Free practice test

Tests

Driving testsCitizenship testsSchool and university admissionsNursing, medicine and healthEnglish and French testsTeachingMoney, law and insuranceTrades and work licencesPilots, drones, boats and radio

Countries

United StatesCanadaUnited KingdomAustraliaNew Zealand

United States · Certification exam

PANCE registration: applying to NCCPA

You register for the PANCE with NCCPA, not with Pearson VUE. Once your PA program reports your expected graduation date, NCCPA emails you a link to set up an account, and PANCE registration opens 180 days before that date. You book a test date with Pearson VUE only after NCCPA has accepted your application.

  • 180 daysEarliest you can apply before finishing
  • $550Application fee
  • 6 yearsUp to 6 attempts in that time
Apply with NCCPAFree practice test

Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Who can register for the PANCE?

You must graduate from an entry-level PA program accredited by ARC-PA. NCCPA counts a program as accredited if it was accredited when you started it. A medical degree from another country doesn’t replace this, and NCCPA won’t waive any eligibility rule.

If you’ve never been certified and graduated on or after January 1, 2003, you can take the PANCE for up to six years after completing your program, with at most six attempts. When either the years or the attempts run out, you lose eligibility. The only way back is to complete a full ARC-PA accredited program again.

How does PANCE registration work?

  1. Your program reports your expected graduation date. NCCPA then emails you a link to set up your online account, and the link expires after three days.
  2. Sign in and apply. Check that your name and email are right, because the name on your two IDs on test day must match NCCPA’s record.
  3. Pay the $550 fee. NCCPA doesn’t process an application until it has the full payment.
  4. If you need testing accommodations, say so in your application and send the documents with it. NCCPA won’t process the application until it has decided on them, which can limit the dates and centers left.
  5. Watch for your exam acknowledgement email, within three days of your application being processed. It gives your 180-day testing window and how to book with Pearson VUE.
Booking your date with Pearson VUE →What the PANCE costs →

How often you can take it

  • Once in any 90-day period and no more than three times in a calendar year, whichever limit is fewer
  • Six attempts in six years after graduating, for graduates since January 1, 2003
  • Only one NCCPA exam registration open at a time

If your program hasn’t confirmed you’ve finished

You can’t sit the PANCE until NCCPA has confirmation from your program that you’ve graduated or completed its requirements. The earliest test date is seven days after that completion date. If the program doesn’t confirm in time, NCCPA withdraws you and cancels any date you booked. Once confirmation arrives, your application is reinstated automatically with a new acknowledgement and timeframe.

Sources: NCCPA and 3 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

Explore

Everything else, in one place

OverviewPractice testWhere to learnStudy plannerQuestions and timeDates and bookingCostBlueprint and topic listNCCPA practice examsPassing score and resultsPass rates