Free Practice Questions for PANRE
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Key Facts: PANRE Exam
240
Total Questions
NCCPA
4h
Exam Time
NCCPA
379+
Passing Score
Scaled scoring
91-97%
First-Attempt Pass Rate
NCCPA, PAs due 2014-2018
$350
Exam Fee
NCCPA 2026
10 years
Recertification Cycle
NCCPA
The PANRE is a 240-question exam administered over 4 hours with a passing score of 379+ on a scaled scoring system. NCCPA's latest published first-attempt pass rates were 91-97% for PAs due in 2014-2018. The exam covers 14 organ system categories weighted by prevalence in clinical practice. PAs must pass PANRE every 10 years (or complete the PANRE Longitudinal Assessment) to maintain NCCPA certification.
Sample PANRE Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the PANRE exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A 62-year-old male presents with chest pressure radiating to his left arm that began 30 minutes ago while walking. He is diaphoretic and nauseated. Vital signs: BP 148/92, HR 98, RR 18, SpO2 94% on room air. ECG shows ST-segment elevation in leads V1-V4. Which is the most appropriate immediate management?
2A 58-year-old female with a history of hypertension presents for follow-up. Her home BP readings average 145/88 mmHg. She is currently on lisinopril 10mg daily. She reports occasional dizziness on standing. What is the most appropriate next step?
3A 72-year-old male with heart failure presents with worsening dyspnea and peripheral edema. He has been non-adherent with his low-sodium diet. On exam: JVD at 8cm, crackles bilaterally, 2+ pitting edema. Current meds include furosemide 40mg daily. What is the most appropriate intervention?
4A 45-year-old female presents with sudden onset of pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea. She recently returned from a 12-hour flight. HR 110, RR 22, SpO2 90% on room air. D-dimer is elevated. CT pulmonary angiography confirms bilateral pulmonary emboli. What is the preferred initial treatment?
5A 68-year-old male with atrial fibrillation on warfarin presents for follow-up. His INR is 6.2 (therapeutic range 2-3). He has no active bleeding. What is the most appropriate management?
6A 55-year-old male presents with exertional chest pain that resolves with rest. He has a family history of premature CAD. Stress testing reveals reversible ischemia in the inferior wall. Cardiac catheterization shows 70% stenosis of the right coronary artery. What is the recommended management?
7A 35-year-old female with asthma presents with increased wheezing and shortness of breath. She uses her albuterol inhaler daily and has nighttime awakenings 2-3 times per week. Her FEV1 is 75% of predicted. What is the most appropriate next step?
8A 68-year-old male with COPD presents with increased dyspnea and sputum production. He has been using his albuterol inhaler more frequently. On exam: diminished breath sounds, prolonged expiration. Which antibiotic regimen is most appropriate for this COPD exacerbation?
9A 42-year-old male presents with fever, productive cough, and pleuritic chest pain for 3 days. Vital signs: T 38.2°C, HR 102, RR 22, BP 128/78. Physical exam reveals crackles in the right lower lobe. Chest X-ray shows right lower lobe consolidation. What is the preferred empiric antibiotic for outpatient treatment?
10A 55-year-old obese male presents with excessive daytime sleepiness and morning headaches. His wife reports loud snoring and witnessed apneas. What is the most appropriate initial diagnostic test?
About the PANRE Exam
The PANRE is a recertification examination for certified Physician Assistants. It assesses clinical knowledge and skills across all organ systems with content based on the NCCPA Content Blueprint: Cardiovascular (12%), Pulmonary (10%), GI/Nutrition (10%), EENT (8%), Endocrine (8%), Musculoskeletal (8%), Psychiatry (7%), Infectious Disease (7%), Reproductive (5%), Dermatology (5%), Genitourinary (5%), Neurology (5%), Hematology (4%), Renal (4%), and Emergent Topics (2%).
Exam sponsor: NCCPA (National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Questions
240 questions
Time Limit
4 hours
Passing Score
379+ (scaled)
Reported exam pass rate: 91-97%. First-attempt rate for PAs due in 2014-2018 (latest NCCPA data) This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Cardiovascular
Coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, hypertension, valvular disease, peripheral vascular disease
Pulmonary
COPD, asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, lung cancer, sleep apnea
GI/Nutrition
GERD, PUD, IBD, liver disease, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, nutritional deficiencies
EENT
Otitis media/externa, sinusitis, pharyngitis, conjunctivitis, vision/hearing loss, oral diseases
Endocrine
Diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, adrenal disorders, osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome
Musculoskeletal
Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, low back pain, fractures, sprains/strains
Psychiatry
Depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance use disorders, PTSD
Infectious Disease
HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, TB, sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, tick-borne diseases, endocarditis
Reproductive
Contraception, STIs, pregnancy complications, menopause, infertility, sexual dysfunction
Dermatology
Acne, eczema, psoriasis, skin cancer, dermatitis, skin infections, wound care
Genitourinary
Bacterial cystitis, prostate and testicular conditions, BPH, urolithiasis, urethritis, urinary incontinence
Neurology
Stroke, seizures, headaches, dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, neuropathy
Hematology
Anemia, coagulation disorders, DVT/PE, leukemia, lymphoma, blood transfusion
Renal
Acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, electrolyte disorders, acid-base imbalance
Emergent Topics
Legal, ethical, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) topics
Preparing for the PANRE Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 379+ (scaled)
- Exam length: 240 questions
- Time limit: 4 hours
- Exam / certification fees: $350 Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 200 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
PANRE: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PANRE pass rate?
NCCPA's latest published figures, for PAs due to recertify in 2014-2018, show first-attempt pass rates of 91% to 97%, and 96% to 99% ultimately passing.
How many questions are on the PANRE?
The PANRE contains 240 multiple-choice questions administered over 4 hours in four blocks of 60 questions each. The exam uses a scaled scoring system with a passing score of 379 or higher.
What is the PANRE content blueprint?
The NCCPA PANRE Content Blueprint allocates questions to 14 organ systems plus Emergent Topics: Cardiovascular (12%), Pulmonary (10%), GI/Nutrition (10%), EENT (8%), Endocrine (8%), Musculoskeletal (8%), Psychiatry (7%), Infectious Disease (7%), Reproductive (5%), Dermatology (5%), Genitourinary (5%), Neurology (5%), Hematology (4%), Renal (4%), and Emergent Topics (Legal, Ethical, DEI) (2%).
When should I take PANRE?
Certified PAs must pass PANRE or PANRE-LA by the end of the 10th year of their certification maintenance cycle. You can take PANRE in the 9th or 10th year: up to two times in year 9 and up to three times in year 10, with a maximum of four attempts. Alternatively, PANRE-LA runs over 12 quarters in years 7-9.
What is the PANRE Longitudinal Assessment?
The PANRE Longitudinal Assessment is an alternative to the traditional PANRE exam. PAs apply in the 6th year of the cycle and start in January of the 7th year. It runs over 12 quarters in years 7-9, with 25 questions per quarter and five minutes per question. You can use references, and your final score is based on your best eight quarters, so you may finish in as few as eight.
How should I prepare for PANRE?
Preparation should include: 1) Reviewing the NCCPA Content Blueprint to understand category weights, 2) Using practice questions covering all organ systems, 3) Focusing on high-weight categories (Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, GI), 4) Reviewing pharmacology and first-line treatments, 5) Studying screening guidelines and preventive care, 6) Completing at least 200 practice questions with detailed rationales.