Positive Passage Rates for Physician Assistant Graduates Taking Certification Exam

The Physician Assistant Studies program in Borra College of Health Sciences has announced the pass rates of graduates who have taken the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).

The first-time pass PANCE rate for the Class of 2024, who graduated in December, is 93%, according to results shared by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

One hundred percent of Dominican University’s PA graduates who were part of program cohorts two through six have passed the PANCE, program leaders said. The seventh cohort represents the Class of 2024.

Upon passage of the PANCE, PAs are issued NCCPA board certification.

 The exam can be taken a total of six times during a six-year period, according to NCCPA.

“Dominican University's first-time and overall PANCE pass rates continue to surpass national averages across all accredited PA educational programs," said Dr. Julia Sonnichsen, program director of Physician Assistant Studies. “These results are directly related to Dominican University's PAS Program's dedication to providing a relationship-centered approach to graduate medical education.”