Content Blueprint for the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Examination (PANRE) and PANRE-LA
Organized by Content Category
The diseases and disorders that may be covered on the 2022-2023 PANRE and PANRE-LA are provided below. Also provided is the level at which each disease and disorder will be assessed. The levels are defined as follows:
- Level 1: Recognize most likely diagnosis using signs, symptoms, and risks; refer appropriately.
- Level 2: Make appropriate diagnosis by recognizing signs, symptoms, risks and/or interpreting results of diagnostic studies, and have knowledge of first-line treatment.
- Level 3: Make appropriate diagnosis by recognizing signs, symptoms, risks and/or interpreting the results of diagnostic studies and have knowledge of first-line treatment. In addition, have the knowledge required to manage well-known comorbid conditions, contraindications, and complications.
Information on how the blueprint was developed may be accessed on the NCCPA website.
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Content Area | Percent Allocation* |
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Cardiovascular System | 13% |
Dermatologic System | 6% |
Endocrine System | 6% |
Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat | 8% |
Gastrointestinal System/Nutrition | 11% |
Genitourinary System | 5% |
Hematologic System | 4% |
Infectious Diseases | 6% |
Musculoskeletal System | 9% |
Neurologic System | 7% |
Psychiatry/Behavioral Science | 5% |
Pulmonary System | 10% |
Renal System | 3% |
Reproductive System | 7% |
Content Category
Dermatologic System: 6%* | |||
Smarty PANCE is not sponsored or endorsed by, or affiliated with, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants | |||
Diseases and Disorders | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Acne vulgaris | • | • | |
Actinic keratosis | • | • | |
Acute urticaria, Drug eruptions | • | • | |
Atopic dermatitis | • | • | |
Basal cell carcinoma | • | ||
Burns | • | • | |
Cellulitis, Erysipelas | • | • | • |
Contact dermatitis | • | • | |
Erythema multiforme | • | ||
Herpes simplex virus | • | • | |
Hidradenitis suppurativa | • | • | |
Impetigo | • | • | |
Lipomas/epidermal inclusion cysts | • | • | |
Melanoma | • | ||
Molluscum contagiosum | • | • | |
Onychomycosis, Dermatophyte infections | • | • | |
Paronychia | • | • | |
Pilonidal disease | • | • | |
Pityriasis rosea | • | • | |
Pressure ulcers | • | • | |
Psoriasis | • | • | |
Rosacea | • | • | |
Scabies, Lice infestation | • | • | |
Seborrheic dermatitis | • | • | |
Spider bites | • | • | |
Squamous cell carcinoma | • | ||
Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome | • | ||
Dermatology Exam | Take Exam |
Endocrine System: 6%* | |||
Smarty PANCE is not sponsored or endorsed by, or affiliated with, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants | |||
Diseases and Disorders | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Benign thyroid nodules | • | ||
Cushing syndrome | • | ||
Diabetes insipidus | • | ||
Hyperparathyroidism | • | ||
Hyperthyroidism/thyrotoxicosis | • | • | |
Hypoparathyroidism | • | ||
Hypothyroidism | • | • | • |
Metabolic syndrome and obesity | • | • | • |
Osteoporosis | • | • | • |
Primary adrenal insufficiency | • | ||
Thyroid cancer | • | ||
Thyroiditis | • | • | |
Type 1 diabetes mellitus | • | • | • |
Type 2 diabetes mellitus | • | • | • |
Endocrine System Exam | Take Exam |
Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat: 8%* | |||
Smarty PANCE is not sponsored or endorsed by, or affiliated with, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants | |||
Diseases and Disorders | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Acute epiglottitis | • | • | |
Acute pharyngitis | • | • | • |
Acute/chronic otitis media | • | • | • |
Acute/chronic sinusitis | • | • | |
Allergic rhinitis | • | • | |
Aphthous ulcers | • | • | |
Blepharitis | • | • | |
Cataract | • | ||
Chalazion | • | • | |
Conjunctivitis | • | • | |
Corneal abrasion | • | • | |
Corneal ulcer | • | ||
Epistaxis | • | • | |
Eustachian tube dysfunction | • | • | |
Foreign body in ear | • | • | |
Foreign body in eye | • | • | |
Foreign body in nose | • | • | |
Glaucoma | • | ||
Hearing loss | • | ||
Hordeolum | • | • | |
Hyphema | • | ||
Labyrinthitis | • | ||
Laryngitis | • | • | |
Mastoiditis | • | • | |
Meniere disease | • | • | |
Nystagmus | • | ||
Oral candidiasis | • | • | • |
Oral leukoplakia | • | ||
Orbital blowout fracture | • | ||
Orbital cellulitis | • | • | |
Otitis externa | • | • | |
Papilledema | • | ||
Parotitis | • | ||
Peritonsillar abscess | • | • | |
Retinal detachment | • | ||
Tinnitus | • | ||
Tympanic membrane perforation | • | • | |
Vertigo | • | • | |
Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat Exam | Take Exam |
Genitourinary System: 5%* | |||
Smarty PANCE is not sponsored or endorsed by, or affiliated with, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants |
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Diseases and Disorders | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Acute prostatitis | • | • | |
Bacterial cystitis | • | • | |
Benign prostatic hyperplasia | • | • | |
Bladder cancer | • | ||
Chronic prostatitis | • | • | |
Epididymitis | • | • | |
Erectile dysfunction | • | • | |
Fecal incontinence | • | ||
Hydrocele/varicocele | • | ||
Nephrolithiasis/urolithiasis | • | • | |
Orchitis | • | • | |
Paraphimosis/phimosis | • | ||
Prostate cancer | • | ||
Testicular cancer | • | ||
Testicular torsion | • | • | |
Urethritis | • | • | |
Urinary incontinence | • | • | |
Genitourinary System Exam | Take Exam |
Hematologic System: 4%* | |||
Smarty PANCE is not sponsored or endorsed by, or affiliated with, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants | |||
Diseases and Disorders | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Acute/chronic lymphocytic leukemia | • | ||
Anemia of chronic disease | • | ||
Factor V Leiden hypercoagulability | • | ||
Folate deficiency anemia | • | • | |
Hemolytic anemia | • | ||
Hodgkin lymphoma | • | ||
Hypocoagulable states | • | ||
Iron deficiency anemia | • | • | |
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | • | ||
Sickle cell anemia | • | ||
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura | • | ||
Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia | • | • | |
Hematologic System Exam | Take Exam |
Infectious Diseases: 6%* | |||
Smarty PANCE is not sponsored or endorsed by, or affiliated with, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants | |||
Diseases and Disorders | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Acute rheumatic fever | • | • | |
Chickenpox/herpes zoster | • | • | • |
Chlamydial infections | • | • | |
Epstein-Barr virus infections | • | • | |
Gonococcal infections | • | • | |
HIV infection | • | ||
Human papillomavirus infections | • | • | |
Influenza | • | • | • |
Lyme disease | • | • | |
Measles | • | • | |
Mumps | • | • | |
Pinworm infestation | • | • | |
Rabies | • | ||
Rocky Mountain spotted fever | • | • | |
Roseola | • | • | |
Rubella | • | • | |
Syphilis | • | • | |
Tetanus | • | ||
Tuberculosis | • | • | |
Vaginal candidiasis | • | • |
Neurologic System: 7%* | |||
Smarty PANCE is not sponsored or endorsed by, or affiliated with, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants | |||
Diseases and Disorders | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Cerebral aneurysm | • | ||
Cluster headache | • | • | |
Concussion | • | • | |
Delirium | • | ||
Encephalitis | • | ||
Essential tremor | • | • | |
Guillain-Barré syndrome | • | ||
Major neurocognitive disorder/dementia | • | ||
Meningitis | • | • | |
Migraine | • | • | • |
Multiple sclerosis | • | ||
Parkinson disease | • | ||
Peripheral neuropathy | • | • | |
Postconcussion syndrome | • | • | |
Radiculopathy | • | • | |
Seizure disorders | • | ||
Spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage | • | ||
Status epilepticus | • | • | |
Stroke/transient ischemic attack | • | • | • |
Syncope | • | • | |
Tension headache | • | • | • |
Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage | • | ||
Neurologic System Exam | Take Exa2m |
Psychiatry/Behavioral Science: 5%* | |||
Smarty PANCE is not sponsored or endorsed by, or affiliated with, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants | |||
Diseases and Disorders | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa | • | ||
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder | • | ||
Bereavement/grief reaction | • | • | |
Bipolar disorder | • | ||
Child/elder abuse, Spouse/partner abuse | • | ||
Generalized anxiety disorder | • | • | |
Major depressive disorder | • | • | |
Non–substance-related addictive disorders | • | ||
Panic disorder | • | • | |
Post-traumatic stress disorder | • | ||
Substance use disorders: illicit substances, prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco | • | ||
Suicide risk | • | • | |
Psychiatry and Behavioral Science Exam | Take Exam |
Pulmonary System: 10%* | |||
Smarty PANCE is not sponsored or endorsed by, or affiliated with, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants | |||
Diseases and Disorders | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Acute bronchiolitis | • | • | |
Acute bronchitis | • | • | |
Acute respiratory distress syndrome | • | • | |
Asthma | • | • | • |
Bacterial pneumonia | • | • | • |
Chronic bronchitis | • | • | • |
Croup | • | • | |
Emphysema | • | • | • |
Foreign body aspiration | • | • | |
Lung cancer | • | ||
Pertussis | • | • | |
Pleural effusion | • | • | |
Pneumothorax | • | • | |
Pulmonary embolism | • | • | • |
Pulmonary nodules | • | ||
Respiratory syncytial virus infection | • | • | |
Sleep apnea | • | • | |
Viral pneumonia | • | • | • |
Pulmonary System Exam | Take Exam |
Renal System: 3%* | |||
Smarty PANCE is not sponsored or endorsed by, or affiliated with, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants | |||
Diseases and Disorders | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Acid-base disorders | • | ||
Acute kidney injury (acute renal failure) | • | ||
Chronic kidney disease | • | • | |
Electrolyte disorders | • | • | |
Pyelonephritis | • | • |
Reproductive System: 7%* | |||
Smarty PANCE is not sponsored or endorsed by, or affiliated with, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants | |||
Diseases and Disorders | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Abruptio placentae | • | ||
Amenorrhea | • | ||
Breast abscess | • | • | |
Breast cancer | • | ||
Cervical cancer | • | ||
Cervicitis | • | • | |
Contraception | • | • | |
Dysfunctional uterine bleeding | • | ||
Dysmenorrhea | • | • | |
Ectopic pregnancy | • | • | |
Endometriosis | • | ||
Gestational diabetes | • | ||
Hypertension disorders in pregnancy | • | ||
Mastitis | • | • | |
Menopause | • | • | |
Ovarian cysts | • | ||
Pelvic inflammatory disease | • | • | |
Placenta previa | • | ||
Postpartum hemorrhage | • | ||
Premature rupture of membranes | • | ||
Premenstrual syndrome | • | • | |
Prenatal diagnosis and care/preconception counseling | • | ||
Rh incompatibility | • | ||
Sexual/physical abuse in pregnancy | • | ||
Vaginitis | • | • | |
Reproductive System Exam | Take Exam |