One of the biggest struggles of PA school is getting yourself organized and, even more so, staying organized. We’ve all been there—getting a planner in the beginning of the school year, and forgetting about it by November.

From the whirlwind of information you receive in the didactic year, to balancing PANCE prep with work during clinical year, it can be easy to fall behind schedule. With 2026 on the horizon, this is a great time to reset if you find yourself drowning in unorganized notes!

Here are 10 tips for staying organized this year, no matter where you are in your PA journey. 🤓

📚 Didactic Year

Whether you’re coming straight from undergrad or returning for your master’s degree after taking some time off from school, the demands of your didactic year will likely catch you by surprise.

Your schedule will be made for you with classes throughout each weekday, mandatory labs, and multiple exams per week. Students often find this hard to balance, and wonder how to optimize their time.

These tips can help you stay organized during your didactic year:

1. Use a laptop to take notes. 

I recommend coming prepared with a laptop for taking notes in class. Some schools may provide you with one, but otherwise it’s definitely worth the investment. Keeping up with the speed of lectures is nearly impossible with handwritten notes.

2. Make notes on the PowerPoints.

To take notes in class, I would download the PowerPoints (which are hopefully provided to you beforehand), and from there, take notes on each individual slide.

3. Review what you missed. 

Note any content areas you miss during the lecture. Be sure to review those topics further in your book, discuss what you missed with a friend, or review a lecture recording. If you plan on recording the lecture, always seek your professor’s permission beforehand.

4. Pay attention during class!

With that being said, it’s crucial that you remain attentive in lectures. While you may be tempted by your phone or internet, place yourself on “do not disturb” and remain undistracted to the best of your ability. During class, professors will often highlight the most important points and help to guide your studying.

(As a side note, many advisors will suggest you read about topics before going over them in class. I do think this is an excellent way to prepare for a lecture, but honestly, you won’t usually have time for this. You’ll more likely spend time reviewing other subjects than preparing for what you’ll already be discussing in class!)

5. Organize your notes by category.

You should organize your notes initially under the main category and further by lecture topic and exam. For example, if you’re reviewing cardiology content, it would be: Cardiology—Arrhythmias—Exam 2. 

This is a good approach because when you’re initially studying, you may organize the material by exam, but when you need to review for cumulative exams, you can easily find the section you are looking for. 

6. Have another go-to resource.

I think it’s important to have at least one other resource book for reviewing didactic material to make sure you understand what you’re discussing in class. While some things may click instantly, certain topics may require more attention outside of lecture. 

Most of the time, textbooks for purchase are recommended by your institution. Remember you’re not only learning this to pass a test, you’re learning topics you’ll refer back to throughout your career as a PA. Therefore, we want to make sure you’re fully comprehending them when you’re initially learning, so additional discussions of the material are just a review.

🌪️ Tame the whirlwind of PA-1 year with Blueprint PA (formerly Rosh Review)’s Didactic Year Exams Qbank with 1,600 questions for your Subject Exams and End of Didactic Year Exam!

🩺 Clinical Year

Once you get to clinical year and don’t have weekly exams or lectures to worry about, it can feel daunting “only” having to prepare for that cumulative end of rotation exam (EOR). And remember, while you’re doing your EOR prep, you also have to get ready for the PANCE. This is on top of trying to become the best clinician you can be. So needless to say, you’re going to be busy. 

The good news is that studying for your EOR exams often helps the overall goal of PANCE studying, but it’s still important to plan your study schedule accordingly so you hit all necessary topics.

Here are some tips for staying organized during your clinical year: 

1. Follow the blueprints. 

The Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) provides EOR exam blueprints and the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) provides PANCE blueprints. These are set up to help ensure you’re prepared for any testable material and are an excellent resource for guiding your studying. I highly recommend using these to your advantage.

2. Create a good study schedule. 

Sometimes people will waste a lot of time deciding where to start with studying. They may also miss material if it’s not organized well. The answer to this is to create a study schedule. While making one can be a time-consuming task, it’s very important. It holds you accountable and helps you meet your study goals.

3. Pick up some review books. 

I recommend getting one or two good reference books during your clinical year, as it’s hard to filter through all of your prior didactic notes and material. Your didactic year is for the fundamental learning of each individual disease process, while your clinical year should be focusing on review after the fundamentals are understood. 

I utilized PANCE Prep Pearls and A Comprehensive Review for the Certification and Recertification of Physician Assistants, but there are many great review books out there.

4. Be sure to do practice questions. 

I also encourage you to utilize a question bank as a way to test your knowledge. Test-taking is a skill in itself and it needs to be developed.

A word of caution: the resources available to clinical year students are abundant. Try not to get overwhelmed by this. Instead, pick one or two and stick to them. You don’t need to buy every question bank or every review book available to you, as you won’t have the time to utilize all those resources anyway.

I utilized Blueprint PA (formerly Rosh Review) during my clinical year to prepare for both EORs and the PANCE!

If you’re searching for clinical year Qbanks, check out this bundle deal for clinical students:

👩‍💻 PANCE Qbank – 3,800 NCCPA-formatted questions with explanations
🩺 Rotation Qbank bundle – 1,750 questions with explanations
💪 PANCE Power Packs – 600 “must know” high-yield questions for the PANCE
📈 Plus personal analytics, extra support, Rapid Reviews, and more!

Final Thoughts

While staying organized can be a challenge, if you follow these PA school hacks you’ll undoubtedly be successful in 2026! The benefits of staying organized can last throughout your career—after you complete PA school and take the PANCE, you may refer back to the material you organized in a concise way when dealing with a clinical situation you haven’t seen in a while, or even when preparing for the PANRE. 

While medicine is always evolving and the first-line treatments or recommendations will change, some topics will always be relevant and worth referencing. Personally, I’m glad to have been organized throughout school, as it’s helped me in many ways as a PANCE tutor to have that information readily available. You never know when you may be thanking your past self for staying organized during PA school!

Looking for more (free!) content to help you thrive as a PA student? Check out these other posts on the blog:

• Taming the Whirlwind: How to Actually Remember What You Learn in PA School
• Would You Benefit From a PA School Tutor?
• Reducing Test Anxiety in PA School: A Tutor’s Guide

Are you a future physician assistant wondering how to pay for PA school in 2026? Or maybe a recent grad trying to figure out how to pay off your PA student loans? 

If you’re in either camp, you’ve got plenty of company. For many future PAs and recent grads, finances are a huge concern. It’s easy to see why—the average amount of student loan debt for graduates of PA school is $112,000! Whether you’re a borrower taking on new debt or a grad trying to pay off your loan, a number that big is bound to make you just a bit nervous. 

An obvious solution would be to avoid going into debt, but for many of us, the loans are necessary. We’re told not to work during PA school, so we rely on them not only for tuition and fees, but housing and food as well. Given all that in combination is far from affordable for most students, many practicing PAs wouldn’t be where they are if they hadn’t been able to obtain student loans.

If you’re wondering how to pay for PA school in 2026, or a working PA dreading having to set aside money for your monthly payments, we can help. This post is for future PAs who have to go into debt to achieve their dream, and those who’ve graduated and are wondering how to pay off their loans. In the first half, we’ll discuss some recent changes that will impact how borrowers finance their education in 2026. Then, we’ll review some tips when it comes to refinancing, loan forgiveness, and the repayment options that are out there. 

Let’s begin. 

How to Pay for PA School in 2026: What New Borrowers Need to Know 

The past few months have been full of change in the US Department of Education—and this has caused a lot of stress and confusion for borrowers. This is an especially trying time for students actively pursuing their Master’s of Physician Assistant studies. This section will detail some of the key changes that will impact new borrowers after July 1, 2026.

1. Grad PLUS loans are ending. 

One of the recent changes that’ll affect students pursuing their PA degree the most is the elimination of Grad PLUS loans. These loans were beneficial to students pursuing graduate degrees for several reasons:

1. They allowed students to borrow the total cost of their education
2. Students didn’t have to begin repaying Grad PLUS loans until they’d been out of school for six months

With the elimination of this program, students will need to find other ways to fund their education.

What are your options?

One option is to take out direct unsubsidized loans, which are loans students can apply for regardless of their financial need. While you still don’t have to start paying back direct unsubsidized loans until six months after graduation, they’ll start accruing interest immediately upon disbursement.

2. There are updated limits for new borrowers. 

Another recent change is a new cap on federal education loans of $100,000 for graduate school students and $200,000 for graduate students pursuing a professional degree. Unfortunately, the Department of Education has proposed that PAs do not fall under the “professional degree” category when it comes to federal loan borrowing. Thus, the cap for new borrowers seeking federal student loans for PA school after July 1, 2026 will be $20,500 annually, $100,000 total limit.

Compare this to the average cost of PA school which is between $10,000 and $20,000 per semester, or $20,000 to $40,000 per year on tuition alone. Of course, this doesn’t include the cost of housing and food during that time. 

Given all the expenses, the new caps in 2026 will likely have students dependent on loans for their education looking closer at public school programs (which cost less).

3. Private banks will take on an increased role. 

For any costs that exceed the new borrowing limits, students will need to turn to private loans. Unfortunately, they can be difficult to obtain for students with limited credit history and often require a cosigner. Banks rely on credit scores when deciding whether to let a student borrow. This can be a problem, as cosigning a loan is a huge commitment and borrowers may not be able to find someone with a good credit score who is willing to take on that burden for them.

The changes we’ve outlined here apply to both current and new students. However, students that are currently receiving graduate PLUS loans will be grandfathered in and allowed to continue this program.

PA Student Loans: Repayment Options for Graduates in Debt 

Regardless of the changes to the student loan borrowing programs, the process of repaying student loans can be daunting. I’m about four years out from PA school, and still in the process of figuring out exactly what strategy I should use to pay off my loans. Borrowers have many options, including the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF), refinancing their loans, or opting for one of the many government repayment options. . 

Let’s have a look at each. 

1. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

The PSLF program affords the opportunity for borrowers who work for a nonprofit organization making payments towards their loans for 10 years to receive forgiveness of the remaining balance after that time. This program has been a hot topic lately, with some changes regarding qualifying organizations, but nonprofit hospitals have consistently qualified as public service.

If you want to pursue PSLF, ensure the healthcare system you work for is a nonprofit organization, as not all of them are. This can easily be determined with a quick Google search!

2. Refinancing 

Refinancing your loans may be a good strategy if you aren’t opting to pursue a forgiveness program and are offered a lower interest rate than what’s available through the government. However, refinancing your loans will usually mean a repayment term of 5-20 years.

For context, government programs usually have a repayment term of 10-30 years. This can mean lower monthly payments and possible forgiveness of remaining balances after 20-25 years. 

Should you refinance with a private lender? 

It’s important to remember that the state of student loans is a hot political issue. Therefore, as political winds change direction, the repayment and forgiveness options may change with them. If you opt to refinance with a private lender, you won’t have any ability to undo this and become eligible for government based loan forgiveness in the future.

Before refinancing with a private lender, I recommend looking on the federal student aid website and utilizing the loan stimulator tool. This allows you to put in your estimated income and see various repayment options. This tool even goes as far as to tell you the true price you’re paying over the life of the loan, including the interest, and the amount you could have forgiven through available programs. 

Final Thoughts

Overall, student loans are stressful for all of us. If you’re a new borrower, remember that Grad Plus loans have ended, and understand that any additional borrowing will have to be done from private banks. If you’re a grad trying to pay off your loan, it’s important to stay informed about your options. Repayment terms are constantly a topic of debate. This causes uncertainty in borrowers, but it’s a large amount of money you’re committed to paying off, so you owe it to yourself to stay informed as to what your options are. 

Remember, there are paths that allow you to pursue repayment in a way that best fits your ability. Whether you’re a new borrower or a grad in debt, we’re all in this boat together.

For more (free!) content to help you navigate the PA journey, check out these other posts on the blog:

• Understanding PA School Acceptance Rates & Admissions in 2025
• How to Ace Your Didactic Year: PA School Ultimate Guide
• PA Specialties: How to Decide Which is Right for You

PA school is intense. In just over two years, you’ll go from learning the basics of medicine to applying that knowledge in real patient care. Between the rapid-fire didactic classes and the hands-on clinical rotations, it’s easy to feel like you’re just trying to survive the next exam. 

But PA school isn’t just about passing exams—it’s about building a foundation of knowledge that will stick with you for your entire career. If you want to make it through without constantly forgetting what you’ve studied, you need strategies for long-term retention! (Spoiler: you’ll probably have to leave behind the last-minute study habits you relied on in undergrad.)

In this post, we’ll break down practical tips to help you remember—and truly comprehend—the material, so you’re prepared for both exams and real-world practice.

Navigating the “Didactic Whirlwind”

During your didactic year, information comes at you fast. We call this the “didactic whirlwind.” You’ll constantly be preparing for your next assessment, and it becomes challenging to think much beyond one test at a time. 

While getting through your exams obviously matters, it’s also important that during this time you’re studying for long-term retention of the material presented to you, rather than just memorizing to pass the test. This is not only because there are many important cumulative exams on the horizon, but also because you’re building up your foundation of knowledge that’ll be used to care for patients in the near future!

So you’re building up that store of knowledge and not just cramming to pass exams during your didactic year (and beyond), we’re going to share some tips that’ll help you retain information in the long run. 

Here are some tricks for remembering what you study during the whirlwind of PA school. 

6 Tips for Retaining Information During PA School

1. Spread out your review.

Studying for the next exam shouldn’t start the day or even the week before test day. You should begin to review the material right after class. This means incorporating study time into your schedule well before the exam date. Doing so allows you to spend the appropriate amount of time with each topic, and makes your pretest reviews a bit less cumbersome!

Waiting to study until closer to the exam leads to cramming. While you may be able to pass the test with this method, it does nothing to promote long-term retention. If you opt to cram, you’ll find yourself struggling by the time the cumulative exams come around. This is because instead of reviewing the material at that time you’ll have to relearn it. So do yourself a favor and spread out your review. The best way to do this is by reviewing material right after class. 

2. Practice active learning.

Passive learning involves sitting back and taking in the information. Relistening to lectures, reading your notes, or even listening to review podcasts are all examples of passive learning. While this kind of studying isn’t a bad way to initially review the material, it won’t do much for retaining it long term. 

A better approach is known as active learning, which requires you to be involved in the review. Great examples of this include completing practice questions, summarizing material, and discussing content. These tactics allow you to think about the material in a deeper way, and force you to test your comprehension.

Of course, you’ll do lots of active learning during your clinical year, too! This entire year is meant to strengthen your knowledge and allow you to practice hands-on medicine. I encourage you to make the most of this experience and quiz yourself during patient encounters. It’s also a good idea to do differential diagnoses and have some treatment options lined up before discussing them with your preceptors. 

One great way to practice active learning is with a question bank (Qbank) that aligns with the content blueprint for your upcoming exam!

Try out a Qbank for whichever exam you’re approaching next:

⭐ Didactic Year Exams
⭐ End-of-Rotation Exams
⭐ PANCE

3. Dive into the pathophysiology.

It can be hard to remember something that you don’t understand. Diving into the “why” behind a disease process may not be necessary to answer a test question correctly, but it can really help you comprehend the medical issue in question. This kind of in-depth knowledge makes it unlikely you’ll forget what you learned moving forward. 

4. Study with a friend.

In my experience, one-on-one or small group study sessions are a great way to prepare. That said, they need to be done the right way. While you never want to exclude anyone from a review, it’s important not to let them get too big. For example, if six students in your class are looking to study together, I’d recommend splitting up. This helps ensure you get more time actively participating in the review session, rather than just listening.

It’s also important to find people you study well with. Sometimes it may take some time to get into a rhythm, but ultimately you want to work with individuals that help you as much as you’re helping them. You can summarize topics for each other, ask one another questions, and hold each other accountable.

5. Get enough sleep. 

When people are busy, they often start to neglect their health. No matter how hectic things get while you’re in PA school, set aside time to exercise, make meals at home, and get enough sleep. All of those things will help you be successful. 

In particular, studies have shown that sleep plays a vital role in creating long-term memories. This means that as much as you may want to stay up late to cram before an exam, it probably won’t help you much in the short-term and it definitely won’t help your long-term retention of the material. So make sure you get enough sleep each night—it’s necessary for transferring what you’re learning into long-term memory!

6. Get the reps in! 

Few things are as good at encoding information in long-term memory as the tried and true tactic of repetition. So don’t be afraid to review things a second and third time!

Fortunately, PA school is set up in a way to have you covered with the repetition component of long-term retention. Every time you learn a topic and take an exam, know it’s not the last time you’ll see that material. Following that content-specific exam, there’s a good chance what you studied will show up on the final.

You may also see some overlap in special populations courses (pediatrics, women’s health, and geriatrics). And needless to say, you’ll review many topics once again in preparation for the PANCE. This repeated assessment of your understanding will naturally aid your retention, and allow you to build a foundation of knowledge that’ll make you an effective PA upon graduation.

Final Thoughts 

If you stick to a realistic study schedule, you’ll find this all becomes a little more manageable. Now, that’s not to minimize the difficulty of PA school in general! And trust me, I know it’s difficult.

I mention study schedules just to remind you that having a plan to reach your goals is always the best place to start. If you adopt a study schedule and start applying these tips early on, it’ll save you a lot of time in the long run. You’ll be reviewing material for cumulative exams, while some of your peers are focused on grasping concepts.

Try your best to stay ahead of the game and you’ll find long-term retention comes faster than you’d think. Best of luck on your PA journey! 💙

How much do physician assistants make? If you’re on the path to becoming a PA-C, there’s a good chance you’ve pondered this question. The short answer is that, according to the AAPA Salary Report, the median salary for a practicing PA in 2024 was $134,000 (a 5.5% increase from 2023)!

The long answer is that in order to understand the overall return on investment as a PA, you should also consider the cost of earning and maintaining your certification. Here is the cost and compensation analysis for PAs, including salary, benefits, and the cost of a PA education.

How Much Do Physician Assistants Make? Comparing Costs & Compensation

How Much Does it Cost to Become a PA?

So, before we can talk about how much you’re compensated to become a PA, we have to talk about how much it costs to get there to give you the full picture!

Prerequisites

When it comes to the question of how much do physician assistants make, we have to take a look at costs. The first technical cost of becoming a PA-C is fulfilling the requirements to apply to PA programs. Usually, PA programs require you to complete prerequisite courses and a bachelor’s degree prior to applying. Many prospective PA students will already have student loans from their undergraduate degree before even applying to graduate school.

On top of that, some schools require applicants to submit a GRE score. The GRE has a $220 registration fee with an additional $30 fee to send your score to each program. It’s advisable to also factor in the cost of any accompanying GRE prep material, which can easily add up.

Besides the prerequisites, the PA school application process itself can add up to be pretty expensive as well. Most applications are through the CASPA portal, which costs $179 for the first program and $55 for each additional program. On top of this, some schools require supplemental applications with additional fees.

Therefore, it costs a minimum of $875 to apply to 10 PA programs, if at least one of those programs requires the GRE. This estimate only increases if you include supplemental application fees and factor in the cost of your undergraduate education costs. This “cost of entry” can pose a challenge because while applying to more programs may increase your chances of being accepted, it can also add up to be quite costly. 

Are you starting PA school soon? Try some free pre-PA practice questions! 

PA School 

When asking how much do physician assistants make, you obviously need to factor in the cost of PA school. Like most graduate programs, PA school is expensive. According to AAPA, PA program tuition can vary between $30,000 to more than $120,000. This is a wide range due to public institutions generally having lower tuition than private programs. While you may be able to receive a scholarship, you should not bank on it when planning for education costs.

It is not advisable to have a job during PA school, given the rigorous coursework and schedule variability. With that, most students find themselves taking out loans to pay for both tuition and living expenses. It is important to consider the cost of living in the location of your school. Generally, rural schools may offer cheaper options for housing than urban areas would. So, if you plan to take out loans for rent, you should factor this into your total cost. Other notable costs of PA school include textbooks and course supplies including a computer.

Lastly, it’s important to note the opportunity cost that comes with pursuing this career path. In addition to the financial investment, you are also investing years of your time and energy into PA school! While this investment is all worth it in the end, the road to get there does require you to sacrifice other opportunities along the way.

Certification

This is another factor you need to look at when asking how much do physician assistants make. After PA school, your final step to becoming a certified PA is passing your certification exam, the PANCE. This is a high-stakes exam that you’ll want to pass on the first attempt and transition into your career. Therefore, in addition to the $550 PANCE registration fee, most students also invest in study materials. Review materials include PANCE Qbanks, review books, and online courses (or even a combination of the three), which can quickly become just as costly as taking the exam itself.

In order to maintain your PA certification, you will also need to complete the 10-year certification maintenance process. This process includes earning 100 continuing medical education (CME) credits every two years, paying a certification maintenance fee, and passing a recertification exam before the end of your 10th year of certification. You can opt to take either the traditional PANRE (a 4-hour exam taken during your 9th or 10th certification year) or the PANRE-LA (an open-book, longitudinal exam taken over the course of 2-3 years). The PANRE and PANRE-LA both have a $350 registration fee and share the same content blueprint.

How Much Do Physician Assistants Make?

Now let’s take a look at the flipside. How much do physician assistants make in terms of compensation? Let’s break it down by salary, continuing education, and benefits! 

Salary

According to the 2025 AAPA Salary Report, the median salary for a practicing PA in the U.S. was $134,000 in 2024. Below you can see a breakdown of the earning spectrum nationwide (by percentile):

Now, there are many different things to take into consideration when it comes to total compensation. Let’s have a look at some of the main factors when it comes to physician assistant salaries. 

1. Location

There are very notable differences in PA salaries based on their location’s cost of living. For example, PA jobs in New York City tend to pay salaries much higher than the national average because of the city’s high cost of living. In addition, your level of experience plays a huge role in your compensation. 

If you’re just starting out your career in a location with an average or below-average lower cost of living, you may receive salary offers on the lower end of the earning spectrum.

2. Specialty / Workplace Setting

Another factor to consider is your medical specialty and work environment. PA-Cs working in more profitable areas of medicine—such as surgical subspecialties, emergency medicine, or dermatology—often find job offers higher than the average salary. 

In contrast, those working in less profitable settings with a set schedule—such as occupational health, pediatrics, or primary care—may find themselves with a lower average salary. These generalizations are not always accurate, however, so you may still find job opportunities that contrast with the average trend.

3. Schedule

Additionally, jobs with an unconventional work schedule (e.g., swing or night shift positions) may have a higher salary considering these positions are harder for employers to fill. Traveling PA-Cs also tend to receive above-average compensation, as they serve an important role in filling vacant positions for a short amount of time. Working as a traveling PA is a very profitable option for more experienced PA-Cs who enjoy being contracted at different facilities around the country every couple of months.

Continuing Education

It’s common for PA jobs to include additional benefits, such as investing in your ongoing PA education. More specifically, many employers will give yearly CME stipends and even paid days off to complete CME requirements.

Because of your requirement to complete 100 CME credits every two years to maintain certification, this stipend will save you a lot of money out of pocket. Options for CME include completing PA practice questions, attending a conference, or taking a course. You’ll likely need to use your CME stipend by the end of each year or it will expire.

Other Benefits

Other benefits that come with most PA positions include retirement matching, health care/dental/vision benefits, life insurance, and PTO. Depending on the position, you may or may not receive paid holidays off of work. However, even if you do need to work holidays, many positions will offer extra pay for these shifts.

Many PA positions are salaried, but you can also find hourly positions which could be beneficial based on your specialty. For example, if you work in a specialty that may cause unexpectedly long work days (e.g. surgical specialties), consider asking if your employer offers overtime compensation. Otherwise, you may find yourself receiving a 40-hour weekly salary while actually working 60+ hours per week.

Some positions may offer loan reimbursement, though this is not as common as the above benefits and I would not plan for your position providing this. If you have federal loans and have worked at a nonprofit hospital for 10+ years, you may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. This is something to consider when taking a position if you are concerned about paying off your student loans.

Ask not how much do physician assistants make. Ask how much you can make of your profession!

While being a PA can definitely be profitable in many ways, I recommend not going into this field (or any field, for that matter) for the money. So, rather than asking “How much do physician assistants make?” maybe the better question is “How much can I make of this great career choice?” Medicine is ever-changing and you will work throughout your career to learn the best ways to care for your patients. This job is anything but easy, and it is important that you love what you do! As always, be sure to reach out if you need guidance. And best of luck on your journey!

One of the best perks of the PA profession is the diversity of career paths you can take after graduation. It’s so interesting looking back and seeing where all my classmates ended up! I have friends across the board of PA specialties, which is especially helpful when looking for advice.

With such variety of patient populations, lifestyle considerations, and even hours worked, how do you decide which specialty is best for you? Here’s what to consider!

1. Pick a patient population.

Most students find their niche during clinical rotations, but if you’re not one of those people don’t fret! In fact, I find it’s even more valuable to find out what you don’t like. I remember graduating with a ton of interests, and only a handful of PA specialties I knew weren’t for me. At the end of the day, we’re in this position because we love medicine and health care in general, so it’s normal to have a lot of interests!

My best advice is to first decide which patient population you want to work with. Do you have a passion for pediatrics? Are you looking to practice in a high-acuity setting, such as the intensive care unit? Do you want to work with your hands in the operating room? Are you looking to provide care in an outpatient setting? This is only the starting point for making a decision, but it does help you get a general idea of where to start looking.

Looking for a breakdown of individual PA specialties? Check out these other blog posts from PAs who have been in your shoes!
🥼 Dermatology PA 
🫀 Cardiology PA
🧬 Oncology PA

2. Decide if you want variety, or more of a routine.

Of course, to make things more complicated (or exciting, depending on your point of view ), a lot of settings overlap. I currently work in cardiothoracic surgery, where my days are split between the operating room and the intensive care unit. We even do some inpatient rounding as well! 

I love the diversity of this position and how no two days are the same, but some may find the variation in routine irritating. 

Another example of this is that if you’re working in an outpatient specialty, such as orthopedics or pulmonology, you may find yourself having to make rounds in the hospital on occasion. 

Now this isn’t always the case, and there are definitely positions that keep to the same routine, so if that’s something you’re looking for, you can absolutely find that as well.

3. Think about the schedule you want.

I think the hours you want should be a big factor in your decision-making process. Do you want a predictable day-shift schedule, or are you amenable to a variety of hours? Are you willing to take calls overnight for the right position, or do you prefer that your day ends when you leave the building? 

What about weekends? Do you want every weekend off, or are you okay with some variety in your schedule? Ask yourself these questions, and be honest! If you’re interested in trauma or critical care roles, but also want a regular day-shift schedule, that may be hard to find.

In cases where it’s tough to match the PA specialties you’re interested in with the schedule you want, you’ll have to decide which is more important to you: the specialty or the lifestyle? This can vary depending on where you’re at in your career and personal life. Any life changes or stressors could put you in a position where you need to alter your work schedule and that’s okay! Perhaps when you come out of school you’re willing to work any hours or take call shifts, but one day you may find yourself looking for a more predictable schedule. 

In my experience…

I know firsthand how important it is to have the schedule you want. The first job I took was a hospital medicine and intensive care position working overnights. The shifts were seven days on, followed by seven days off. This meant I had to work every other weekend, but it did give me a whole week off in between. 

I absolutely loved the work I was doing in this position. It was high acuity with a lot of autonomy, and it provided me with a great opportunity to learn and grow as a provider. However, I realized that working overnights (on opposite shifts from my husband) was not good for my mental health. While some people thrive working nights, it simply was not for me. And despite how much I loved the position, I had to look for a new one given what I was looking for in life.

4. Realize that most PA specialties require on-the-job training! 

No matter what position you take, if it’s a new role for you you’ll likely have to do some on-the-job training. So don’t let that deter you from taking a role you’re interested in, as employers anticipate this when hiring someone new to a specialty!

5. Do some shadowing. 

If you’re thinking about certain PA specialties, but aren’t quite ready to take the jump of applying for a position, don’t hesitate to see about PA job shadowing opportunities. Employers are more than willing to have potential candidates spend a day or so with the team. 

Now of course, life is busy and this may not always be feasible, but it’s a great way to see if you would be happy in the role. Other ways to “feel out” positions before applying to them include reading blog posts and talking with providers practicing in those areas about their day-to-day.

Final Thoughts 

Overall, determining the right specialty for you can be overwhelming. Just know it’s normal to love many different things! Use these tips to narrow down which of the PA specialties you really want to work in. Remember, there’s a world of opportunities out there for you to take advantage of! Best of luck on your journey, and be sure to reach out if you need assistance.

Is this the right PA specialty for you? is a series that provides practical advice from PA-Cs for students and individuals looking for their right fit.

“How will I know if I’m ready for my upcoming exam?” 

I asked myself this very question while preparing for end-of-rotation exams and the PANCE nearly a decade ago. I didn’t have a great answer then, so I powered my way through lecture notes, practice questions, and review books and hoped for the best. 

Years later, the script was flipped on me when I became a professor and started getting this question asked of me regularly by PA students. The truth is, you may never feel 100% ready for an exam like the PANCE—and that’s okay! Still, there are some key indicators available to help you make an educated decision in determining your preparedness. 

In this post, we’re going to share one of these indicators with you: the Probability of Passing and Projected Score feature within your Blueprint PA Qbank. Let’s get started!

What is the new feature in my PA Qbank?

Our new feature in the analytics section on Blueprint PA gives PA learners a projected score for their exam and—for some of our study objectives—a probability of passing. 

Some of you may recognize the projected score and probability of passing analytics that were previously available on Rosh Review. It’s received a makeover and is now available for several key PA milestone exams. The purpose of this tool is to provide you with more valuable insights and data points to help you determine if you’re ready to test. 

You may recognize these features from previous Rosh Review PA Qbank subscriptions.

Where can I find my projected score and probability of passing?

This information is displayed on cards within the analytics section of our website, between the “Overall Performance” card and the “Qbank Questions Used” card (see below). 

The probability of passing indicates the likelihood of success (passing an exam) as a percentage. 

The projected score correlates to the exam that you specified when you set up your profile. Note that the projected score will not appear in analytics until at least one practice set or exam has been completed!

How do I set up my account to have access to these analytics?

First, the metrics you see on your analytics page are based on your selected study objectives. You’ll want to verify that your profile is complete and that you’ve selected the correct study objective for whichever exam you’re preparing for. You can change this information by toggling to the “Settings” section of your profile. 

Second, not every PA product will have a probability of passing or projected score calculated. This data is calculated for the PA exams below, which means if you have the corresponding Qbank product, you’ll see these metrics. For example, if you have the Emergency Medicine Rotation Qbank, you’ll see projected score information for the Emergency Medicine Rotation Exam. 

On the other hand, other products (e.g., ECG Qbank, Didactic Qbank) would not have these metrics available as they don’t correlate directly to a milestone exam. A probability of passing is not provided for rotation exams as there’s no standardized passing score provided by PAEA, instead it’s determined by individual programs.

Calculations for the Probability of Passing and Projected Score products are based on best practices and proven formulas used by our data team. Scores are recalculated nightly, around 9 p.m., using completed practice sets and exams from that day. This means that work completed during the day will be reflected in the updated metrics the following day, while work completed after 9 p.m. will not make the cutoff. You will see the “Overall Performance” and “Qbank Questions Used” cards change in real time. 

How should I best use this information?

Even though the projected score and passing probability analytics will appear after your first set, it’s advised that you don’t consider this information as accurate until you’ve completed at least 50% of the Qbank. We’re constantly updating this information on our end, but it’ll become more predictive the more questions you complete.

It’s important to remember this information is based on what our data team is able to calculate. We’re only able to see a snapshot of how you study (i.e., how you use Blueprint PA) and not all the other variables involved in your preparation. Because of this, it’s meant to be another tool in your tool box, not a crystal ball. 

What are some tips on how to use these analytic tools successfully?

1. Select the correct study objective for your profile.
2. Complete at least 50% of the Qbank before you start paying attention to the metrics.
3. Aim to complete work before 9 p.m. to see updates reflected the next day.
4. Don’t use these analytics as your only data point, but rather one of several data points. Consider these analytics in relation to other indicators of your performance (e.g., NCCPA practice examination, PACKRAT, and the EOC examination).
5. Monitor your performance over time and make adjustments to your study plan as necessary.
6. Avoid regularly resetting your account. 

Whichever examination you may be preparing for, we’re here for you every step of the way. Discover your chances of passing with Blueprint PA!

Looking for more FREE content to help you pass your PA exams? We’ve got you covered! Check out these other posts on the Blueprint PA blog:

• Everything to Know About the New NCCPA PANCE Blueprint for 2025
• What’s It Like Working with a PANCE Tutor?
• How to Ace Your PA Clinical Rotations

Congratulations! You’ve made it into your didactic year of PA school! Now, what should you expect?

The didactic year of PA school is—in all honesty—something of a whirlwind. This is when you’ll learn the foundation of your medical knowledge, prepare for your clinical year and the PANCE, and ultimately the fundamental skills you’ll need to become a successful, practicing PA. 

In other words, your didactic year is kind of a big deal! So how do you set yourself up for success?

6 Didactic Year PA School Tips and Tricks

Here’s six 6 tips to ace your didactic year of PA school!

1. Use a planner.

You’re going to take a lot of exams during your didactic year. There were weeks when I had four of them! It can definitely be overwhelming, so be prepared for that. 

First off, get yourself a planner. A lot of courses will have exams scheduled from the beginning of the semester, so you should have these dates in mind. 

Try not to view the program as studying for each exam, rather try to keep up throughout the semester with each course. For example, say you have a cardiology exam on Friday. That’s a large topic, and you may find yourself trying to focus only on cardiology that week.

However, it’s important not to neglect other courses during your didactic year of PA school, because you may have another exam the following week that’ll sneak up on you. While you could spend the week primarily focusing on cardiology, it would be important to dedicate a few hours to other topics to keep up with all of your courses.

Studying throughout the program like this also helps promote long-term learning, which is ultimately to your benefit. Remember, you won’t be tested on material one time, you’ll see it again on final exams, end of rotation exams, and, of course, on the PANCE examination.

2. Set a realistic didactic year PA school study schedule.

Try to schedule out your studying blocks, and when you do, make sure they’re realistic! For example, I always recommend having “make up” block time at the end of the week, because it’s so common to fall behind in a typical study schedule. 

Also, you need to allot time for commuting and other commitments (such as exercising if you choose to). As much as you may feel compelled to continuously study, do not neglect your physical and mental health.

While things like going on a walk or spending time with family may take away from your study time, when done in increments I’ve found those things ultimately make you less stressed and more productive. This leads to better quality study time overall. 

If you’re looking for a “smart” study planner that can schedule your course schedule and exam prep for you with the click of a button, we highly recommend Blueprint’s FREE PA Study Planner!

3. Be ready to “drink through a firehose.”

Your courses will cover a wide range of information, from clinical medicine focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses across all organ systems to lab sessions focusing on acquiring a history and physical, and everything in between. 

You’ll also need to learn anatomy, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, amongst other topics. Didactic year classes teach you how to be a provider, whereas the clinical year is when those lessons are put to the test. 

4. Take your laptop to class and use it to take notes.

The key thing to realize is that your didactic year of PA school is nothing like your undergraduate years. This means you’ll likely need to adapt your study methods. The correct way to study will vary per student, but I can tell you a bit of what I did. 

First off, I highly recommend using a laptop to type your notes in class. Your professor will have a lot of information to get through in a short amount of time, so it’s unlikely you’ll be able to keep up by handwriting your notes. 

I also recommend downloading the lecture slides ahead of time if you’re able to, and utilizing those to type the notes. That way you can type blurbs that relate to the slides, so all of your notes are making sense when it’s time to review them.

5. Silence all notifications during class.

Your didactic year lectures can be long, but it’s important to refrain from distractions during them. This is especially true if you’re utilizing your laptop. 

Make sure you have your notifications silenced. You want to learn the information during the lecture, rather than needing to waste valuable time later teaching yourself the material. 

There will undoubtedly be portions of lectures that you need to review independently in order to make sense of the material, but remaining engaged throughout the course is a way to optimize your time and learning.

6. After the lecture, follow up with passive and active study methods. 

Didactic year lectures contain a lot of information. So start reviewing them ASAP! Following the lecture, I would always do some passive studying by first re-reading and organizing my notes. To make this a bit more of an active learning experience, I would try and highlight key concepts. 

From there, I relied on active studying to truly understand the material. This included Rosh Review practice questions, studying in a group setting where we could collaborate on material and concepts, and flashcards. 

Now, flashcards are not useful for all topics, but for certain things they were really helpful! Be careful, however, to optimize your study time, rather than spending all your time preparing to study. 

For example, it would be better to utilize websites like Quizlet to make flashcards and possibly collaborate with classmates to utilize shared decks, so you’re not making all of them yourself. All of you are in this together, and teamwork makes the dream work!

Further Reading

Of course, ultimately you’ll need to find what works best for you during your didactic year of PA school. My biggest piece of advice is that if you’re struggling in the beginning of the program, adapt your study habits immediately. It’s not uncommon for students to have to develop a new method of learning for PA school, so don’t be disheartened if you find yourself in that position. 

Remember to utilize your resources and get help if you need it. I’m currently working as a PA tutor through Blueprint, and have had a lot of success working with students to get them back on track.

The didactic year of PA school is hard, no doubt, but you can do it! There’s a reason you made it into the program. Now go get ‘em!

Looking for more (free!) tips for didactic year PA school? Check out these other posts on the Rosh Review blog!

• Would You Benefit From a PA School Tutor?
• Reducing Test Anxiety in PA School: A Tutor’s Guide
• How to Ace Your PA Clinical Rotations

Over the past three years, programs have transitioned to using more virtual-based learning platforms, either in combination with or in place of face-to-face instruction. As self-directed learning becomes more common, programs are looking for creative ways to use these learning platforms and keep students engaged.

Program directors and faculty are asking similar questions:

• How do I deliver conferences online?
• Where do I find curricula adapted to virtual learning?
• How do I create a remote learning environment that keeps my students engaged?
• How do I provide custom assessments to continue to track student progress?
• What resources are there for my clinical students who have been pulled from their rotations?
• How do I use Zoom and Google Hangouts for self-directed learning?
• How do I survive and thrive during budget cuts?

If you currently do not have a virtual learning solution for your program or you want to enhance what you do have, we can help.

Sign up now to get your program started →

Integrating remote learning into your training program is a lot easier than it may seem. You want to maintain your program’s educational needs, and Rosh Review can help you with the art of keeping learners engaged in a remote learning environment.

Virtual conferencing

First, you’ll need a software platform to connect distributed learners. These platforms were once difficult to navigate, but now they are user-friendly and can be easily implemented.

Don’t spend too much time picking a product since they all provide what you need.

These are the most popular platforms:

Zoom (our favorite)
Google Hangouts
Cisco Webex
Uberconference
Blue Jeans

Once you have your software picked out and set up, you can schedule your first remote conference.

Meeting online is not much different than attending an in-person conference. There is a presenter and an audience. Except now, instead of all being in the same room, everyone is in their own location. It looks like this:

Just like an in-person conference, the presenter shares slides, which appear for all the remote attendees in Zoom. Here is an example from a recent remote conference at Johns Hopkins:

Imagine you’re sitting at the kitchen table and this is what you see on your computer screen. You can hear the presenter crystal clear. It’s like being at an in-person conference but with safe social distancing! Moreover, you are able to ask the presenter questions and interact with the group.

Virtual learning isn’t limited to conferencing—it allows you to continue core content education, small group discussions, and even board review.

Self-directed learning with the Rosh Review Qbank

Our online Didactic Qbank and Clinical Qbank are some of the most effective tools students can use to stay engaged in core content education. The advantage is that students can access content on their desktop or mobile app, any time of day, from the comfort of their homes. 

Virtual training with Rosh Review’s Program Director Dashboard (PD Dash)

As your students engage with content in their Qbank, all of the data will be fed into your virtual PD Dash and recorded. This will identify students at risk of falling behind and provide you with trackable student performance data.

Conducting a virtual review session

Conduct virtual review sessions for both your didactic and clinical students.

One option is for the presenter, whether it is a faculty member or student, to share their screen while all of the students on the virtual conference listen to the speaker review questions. It could look something like this:

Another way to conduct virtual review sessions is to assign your students a select number of questions to complete before the conference and then review these during the conference.

Have a class that graduates soon? Assign everyone the Mock PANCE exam and review as a class to see how everyone performed. Quickly identify the questions that require group review.

A powerful tool in your PD Dash is the heatmap, which you can use to identify specific questions you want to review during your virtual conference. Here is an example:

Using self-directed learning for remediation

From your PD Dash, easily identify students who are performing below average in specific topic areas of the didactic year or the NCCPA content blueprint for the clinical students and remotely assign them additional assessments as a form of remediation.

For example, if three of your students are scoring below the program mean in nephrology, simply assign a block of 20 nephrology questions and comprehensive explanations and measure their performance. All it takes is a few clicks!

Supporting you and your students through virtual learning

Thank you for the sacrifices you, your students, PA-Cs, and entire clinical staff make on a daily basis to protect and care for our families and friends. Your work inspires us to creatively use our strengths to support your needs.

Please sign up here, or let us know if we can remove any obstacles you experience with remote learning.

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 favorite resource to prepare for your next exam.

1. You need assistance with test-taking skills.

Do you find yourself getting stuck between two answers and then repeatedly choosing the wrong one? Or, do you often feel like you are rushing at the end of the exam to meet the time requirements? Have you had a hard time predicting the topics you’ll see on your exams? These are all signs that you may need to strengthen your test-taking skills.

Test-taking skills are the bread and butter of PA school. They are crucial to establish early to ensure your success throughout the program, given the large volume of exams. There is undoubtedly an art to taking tests that you can learn with practice! 

How can a PA tutor help?

Tutors are able to walk you through various test questions and analyze where you may be going wrong in your thought process. Your tutor can work with you to address any weaknesses they find, and help you make changes to succeed on your future exams.

2. Despite your best efforts, you are not able to fully grasp the material.

Underperforming may be the most obvious reason to get a tutor, and it is important to act quickly when noticing this to avoid falling behind. To matriculate into PA school, you have already proven yourself academically. However, the studying and exam-prep skills you developed during your undergraduate years may not cut it for a graduate program.

How can a PA tutor help?

Working with a tutor allows you to have someone review exactly what you are doing to prepare for tests and see how you can do better. In addition, if there are any specific topics you wish to review, your tutor can help ensure that you are understanding the material the way you need to in order to be successful. Whether you need help grasping the material, directions in establishing study skills, or both, tutors work with students to evaluate their current situation and meet their needs.

3. You struggle with test anxiety.

Do you ever feel like you are studying more than enough, but you freeze when it comes time to take the exam? Perhaps you end up doubting yourself, which leads you to answer questions incorrectly that you would not normally think twice about outside the test environment.

These may be signs of test anxiety, which is an issue for many students. You are not alone in feeling distraught when faced with exams, especially in a setting like PA school where every test you take is important. While the reasoning is different for each person experiencing this, it may be possible that you just need to practice and gain confidence to curb pre-exam stress. 

How can a PA tutor help?

Working with a tutor is the perfect way to enhance your confidence and understanding of the material. In addition, it is a great way to practice thinking through questions on the spot and working through any anxiety you may associate with those situations. 

Your tutor is your cheerleader, who can offer you support and validation all while helping you find ways to de-stress before an exam. As you adapt and learn, they can help boost your confidence and ensure that you know the material at the level you should.

4. You do not study well in groups.

PA school is difficult, and oftentimes students lean on each other to help them succeed. Working with a group can be very helpful to allow you to hear information in a different way that can further your understanding. Reciting material in a group setting is an active way of learning, whereas reviewing material alone is an example of passive studying which has been proven to not be as effective in long-term retention. 

However, in the group setting it is easy for your specific needs to be overlooked. For example, the group may spend time reviewing a topic you are comfortable with and not go over something that you really want to review. In addition, some students who may need more time to think through topics or questions, might not thrive in the group setting. If others are responding too quickly, you may be unable to complete your thought prior to the group moving on.

How can a PA tutor help?

Think of tutoring as group studying that is tailored to you and your needs. You will have someone trained to present material and help you understand it, and you get to dictate what material you are spending your time on. You also can spend as much time on a topic as you need, or as little. This allows you to make the most of your time while studying.

5. You are struggling with balancing all of your responsibilities.

Are you struggling to create a study plan for your upcoming exams? Or, have you created a study plan but are now falling behind in your previously set schedules? Are you finding it difficult to manage studying for the PANCE along with long clinical days, end-of-rotation exams, and graduation preparation?

It may feel like you need all 24 hours in a day (and then some) to complete your to-do list. Life happens and you may have responsibilities both inside and outside of the classroom. While it is ideal to limit any other responsibilities you may have, it is not always feasible. Schedules fluctuate and it can be difficult to balance day-to-day changes while maintaining an adequate study schedule.

How can a PA tutor help?

Working with a tutor can be very helpful to organize and plan your schedule. Tutors are able to help you create personalized study plans that are adaptable to your everyday life. That way if you fall behind, your schedule can be updated to help make up for lost time and you are not the one spending valuable time updating it. 

The key to time management with PA school is starting your exam preparation early. That’s what makes tutors such a valuable resource in balancing your time—an effective tutor will know what to expect to help ensure you stay on track.

If you resonate with any of the above examples, you most certainly would benefit from working with a PA tutor! Tutors are trained to be adaptable to each student’s specific needs, so whether it be for your didactic year, PANCE prep, or your entire PA school journey—we are here to help! 

Interested in joining a live course for accelerated PANCE review? The 4-day Rosh Review PANCE Review Course is now open for enrollment to help you pass the exam on the first take!

Rosh Review is a Blueprint Test Prep company. To get matched with a PA tutor that fits your unique needs, schedule a free consultation with one of Blueprint’s PA school tutors today!

Although each student is different, the PA education and certification process poses similar challenges for all individuals. As a recent graduate, I can attest that the transition to the graduate program and subsequent preparation for the board examination can be a whirlwind. If you’re struggling to feel confident going into your PA school exams, you’re not alone. Here is my comprehensive guide to tackling test anxiety in PA school, from a tutor who’s been in your shoes.

When starting your PA program, it may quickly become apparent that the strategies used in your undergraduate years may not be on par with what is necessary to be successful in your graduate program. I found myself not only struggling with the abundance of material and frequency of examinations but also with the pressure of maintaining adequate grades and modifying my undergraduate study techniques.

Test anxiety often stems from the pressure to succeed and is one of the largest struggles that PA students face. This is exacerbated by the rigorous coursework and frequency of exams in the PA education setting. If you find yourself experiencing test anxiety, I’ve found there are a few strategies that can help you surmount this.

1. Reduce stress in your daily life

With everything to worry about regarding being successful in your studies, reducing other stressors is imperative. While many stressors are beyond our control, there are also strategies to help alleviate their effect on your life. 

Exercise is a huge stress reliever. Whether you’re going on a walk or hitting the gym, do what works best to get those endorphins pumping. I recommend trying to spend time exercising four to five times a week for about 45 minutes to one hour. Spending time outside can also be refreshing and therapeutic. Even if you choose to spend your time outdoors studying, I found that this change of scenery can help reduce burnout while allowing you to get some much-needed fresh air.

Although it can be difficult, scheduling time to talk to your loved ones is also important for your mental health. Having a set time to call your mom or have dinner with a friend once per week will not only reduce your stress but will also help ensure that boundaries are respected other times during the week when you may be less available due to studying. Although it may seem counterproductive to take time off, taking some time to prioritize your mental and physical health can enhance the quality of your study time.

2. Create a plan

Have you ever sat down to study and thought, “Now what?” If you are like I was when starting the program, you may even then subsequently waste time trying to figure out where to start with the boatload of material to review. Whether you are just starting the program or preparing for your board examination, it is crucial to establish a study plan to avoid this situation. A plan will help to keep you on track and prevent the need for “cramming” in any area. A plan will also help reduce the stress associated with the daunting workload.

For your didactic year, I would recommend creating a month-by-month study plan as assignments and other items may come up. For PANCE review, you can establish a plan for as much time as you have before your test date. When establishing your plan, it is important to be realistic about the time certain tasks will take. Underestimating the time needed will cause you to get behind quickly. You also need to allot appropriate time for sleep, as an adequate sleep schedule is pertinent to promoting success and reducing burnout.

If you’re unsure of how to create a PANCE study plan, here are a few tips to get you started:

If this task feels overwhelming, I highly recommend using a PA study planner as well. This online tool curates a study schedule for you, which can save a lot of time. It is user friendly, individualized, and useful for both didactic year and board review.

3. Boost your confidence

You got into PA school for a reason. You’ve done what it takes to get this far, so whether it is your first semester preparing for your first exam or you’re on your way to taking your board examination, the same applies. Confidence is key to reducing test anxiety. The best way to establish confidence is by adequately preparing yourself. If you spend time effectively reviewing the material, you will be ready to succeed on exam day.

One way to help boost confidence is by taking practice questions. Test preparation companies including Rosh Review create PA student Qbanks that you can use to study for your exams. When preparing for my exams, I would use Rosh Review to stimulate the testing environment with timed mock examinations. This helps to establish time-saving techniques while answering questions, so you are prepared for exam day.

If you’re interested in learning more about the power of taking a mock exam before exam day, check out this 9-minute clip from the Rosh Peak Performance course:

You know what they say: “Two heads are better than one!” Studying with peers can also be helpful to collaboratively review coursework and quiz each other. In a more formal review setting, working with a PA tutor has proven to be effective for many students in helping them succeed in both the didactic setting and on the board examination.

4. Practice your test-taking habits

Whether you’re a didactic student or heading into your PANCE, your test-taking strategies should remain the same. PA programs often simulate the multiple-choice and timed setting seen on the board examination to help students practice these techniques.

Before you get to the exam, clear your head and call upon the confidence you’ve built while studying. Avoid cramming for the test, especially reviewing “last minute” materials as this oftentimes can increase anxiety and even cause confusion during the exam. When I was in PA school, students often chatted about topics with each other before entering the room before the exam. After I realized that this last-minute talk only helped to further worry me, I used that time to sit in a quiet area away from the pretest chatter. This time can be spent listening to calming music, practicing breathing techniques, or using positive affirmations to remind yourself that you are ready to be successful.

I could go on and on in regards to test-taking strategies, but I will highlight a few that I believe will not only aid in your success but also help reduce anxiety during the exam. Even the most prepared students can fall victim to changing their answers. You have heard it before, but to reiterate, go with your first choice! Second-guessing yourself is a product of anxiety. In addition, you have roughly one minute per question on the board examination and oftentimes this criterion is mirrored during didactic exams. If there is a question you are unsure of, skip it and come back to it later. This way you do not find yourself speeding through the end of the exam and perhaps making mistakes on questions you would not have struggled with otherwise.

In conclusion

If you can implement the above strategies, you will be ready to combat any exam. Give yourself time to make these adjustments and focus on weekly goals to get yourself on track. Use the many resources available to help expedite this process, and lean on your support system when you need an extra boost!

More than 85% of PA programs in the U.S. use Rosh Review Qbanks. Whether you’re looking for free PANCE practice questions or approaching your PANCE exam date and want to try a PANCE question bank, Rosh Review has something for you along your PA journey.