How to register for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam

Registering for the PANCE

To register to take the PANCE, you first must be certified as eligible by the NCCPA. After graduating from an accredited physician assistant program, or after completing the requirements for graduation from an accredited program, you must submit proof to the NCCPA and then be verified as eligible. This initial eligibility lasts for 6 years, and the exam may be taken up to six times during that initial 6-year period.

[ RELATED: Developing a PANCE Study Plan ]

How to Register for the PANCE?

To begin the registration process for PANCE, you will need to submit an application and payment of $550 in advance to the NCCPA.

The NCCPA must verify your graduation date with the director of your accredited program. If you are graduating soon, check with your program director before applying for the exam and follow your school’s recommendations about when to register. If the program director does not verify within 72 hours of the NCCPA’s request, you will be withdrawn automatically from your requested exam window.

The NCCPA needs time for the verification process, and it may require additional time to obtain a test date at your chosen test site. Choose a testing window with at least 4 weeks remaining after your expected graduation date. If you will graduate close to the end of your initially preferred testing window, choose the next testing window so that there is time for your school to verify your graduation, for the NCCPA to verify your exam eligibility, and to secure an acceptable test date at the test center you have chosen.

How Will I Recieve My PANCE Permit?

Once you have registered for the PANCE examination and the NCCPA has processed your application, you will receive an email telling you how to access, download, and print your permit from your personal certification record at the NCCPA website. The permit will be accessible until your examination window has expired. Your exam-scheduling permit will specify the exact beginning and end dates during which you are eligible to test.

How To Schedule PANCE Exam Date?

Once you have the permit, wait at least 3 days to allow the NCCPA to notify Pearson VUE Test Centers of your eligibility. Then go online to www1.pearsonvue.com/testtaker/signin/SignInPage/NCCPA to schedule your exam date at the center of your choice.

Stay flexible and plan ahead. Before scheduling your test date, visit the website and make a note of one or two specific centers that are convenient to you. Sometimes you can schedule a test almost immediately; other times you may have to wait 6 to 7 weeks.

Have necessary information on hand when you schedule your test date. You will be asked for your name as you would like it to appear on your certification document, your Social Security number, a phone number at which you can be contacted if the test center needs to reach you, the mailing address to which you would like your certificate mailed, the exam eligibility information that you received from the NCCPA, your email address, and your credit card information.