To be eligible for PANCE, one must graduate from an ARC-PA accredited program.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Depends on program accreditation status
• D. Not required

Answer: (A)

The important idea is that PANCE eligibility is tied to the accreditation of the physician assistant program you graduate from. ARC-PA is the accrediting body that sets the standards for PA education, and NCCPA requires that candidates complete a program that has earned ARC-PA accreditation before they are allowed to sit for the PANCE. This ensures that all examinees have met a baseline level of training and curriculum standards. Therefore, you must graduate from an ARC-PA accredited program to be eligible for the PANCE; graduates of nonaccredited programs do not qualify for the exam. Options suggesting eligibility without accreditation, or eligibility depending on a program’s accreditation status, don’t align with how PANCE eligibility is determined.