![]() It might be asking for which medication is CONTRAINDICATED. It might be asking for the GOLD STANDARD diagnostic tool. Rarely is the question asking for the actual diagnosis (that would be way too easy)! It might be asking you for the INITIAL STEP in management. ![]() With limited time, it is critical to understand what the question is actually asking you. (By the way, these are my best exam-taking strategies for any PA school exam, not just the PACKRAT!) Read the END of the question first. It’s important to know your strengths (and more importantly) your weaknesses so that you can improve before the real deal, make or break, board exam. Of course, the PACKRAT is typically not taken for a grade or anything other than your own personal knowledge but I like to take practice exams as if they were the real thing. Now that you know what to expect, let’s talk about strategies for taking the exam. *The time you have to take your exam is adjustable between 4 and 6 hours depending on your proctor. The breakdown of topics is similar to the PANCE with cardio and pulmo being the “heavy hitters.” I’ll list the actual percentages of each topic below. There is a list of normal lab value reference ranges to the side that you can open at any time. That math breaks down to roughly 1 minute and a few seconds per question. It is a totally computerized exam consisting of 225 multiple choice questions and you have 4 hours* to take it with no built-in breaks. Also, after posting about PACKRAT day on my Instagram story, I received multiple questions about it so I thought it would make for a good blog article!įirst let’s talk about the basic set-up of the exam. ![]() There are endless resources and blog articles regarding the PANCE but not much about the PACKRAT. Every program is a little different but at UAB, we take it at the end of didactic year and again at the end of clinical year before taking the boards.īefore taking the exam, I did some googling for information about it but did not find much. ![]() There are short breaks between the sixty-minute blocks allotted for each section of the PANCE, amounting to no more than 45 minutes in total break time.My classmates and I are nearing the end of didactic year (WOOHOO) and recently took the PACKRAT exam which is a “practice PANCE” that PA students can take to predict how they will perform when taking the boards. While there is adequate time to respond to all questions, there is no time to squander. It is best to answer all questions on the PANCE, since correct answers count toward the total score. The successful candidate will set a pace that allows for maximum coverage, with no more than a minute for each question. The 360 questions are broken down into blocks of sixty questions. The PANCE is an exhaustive test candidates should be prepared for a grueling six-hour marathon. It is highly unlikely that the PA candidate’s college courses covered every single topic on the PANCE, so it is important to study with some comprehensive works on physiology, anatomy, medical pathology, and pharmacology. The PANCE covers broad areas of the medical and surgical fields, so it is important to assemble a wide-ranging library of medical texts during the study process. Proven PANCE test flashcards raise your score on the PANCE test. Registration can be conducted online, over the telephone, or by mail contact with the NCCPA. However, the examination cannot be taken until all requirements for graduation are met. The PA candidate should register for the PANCE before graduating from an accredited physician assistant college. The various state licensing agencies are also listed with contact information for the various medical licensing boards. The NCCPA maintains a list of accredited institutions on its website. ![]() Passing the PANCE allows the physician assistant to use the certification title PA-C (Physician Assistant – Certified), but the PA must also be licensed by the state in which the practice is maintained. The examination consists of 360 multiple-choice questions on medical and surgical subjects. There are 200 test sites available throughout the United States. The PANCE is administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants upon graduation from an accredited medical facility. Prepare with our PANCE Study Guide and Practice Questions. ![]()
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