I just started my clinical year and I've really been loving it so far! However, I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and have found myself being a little too critical of myself. Like sometimes my preceptors pimp me over simple stuff and I don't always have to right answer and I feel dumb bc I should know. Or when I make a mistake during an exam and while scrubbing. I guess I've been lucky bc my preceptors haven't been mean about anything but idk I feel like with any little mistake this jist think I'm an idiot.

I know I'm a student and I'm going to make mistakes sometimes since I'm learning and I know this sounds ridiculous but any tips on how to not beat myself up over the little things?

Below average/average student just got their C!! So crazy that I've just been transitioning through the subreddits for PAs. Now, I'll be able to join the cool kids!

PANCE: 466. Avg 458. Took the PANCE 9/30, 2.5 weeks after graduating. Got the results 10/6, 1 week later (4 business days).

Less than 10 questions were no brainers each section. 30 questions: I was stuck between 2 answers, some I could figure out. 20 questions, I had no idea. Flagged around 22-25 questions each section because I couldn't decide between 2 answers or I simply didn't know. Felt terrible after, thought I failed.

Uworld definitely helped me understand the concepts stronger. The UI also looked exactly the same (however, you have to learn keyboard shortcuts to highlight and strike through). The test questions reminded me of ROSH more than it did Uworld because of the randomness "low-yield" questions. There was nothing more I could have prepared for the PANCE because I wouldn't have even thought about studying for it. Around 50 questions are experimental on the PANCE and don't count towards your score if you get them wrong, so those might be the questions I had no idea about.

Don't think my school was too hard. Never failed a test during didactic, but I think my school's standards were low. During didactic, I never used ANKI. Only did practice questions and used cram the pance, osmosis, and PPP as supplement. Wrote down each condition in my iPad and reviewed.

EOR Scores:

• Peds: 416, avg 417

• IM: 383, avg 414

• EM: 400, avg 414

• Surgery: 400, avg 417

• FM: 417, avg 411

• Psych: 416, avg 417

• Women's health: 394, avg 408

• Packrat 1: 134, >10 month grad avg: 133

• Packrat 2: 154, <10 month grad avg: 164

• EOC: 1455. Avg 1520. Took it before starting my 2nd to last rotation. School told me I was in the danger zone of failing.

• NCCPA practice form A. My bar was right above the yellow zone, fully green. The questions on the PANCE strongly resembles this style. Left taking this practice form so confused and bewildered.

• School paid for CME resources. Thought it was not great because some of the instructors were bland. Had a test at the end of each day. I was also in the zone of not passing. Did this review course 1 week before graduation.

  I was also able to watch some Blueprint Rosh PANCE review through a friend, and found it more helpful. I think these reviews are only good once you've reviewed the material because they go so fast and it's so dense.

Felt super discouraged after EOC and had a bad last rotation. Locked in 2 weeks before graduation. Started with cardio, pulm, and GI. Did brief review with PPP and Cram the PANCE. Then did Rosh questions based on the systems. Then worked down the list of other body systems over the next 2 weeks. I tried to do review of the system and questions on the same day. Took notes on things that I kept consistently missing based of previous EORs. I would also rewrite stuff that I struggled to memorize, like random heme conditions, MSK one liners, pneumonia treatment, pneumoconiosis findings, etc. Studied for around 4-6 hours a day for the last 2.5 weeks. I think it was the perfect schedule for me. Any more time studying and I would have gone crazy. I also started to nosedive for my scores for uworld because I was so burnt out and I would make careless mistakes.

I'm not going to lie, I'm a quantity over quality type of person (but I did try my best to review the ones I got wrong. I just really tried to push through all rosh and Uworld questions). Almost finished all of the questions for ROSH for systems, excluding most of the infectious disease, pharm, and professional questions. Would get around 65% avg. 100% completed on Uworld with 72% average. *I still have a reset that expires in Jan 2027. *

Overall, yolo I'm a PA-C. Took my pance, packed my bags, and flew out the next day for a month long vacation to reclaim my lost time. Found out that I passed during the trip. Job hunting will begin after returning because I am in a fortunate situation where I'm able to live with my parents rent-free. Scared as shit starting a job though. Imposter syndrome never stops unfortunately.

Happy to answer any questions :)

I have a couple of questions because I’m interested in PA school but also live with hypermobility in all my joints that affects my daily physical performance .
If anyone here has gotten an accommodations and could give me clarity, please let me know. I am about to graduate with my bachelors in business with a 3.9 GPA. I took some science prerequisites because I thought I was going to go into nursing school, but I changed my mind. I do not have any student loans, but I’m planning to work for a year so I could buy a car and I’m still unsure if I wanna go to grad school or not.

Questions

1. How many hours are surgical rotations ?

   I searched it up and it said depending on the program the surgical rotations could last 4 to 6 weeks.

2. If you have a Disability, that doesn’t let you stand for long periods of time under the ADA, does a physician assistant program need to provide you with a place to sit if standing for that many hours will hurt your physical health rather than having you standing all the time.

Additional information

I’m interested in going to PA school because it seems like a high demand and stable career that’s hard to lose compared to other jobs/ careers/ masters programs . Also, I already have to learn a lot about health related topics due to my condition. I just find it a little bit unfair how they make people do a surgical clinical rotation when you don’t even have to specialize in surgery once you graduate..

Looking for advice if any…

Not a PA school student but married to one, he is in his first year of pa school. Background we’ve been married for almost 2 years and moved to a new state to make his dream come true. We have 2 kids, 3yr old and a 8 month old.

Our daily lives; he goes to school early am and then after school is studying with his pa friends until 7ish-11ish( depends on the day)
I stay home with the kids, I cook, clean, make lunches and dinner for him, I do any admin( aka make appts, some finance things, etc)

Is there a bright side to this? I understand he is suffering not having fun at school and studying all the time but I’m also not having fun. My support system is all back in the state we used to live in and now I have no one, I’m trying to make friends but it’s kinda hard. My husband is so great and does what he can when he can but it’s so hard on me because I constantly want more of him to be present.

Is there anything other families did while in pa school to prioritize their time more efficiently or things other spouses did? Open to all and any advice, thanks!

I have 1 month of PA school left, I passed my EOC scoring fairly well around 1560. However, I became bitter from this career path and I had doubts before PA school and it’s be re-confirmed after all my rotations (besides 1 that I’m currently in). I feel I’m struggling more than my other classmates and I’m suicidal and I truly dread waking up each and every day. I don’t want to help people and get walked all over anymore. I am so tired if being mistreated or constantly being around hyper type A people that make everything a competition to the point I’m not fucking learning anything. Medicine is not what I thought it was and i am in a deep hole that I can’t get out of. All the light I had in my eyes 2 years ago are gone and I absolutely hate everything related to medicine and people in medicine. I had hobbies like doing my makeup and I looked forward to planning cute outfits and journaling and working out and going out with friends but I’ve stopped all of that for the past year because I’m so depressed and it’s gotten really bad. I lost 10 pounds since the start of clinical year and I sleep 4-5 hours a night. Supposedly graduation is the finish line but I highly doubt being treated like a sub-human will end. A career is not worth all of this

I absolutely loved reading everyone's stats before taking the PANCE. It really helped me see where I stood and gave me some reassurance, so I wanted to share mine!

For some background, I was a pretty average student throughout PA school. I struggled with certain subjects and even needed extra help from my program. I definitely wasn't the student getting the highest scores, so hopefully this gives someone in a similar position a little confidence!

My Stats:

• PACKRAT 1: 129
• Family Medicine: 412
• Internal Medicine: 408
• Psychiatry 1 (failed): 365
• Psychiatry 2: 387
• Women's Health: 404
• Pediatrics: 430
• Emergency Medicine: 423
• Surgery: 409
• EOC: 1521
• PACKRAT 2: 167
• Katy Conner Half PANCE: 510
• PANCE: 499!! 🎉

How I Studied:

Throughout clinical year, I mostly used UWorld and Hippo to prepare for my EOR exams.

I took my PANCE two weeks after graduating. During those two weeks, my best friend from PA school and I went through the ENTIRE Pance Prep Pearls (PPP) book together. We kept each other accountable and really took the time to understand topics we struggled with instead of just memorizing information. Having someone to study with and talk through concepts made such a difference for me.

I also used the UWorld flashcards, which I HIGHLY recommend!! I honestly don't see enough people talking about them. They helped me retain so much information, especially the random little details that ended up being useful for some of those weird PANCE questions.

Two days before my PANCE, I took Katy Conner's Half PANCE and scored a 510. That honestly gave me a HUGE confidence boost going into the exam.

My PANCE Experience:

I know this might sound crazy because I feel like everyone talks about walking out of the PANCE feeling like they failed, but I was actually one of the few people who walked out feeling pretty confident.

Before the exam, I had calculated roughly how many questions I could miss and still potentially pass, which helped me mentally. During the exam, I only flagged around 20 questions in two of the sections and about 10 questions in each of the remaining sections.

Of course, I knew there were questions I got wrong, and there were definitely some random questions that threw me off. But overall, I felt like I knew more than I expected to, which was such a relief after all those weeks of studying.

My Biggest Advice:

Don't let being an average student convince you that you aren't capable of passing the PANCE. I needed extra help in school, failed an EOR, and definitely had moments where I questioned whether I knew enough.

Find what works for you, focus on understanding the material, and surround yourself with people who keep you motivated. For me, studying with my best friend and using UWorld flashcards made a huge difference.

I hope this helps someone who's anxiously comparing their scores like I was just a few weeks ago. You know more than you think you do!! ❤️

Happy to answer any questions about my studying or the exam!

Also, I have my Uworld available until March 30, 2027 w/ reset option available!

I'm in my last semester of PA school and am fortunate to be able to spend my last two rotations in my specialty of choice post-graduation with the same service. I've gotten really comfortable where I am, and the plan is for me to take on more responsibility during my second rotation, which is really exciting to me. That said, I don't really anticipate receiving a job offer where I am, solely because there isn't a need for additional staffing. I'm okay with that and have known this from the start.

I recently had an interview for a position at a different facility in the same specialty, and they said they would like for me to complete my last rotation with them if it's possible and something I'm interested in. The kicker is that they haven't offered me a position yet.

I feel that I really enjoy where I am, and the experience is phenomenal, even though I know it's unlikely I'll get a job with them. Additionally, what if I change rotations and never receive an offer, or they give me a bad offer if they do? Of course, I would continue looking for positions until I get an offer I like, so there's a chance I wouldn't accept theirs anyway.

What would you do?

Hi everyone! I’m looking for advice, tips, and recommendations on how to approach my third attempt at the PANCE. Both of my previous scores were below 350, and although I improved my score by 32 points on my second attempt, I unfortunately did not pass. I’ve read through many posts in this community and would really appreciate any insight from those who have been in a similar situation or have successfully passed after multiple attempts.

I wanted to share what I’ve done so far to prepare and get some advice on what I could change or do differently this time.

Resources and study methods I’ve used:

• PPP (Pance Prep Pearls): This has been my main resource for content review. I reviewed the material by system and focused on the Top 6 for my second attempt.
• UWorld: For my first attempt, I completed 100% of the questions with a 65% correct rate.
• Blueprint: For my second attempt, I completed approximately 1,200 questions.
• Remediation: After my first attempt, I focused on identifying knowledge gaps. I used ChatGPT to create study guides based on my missed topics and reviewed those topics three times per week while continuing to study each system.
• Cram the PANCE: I watched the videos initially to listen and learn, then rewatched them while annotating PPP. I also used the 50 High-Yield Questions videos for active recall to assess what I retained and what I felt confident answering.
• Osmosis and YouTube: I used Osmosis videos to strengthen my understanding of pathophysiology, along with other free animated videos to help reinforce difficult concepts.

For additional practice, I completed a practice test through the 33 Day to Pass the PANCE course and took Katy Connor’s mock exam. Both gave me encouraging results and projected that I would pass. However, my actual PANCE score did not reflect those results.

For my first attempt, I also took the NCCPA Version C practice exam and scored mostly in the red and yellow categories.

What I’m hoping to get advice on:

1. For those who passed after multiple attempts, what did you change about your study approach that made the biggest difference?
2. Would you recommend Blueprint or Kaplan for additional preparation? Are there other resources that you found particularly helpful?
3. How did you balance content review with practice questions and test-taking strategies?
4. Are there any affordable or free resources, study schedules, or remediation strategies you would recommend?

I am currently going through a major financial hardship, so purchasing additional resources may not be possible right away. I recently started working part-time and am hopeful that I may be able to invest in a course or other resources in the future. In the meantime, I want to make the most of what I already have and develop a more effective study plan.

I plan to resume studying as I prepare for my next eligible attempt in January. I am also open to tutoring, study partners, or joining a study group. If anyone is in Texas and would be interested in meeting to study together, I would love to connect!

Honestly, this journey has taken a significant emotional and mental toll on me. All of my classmates have passed, and I am the last person in my cohort still working toward passing the PANCE. It has been difficult not to compare myself to others, but I am trying to stay motivated, encouraged, and hopeful that I can get through this on my third attempt.

I know I am capable of becoming a PA, and I am determined to keep working toward that goal. I would genuinely appreciate any advice, encouragement, or recommendations from anyone willing to share their experience. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post and for any support you can offer.

I also want to mention that I have been working on my test-taking strategies. I typically read the last sentence of a question first, identify which system the question relates to, and eliminate answer choices that do not make sense. I have also been applying test-taking strategies I learned through the 33 Day to Pass the PANCE course.

For my second attempt, I had testing accommodations and was taking medication as well. Despite these adjustments and the improvement in my score, I still did not reach the passing mark.

One of my biggest challenges is figuring out how to approach the exam more effectively. I feel like I cannot rely on obvious keywords to guide me toward the correct answer, and my second attempt felt particularly heavy on pharmacology. I am not sure whether I need to focus more on deeper clinical understanding, recognizing patterns in clinical presentations, pharmacology, or something else entirely.

At this point, I genuinely need guidance on how to prepare differently for my third attempt. I want to make the best possible use of my study time, identify what I may be missing, and avoid simply repeating the same study methods without seeing the results I need.

For those who have been in a similar position, did you find that changing your approach to practice questions, focusing more on clinical reasoning, or using a different remediation strategy helped you improve? I would be especially grateful for advice on how to prepare for pharmacology-heavy questions and questions that do not seem to have obvious keywords.

** don’t flag as I am asking for advice!!! Not to buy something*

Does anyone recommend a resource that has video and a great question bank attached to it? I am trying To study for the pance. I’m looking for a resource that maybe your school offered as a prep course for the PANCE and that you found super helpful.

Has anyone here specifically used the Blueprint individual EOR Qbanks to prepare for their EORs rather than the general PANCE QBank?

I’m trying to put together a solid study plan and I’m wondering whether the EOR-specific question banks are more representative of the actual EOR in terms of content/topics and question style.

I’m taking my Family Medicine EOR in about two weeks and honestly not feeling great about where I’m at yet, so I’d really appreciate hearing what worked for anyone who has used them!

I took the PANCE on October 6th and found out I PASSED!! Just wanted to share my experience because I spent so much time on here reading everyone else’s posts leading up to my exam.
First off, it’s SO true when people say the PANCE is basically a mix of questions where you immediately know the answer and questions that are so random you genuinely wouldn’t even know how to study for them. Some of them honestly felt like trivia questions lol.
My biggest piece of advice is UWORLD! I went through UWorld very thoroughly, and I genuinely think it was the best preparation I could’ve done. I really focused on understanding the explanations rather than just memorizing answers.
I actually walked out of the exam feeling like it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had anticipated. Don’t get me wrong, there were definitely questions that threw me off, but overall I personally thought the PANCE was easier than the EOC!
My advice is to really know your basics, trust what you’ve studied, and don’t let those random questions completely throw you off. You are NOT going to know everything, and that’s okay!

Also, I still have my UWorld account available until 2/2027, There’s no reset available, but if anyone is interested in buying it, feel free to message me!
Good luck to everyone studying!! You got this!!

hi, I take my psych eor this week and have heard mixed opinions. Some say it’s like blueprint, some say it’s like you world summer saying the new EOR has a lot of GI and sleep disorder questions. I’m looking for guidance from anyone that has taken the new version.

I wasn’t a top-scoring student, and seeing everyone’s high scores sometimes made me question whether I was ready. Sharing mine for anyone who needs encouragement!

My scores:
Family Medicine EOR: 389
Emergency Medicine EOR: 392
Surgery EOR: 395
Pediatrics EOR: 397
Psychiatry EOR: 380
Women’s Health EOR: 409
Internal Medicine EOR: 413
PACKRAT 2: 160
EOC: 1499
NCCPA practice exams: A in the red; B and C mostly yellow with some green
Katy Blair Half PANCE estimated scores: 450 and 425
PANCE: PASSED! 400

I started preparing during clinical year, months before the PANCE, because I didn’t want to leave everything until the last few weeks. I used AMBOSS, UWorld, Rosh/Blueprint’s PANCE prep question bank, and HelpCampus, plus lots of flashcards.
My routine was simple: study by system each day, do practice questions and flashcards, and review what I got wrong.

I took the PANCE October 3 and found out I was certified October 12! Waiting was stressful, especially watching others get results sooner.
My biggest advice: do your best to start early during clinical year. You don’t need perfect scores to pass. Keep learning from your mistakes, and don’t count yourself out. And don’t delay taking the pance after graduation unless you’re absolutely not ready . The earlier the better cause everything is still fresh .

All that work was worth it. Goodluck and stay encouraged.🔥☺️

i feel like every preceptor i've had has been so unkind and i understand where they're coming from trying to teach someone with zero experience but at the same time, i couldn't imagine being as bitter to a human being the way they are to me. this is my last rotation and i feel like i have become the most angry, most bitter version of myself from the built of resentment i have for everything medicine-related. in addition, i'm in a rotation with another student who hogs everything and it makes me look like i'm lazy and not doing anything when in reality, she's just jumping to get to the patient before i get the chance to do it. even the preceptor told her to stop doing everything but i feel so unwanted knowing there's something working at 90% my speed and i just can't compete. i'm so burnt out and i'm starting to really hate being around people

now i am here.

what the hell do i do to get ready program starts in like 2 months,

I found posts like these really helpful when prepping for the PANCE!

I was good student throughout didactic. My school considered me low risk of failing the PANCE. I did ok on my EORs, but nothing special.

How did I study?
Tons of practice questions on Blueprint with some Smarty PANCE. I would supplement with Cram the PANCE or PA Playbook. By the end, I couldn't be bothered to read what I missed in the question description because I was so burnt out. **no PPP and no reviewing any notes from didactic**

I studied (again, just practice questions lol) for about three weeks, 3-4 hours a day. But never anything too strenuous. I averaged 62% Blueprint throughout clinical year and during my PANCE prep.

Post PANCE:
I weirdly walked out feeling ok. I tried to figure out what I missed but luckily it was basically wiped from my mind so I couldn't freak out too much. The wait for the results is brutal!!!

Good luck!! You've got this!

Hi everyone, I'm in my first semester of PA school, and I'm very grateful that I'm where I'm at in life, that I finally was able to achieve part of my dreams and goals of being in PA school. And I never realized how difficult it was truly going to be. Like, I've talked to many PA students and PAs who told me how difficult PA school is, but until, like, you actually go through it, you never realize. And I just wanted to, like, vent a little. Does everyone feel like they never know anything, or, like, that it's just so much information and you get nervous for your quizzes or exams that you just don't know enough, and that just stresses you out? Overall, I've done pretty okay. I've done kind of bad on two quizzes, but I learned from my mistakes, but I've done well on my exams. So trial and error,And sometimes it's hard to not compare yourself to the people in your cohort, because I know everyone who goes to PA school is very smart, but there are just some people who are just geniuses, and it, like, makes me feel dumb sometimes being around those people. Overall, everyone's very nice in my cohort, and I just am trying to figure everything out. Things that I'm slowly working on is, like, multitasking, like studying for different classes in a day and not, like, focusing in on one class too much, which was part of the reason why I had done bad on two quizzes, but learned from that experience. So now I'm trying to study a little bit every day as much as possible of my classes. But how did you guys study in PA school, and, like, how many hours did you study? I'm only, like, six weeks into PA school. My anxiety def has gotten worse and considering going on something to help.

this is my NCCPA practice exam A score report. I have pance exam scheduled on 19th .what are my chances of passing. thank you!!

I'm in a travel program, will be moving every 5 weeks during clinicals. Who is living out of more than one suitcase? Wondering if I should buy a full matching set or not.

I have the surgery EOR coming up at the end of the month and I’ve been going through the topic list on both Uworld and SmartyPance but the UWorld Qbank for surgery feels completely random. There are conditions on there that the topic list doesn’t cover at all and I was wondering if others have felt this way? Should I stick it out and finish the Qbank or do a more focused Qbank that only goes over the topic list?

If you have other options for programs, please choose them. I am just trying to save other people from stress and lack of an education. 

ICPA has a high staff turnover rate. No one stays working in that program for long. The 1st director left the program and an interim was appointed in 2024 and she left in summer 2025. Their clinical director just recently left in summer 2026 as well. They overwork the few teachers they have and they can't do everything as much as they have tried. Students throughout many cohorts raised concerns about lack of teachers, issues learning, and lack of preparation for clinicals and were shot down by the previous director anytime it was brought up. They have hired a couple more teachers in the last year but still struggle to fully staff the program. 

As far as curriculum goes, they will bring in PAs from different specialties to teach blocks like Nephrology, Dermatology, and other units when they don’t have regular staff, but there isn’t much structure. Slides aren’t that helpful as there is less structure, 100s of slides, and don’t necessarily have all points you need to know about diseases from the PANCE Blueprint. Be prepared to teach yourself! Look up the NCCPA 1st time PANCE pass rates because they just keep getting lower(69% most recent). 

They were just placed on probation by ARC-PA so look that up on their website for the report. ICPA did just get a new director and she may turn the program around but everyone has to wait and see. She is making lots of changes but more to benefit how the school looks and scoring, not how students are learning or how to receive support from the program which is what they should be focused on. They constantly talk about professionalism and flexibility but don’t convey or be an example of that themselves. They expect students to be professional and flexible but never give them that in return. They have chronically not updated students on progress or announcements of the program, have so many last minute changes and basically tell us to deal with it and that being a PA is about adapting to justify their actions. They constantly move the goal post and blame students for poor performance or scores when their curriculum is lacking. If you have other options for school, go elsewhere if you want structure and support, at least until this program gets it together. If this program can keep staff and have good teachers that actually want to teach, it could improve.