Physician Assistant

If you are a PA due to recertify in 2027, you now have multiple options for completing your NCCPA recertification. Before this year, we only had one option for PA recertification: the high-stakes PANRE recertification exam, taken every 9–10 years. Now, we have an additional, flexible option that began earlier in 2023: the new PANRE-LA. read more…

If you regularly proclaim the benefits of petroleum jelly as a skin moisturizer and think it is superior to antibiotic ointment for wounds, dermatology may be the right PA specialty for you. My interest in dermatology stems from a curiosity about the weird red bumps on the back of my arms (keratosis pilaris), my dry read more…

The PANCE is a rite of passage we all have to endure on the road to becoming a PA-C. The question is, with everything you have to know for the test, how do you go about creating a PANCE study guide? At times, exam prep can seem as big a mountain to climb as the read more…

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t expect a spike of anxiety AFTER I graduated from PA school. I remember all the questions that came to mind: “Am I ready for the PANCE?” “Were these past two years enough preparation for me to pass this exam on the first try?” Maybe your journey has read more…

Taking the PANCE is the culmination of your PA school journey. Everything you learned comes down to passing this one test before you can FINALLY put your knowledge to work. The odds of you passing the boards are high, especially if you put in the work—the PANCE pass rate was 92% in 2022, so the read more…

While you’ve undoubtedly spent time researching the differences between being a physician assistant and an MD or DO, a commonly overlooked comparison is the difference between the physician assistant vs nurse practitioner professions. Both career paths are categorized as advanced practitioners, have similar timelines to degree completion, and allow for individual patient oversight with diagnostic read more…

As a physician assistant, the ability to effectively communicate with patients is not just a desirable skill—it is an indispensable art that lies at the heart of providing quality healthcare. Beyond the mastery of medical knowledge and technical expertise, the art of communication sets the stage for building trust, fostering collaboration, and ultimately delivering exceptional read more…

Although I have been a certified PA for almost 15 years, I remember those dreaded feelings of anxiety towards EKGs like it was yesterday. Sure, I understood the science, and even read a much-recommended resource on the topic by Dr. Dale Dubin, but putting that knowledge into practice was something else altogether. How did one read more…

As you start to think ahead to your “next steps” after PA school, you may be considering ways to enhance your clinical skills, expand your network, and make yourself a more competitive candidate for your dream job. Remember, your number one priority as a PA student is to focus on your didactic coursework, clinical rotations, read more…

With recent declining PANCE pass rates, it’s more important than ever to ramp up your PANCE prep and guarantee you pass the exam on the first take. To help you study for your exam with additional structure and accountability, the team of PAs behind the Rosh Review PANCE Qbank is now bringing their expertise to read more…

I have written a lot of generalized blog posts on the PA experience, but I have yet to take the time to really explain my career. While I’ve known for some time that I wanted to go into the field of Cardiothoracic Surgery, I did not actually get this position right out of graduate school.  read more…

In April 2019, the NCCPA announced that PANCE pass rate had dropped from 98% to 93% after the release of the newest PANCE Blueprint. After trending upward to 95% in 2020, 2021 saw a decrease to 93%, and new data reports that the 2022 PANCE pass rate further dropped to 92%. While a 92% PANCE read more…

Transitioning from the didactic portion of the PA program to clinical year can be a whirlwind. At this time, you will go from sitting in class all day to working a full 40-hour week. Although there is a reduction in the number of exams you may have to take, there is definitely no shortage of read more…

Whether you’re just starting physician assistant school or you’re knuckling through your PA clinical year, surviving PA school can be a tricky chapter of your educational journey. But you don’t have to tackle these challenges alone! If you’re struggling with any of the following obstacles during PA school, a tutor may just be your new read more…

With 300 accredited physician assistant programs (estimated to increase to 326 by 2024) to consider, finding your perfect PA program can be a challenge. While every program has promise and pitfalls, selecting the right fit for you is important to set yourself up for success in your educational journey and ultimately your career.  Graduate education read more…

If you are anything like me, you love the practice of medicine. Do you find yourself eagerly looking for ways to improve your clinical outcomes? How about helping others discover their “aha” moments in learning? Do you enjoy conducting research and determining improvements for global health initiatives? Or maybe just want to further your own educational efforts? read more…

Maybe you’re accepting your first PA job offer or maybe you’ve had experience trying to take charge (and falling short) while negotiating your PA contract. Whatever the case, knowing how to effectively make your case during contract negotiations is an essential skill for any healthcare professional. What Happens Before the Job Offer Gets to You? read more…

First, give yourself a moment of celebration: you’ve made it to the end of your PA program! Now, the fun part begins (that is, depending on your definition of fun): preparing for the PANCE. Maybe you’ve already picked out the perfect PANCE review resources but are struggling to create a study plan with them. Or, read more…

Whether you have one job offer or multiple, the process of finally accepting your first position as a newly certified PA is equally as exciting as it is overwhelming. You’ve worked so hard to make it to this point, and now your career as a health care professional is finally materializing.  However, it’s important to read more…

One of the most exciting yet stressful times in your PA school experience is when you find yourself finishing up clinical rotations. In between preparing for the PANCE, awaiting graduation, and finally looking at job opportunities, it’s important to celebrate your accomplishments yet practically impossible not to feel overwhelmed. So, to alleviate the stress and read more…