PANCE results: the two week wait, the score scale and PA-C

When results are posted

NCCPA does not publish release dates. Its rule is that you are notified by email when your results are posted to your online record, approximately two weeks after your exam date. "Approximately" means the exact day can vary, so treat two weeks as a guide rather than a deadline.

The PANCE calculator shows the two week mark for any exam date.

The 200 to 800 scale

PANCE results use a scale from 200 to 800, and the passing standard is 350. NCCPA uses scale scores to put every exam form on the same footing, adjusting for small differences in difficulty. That means the number of questions you need to answer correctly to reach 350 can differ from one examinee to another.

The passing standard itself is set through standard setting using the modified Angoff method. Content experts judge whether a candidate who is just barely qualified to practice would answer each question correctly, and the NCCPA Board of Directors approves the resulting standard.

Retake limits

• You may take PANCE only once in any 90-day period, and no more than three times in a calendar year.
• Eligibility runs for six years or six attempts, whichever comes first.
• The earliest you can test is seven days after completing your PA program.

After you pass

After passing PANCE, PAs are issued NCCPA board certification and can use the PA-C credential as long as they keep their certification current.