fungal infections. Acyclovir (Choice C) is for viral infections like HSV. Permethrin (Choice D) is the treatment for scabies.
Conclusion
Navigating the PANRE requires a dedicated study plan and access to peer-reviewed, PA-specific content. By utilizing the 100-hour AAPA Category 1 CME credit course from CME Review Courses, you can ensure both exam readiness and compliance with NCCPA standards. Integrating a gift card add-on provides a pragmatic solution for maximizing your annual CME budget while preparing for your recertification exam.