Interactive Content Blueprint for the PANCE

Interactive Content Blueprint for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)

This is a clickable, interactive educational adaptation of the current NCCPA™ PANCE Content Blueprint, which became effective in January 2025 and remains the active blueprint for PANCE candidates certifying in 2026 and 2027.

All PANCE topics are linked to Smarty PANCE Blueprint Lessons and topic-specific Blueprint Exams to support focused, efficient study.

These interactive blueprints are available for online viewing and download in multiple formats 👉 Click Here. Additional study resources are included below, along with links to the official NCCPA publications.

Disclaimer: Smarty PANCE is not sponsored by, endorsed by, affiliated with, or approved by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). The NCCPA does not review or validate third-party study materials.

The five-hour PANCE exam includes 300 multiple-choice questions, administered in five blocks of 60 questions, with 60 minutes per block. A total of 45 minutes is allotted for breaks between blocks, and you will be responsible for managing your break time. You have 15 minutes to complete a PANCE tutorial.
The PANCE Blueprint includes 14 organ systems, encompassing 110 sections, 25 subsections within each organ system, and approximately 681 diseases and disorders.
Medical Content Categories	Percentage
Cardiovascular System	11%
Dermatologic System	4%
Endocrine System	6%
Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat	6%
Gastrointestinal System/Nutrition	8%
Genitourinary System	4%
Hematologic System	5%
Infectious Diseases	7%
Musculoskeletal System	8%
Neurologic System	7%
Psychiatry/Behavioral Science	7%
Pulmonary System	9%
Renal System	5%
Reproductive System	7%
Task Categories
History Taking and Performing Physical Examination	16%
Using Diagnostic and Laboratory Studies	10%
Formulating the Most Likely Diagnosis	18%
Managing Patients
- Health Maintenance, Patient Education, and Preventive Measures	11%
- Clinical Intervention	16%
- Pharmaceutical Therapeutics	6%
Applying Foundational Scientific Concepts	8%
Professional Practice	6%

Medical Content Categories	Percentage (2019-2024)	Percentage (2025)
Cardiovascular System	13%	11%
Dermatologic System	5%	4%
Endocrine System	7%	6%
Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat	7%	6%
Gastrointestinal System/Nutrition	9%	8%
Genitourinary System (Male and Female)	5%	4%
Hematologic System	5%	5%
Infectious Diseases	6%	7%
Musculoskeletal System	8%	8%
Neurologic System	7%	7%
Psychiatry/Behavioral Science	6%	7%
Pulmonary System	10%	9%
Renal System	5%	5%
Reproductive System (Male and Female)	7%	7%
Professional Practice	5%	6%

Task Categories	Percentage (2019-2024)	Percent 2025
History Taking and Performing Physical Examination	17%	16%
Using Diagnostic and Laboratory Studies	12%	10%
Formulating Most Likely Diagnosis	18%	18%
Managing Patients
Health Maintenance, Patient Education, and Preventive Measures	10%	11%
Clinical Intervention	14%	16%
Pharmaceutical Therapeutics	14%	15%
Applying Basic Scientific Concepts	10%	8%
Professional Practice	5%	6%

Interactive Content Blueprint for the PANCE

Interactive Content Blueprint for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)

The PANCE Blueprint includes 14 organ systems, encompassing 110 sections, 25 subsections within each organ system, and approximately 681 diseases and disorders.

Medical Content Categories (NCCPA PANCE Blueprint)

2019-2024 Interactive PANCE Blueprint (Retired)

Explore the retired 2019-2024 Interactive PANCE Blueprint for reference and review of past exam topics.

The 2019-2024 PANCE blueprint contains 14 organ systems » with 121 sections and 23 subsections (within each organ system) » and approximately 616 diseases/disorders.

Medical Content Categories (2019-2024 Blueprint)