If you scored below the national mean in the PACKRAT exam (fewer than 137.5 items correct), using a study aide will be particularly important for you. Although a PANCE prep course is part of Senior Seminar, some students need to pursue an augmented study plan before taking the PANCE. Now is a good time to start. Please contact your advisor for any particular questions you have about your possible need for an augmented study plan.
DPAP Provided Option
1. Rosh Review - Board style questions on topics defined by NCCPA. Free app available.
NOTE: This resource is provided by Duke PA Program for DPAP students. All DPAP students will receive an email with instructions on how to set up a personal account.
Other non-Duke Options (most for a fee!)
As you prepare for the PANCE (PA National Certifying Exam), you may want to consider the following options to direct your study and enhance your test taking abilities.
1. NCCPA PANCE review - $45
Once you are registered for PANCE (able to do this within 90 days of when you are eligible to take the exam), you will see this option. More information given by DPAP faculty prior to graduation.
2. Physician Assistant Exam Review -$49.99 (iPad/iPhone app)
With over 4,300 practice questions and answers organized into 18 major categories, this app provides a rigorous review of key concepts and clinical pearls. Test your overall knowledge by answering randomly generated questions from all categories or target areas of weakness by focusing on a specific category. Not sure how to interpret an EKG? Choose the cardiovascular section and review the 282 questions listed there. Need a refresher on drug interactions? Take a look at the 487 questions in the pharmacology/toxicology category. The content follows the NCCPA blueprint, distilling key facts and clinical pearls essential for exam success.
3. AAPA PANCE/PANRE Review Resources (fee varies depending on resource)
AAPA survey thousands of PAs and lists their recommendations. Resources are also rated by the number of PAs who used the material as well as the percentage who found the review material useful.
4. Kaplan PANCE Qbank – $99(1 month access) - $199 (until your test)
Good for both the PANCE and the PANRE, the PANCE/PANRE Qbank provides over 1,200 exam-relevant practice questions with detailed explanations that discuss why the right answer is correct, but also why all of the distracters are incorrect. Create customized practice tests with immediate feedback by timed conditions or tutorial style; unused questions, incorrect or all available; and organ system and task, or a combination of both. Tests can be broken into 90 question blocks.
5. HELP PANCE Review- Plans range from $225-$500 depending on length of time
All NCCPA blueprint topics are covered in an online format broken down into sections. 2500+ questions in multiple formats. Mock PANCE/PANRE exam with explanations.
6. Memorang PANCE Flashcards - Some content is free otherwise $59
6,500+ flashcards curated and broken down into digestible bits for easier memorization. Covers all high-yield concepts and organ systems across 17 chapters. Access content on the web or via app (Apple and Android available).
7. PANCE Flashcard Study System $62 for flashcards
Flashcards available to review the hundreds of concepts you must know for PANCE. *Though a student reports the sample seems to be more like paragraphs of a book chopped to flash card size.
8. Achievable USMLA Step 1 course $29 with discount code embedded in URL
(The big discount may make this worthwhile to some even if for just some sections.) This course is a modern, mobile-friendly program for students that like to learn by doing. It is a full Step 1 course that uses spaced repetition-powered quizzes to track and improve your memory retention and mastery of each USMLE Step 1 learning objective. Only $29 (90% off) for Duke students when they sign up using the above link.
9. Physician Assistant Exam Review Podcast
10. PAINE: Physician Assistant In Education Podcast PANCE/PANRE Prep
#3 is recommended by a number of former PA students & #6 is recommended by medical students.
What have you tried? If you have a recommendation, let me know and I'll update the page! Good luck!