To take the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Examination (PANRE) and maintain your PA certification, there are a few eligibility and registration steps to follow. Here are the details, along with exam costs, to ensure a smooth recertification process.
When To Take the PANRE
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants® (NCCPA®) requires PAs to recertify every 10 years. The purpose is to ensure you stay current with continual advancements in medical technologies and management.
- Your PANRE eligibility begins in the ninth year of your certification maintenance cycle and extends through the following year.
- You may take the exam up to 2 times in your ninth year and up to 3 times in your 10th year, but only 4 total attempts are allowed.
- You are eligible to take the PANRE only 1 time in a 90-day period. This limit is waived if you have fewer than 90 days remaining in your 10th year and have not yet used all of your exam attempts.
In addition to achieving a passing PANRE score, you must log 100 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits and submit a certification maintenance fee during your 2-year eligibility window before you can become recertified. If you’re ineligible to take the PANRE, but do so anyway, your score will be rescinded.
PANRE Registration
When you enter your PANRE eligibility window, you can register by logging in to your NCCPA account. Once the registration fee has been paid and all associated information has been submitted, you will receive an acknowledgement email listing your 180-day testing window. You will also receive instructions on how to schedule your exam with Pearson VUE. If you wait until late into your 10th year to apply, your testing window will be shorter than 180 days — ending the final testing date of your recertification expiration year. You may only be registered for 1 NCCPA recertification exam at a time.
Canceling Your PANRE Registration
If you are unable to take the PANRE during your testing window, you can cancel your exam registration by submitting a written request to the NCCPA.
- If you have scheduled an exam: To cancel your exam, your request must be received at least 1 business day prior to the scheduled exam date.
- If you have not scheduled an exam: Your request must be received on or before the final day of your testing window as listed in your NCCPA acknowledgement email.
You will forfeit your exam fee if you fail to submit a written withdrawal request to the NCCPA in these time frames. Canceling your exam with the testing vendor is not sufficient. If you qualify for a refund, it will be issued to the party who paid the exam fee.
PANRE Cost
The PANRE costs $350, charged as a registration fee. However, there are a few other costs that you should be aware of during your recertification process. Among them are your certification maintenance fee, the cost of CME credits, and potential PANRE prep course fees.
How To Pay for the PANRE Exam
You can pay your $350 PANRE registration fee online through your NCCPA account. All fees must be paid in full to take the exam. Your application will only be approved, and your exam score received, once payment for all current, outstanding, and past due charges has been received.
Certification Maintenance Fee and CME Costs
In addition to taking the PANRE, you will need to pay a $180 certification maintenance fee and log 100 CME credits by 11:59 p.m. PT on Dec. 31 of your final year of eligibility. Your CME costs will vary depending on the services you use, but typically range from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars. Make sure you meet all of your CME requirements by the deadline.
PANRE Review Course Costs
The prices of PANRE review courses vary widely by provider. We offer an industry-leading PANRE QBank with practice questions based on the latest NCCPA blueprint. You can try it free for 7 days or start your subscription in a few simple clicks.
Additional PANRE Fees
Beyond your registration fee, there are a few miscellaneous fees to be aware of. In cases of returned checks, credit card charge backs, and declined credit cards, the NCCPA will assess a $35 service charge. If you need to replace your certificate due to a change of address, name change, or lost certificate, the NCCPA will assess a $50 charge.
Regaining PA Certification
If you’ve lost your PA certification, your recertification process will be different. To become eligible to sit for the PANRE, you will need to log 100 Category 1 CME credits in the 2 years prior to your application date (i.e., if you intend to apply for the PANRE on June 1, 2028, your CME window will extend back to June 1, 2026). Once complete, you can apply for the PANRE through your NCCPA account. After receiving your exam acknowledgment email, you can take the PANRE 1 time in any 90-day period.
The only exception is for PAs who lost their certification eligibility due to NCCPA disciplinary proceedings. In this case, you must first apply to reestablish eligibility with the NCCPA.
