PANCE cost: exam fees, prep and keeping your PA-C
Last checked October 17, 2026 · Sources: NCCPA Become Certified, test day and Maintain Certification pages and its 2025 PANCE presentation; prep prices from Blueprint PA, UWorld and BoardVitals; maintenance fee as summarized by The PA Life
The PANCE cost starts with NCCPA’s $550 exam fee, paid when you apply. Optional NCCPA practice exams cost $50 each, and a question bank adds roughly $199 to $259 or more. After you pass, keeping your PA-C means a certification maintenance fee every two years and a $350 recertification exam (PANRE or PANRE-LA) by year 10. State licensing fees are separate and vary by state.
What the PANCE itself costs
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PANCE application and exam | $550 | Paid with your application; per attempt |
| NCCPA practice exam | $50 each | Optional; built from NCCPA’s item banks |
| Retake | $550 again | Once per 90 days, three times a year, six in total |
| Late arrival | $550 lost | NCCPA says you may forfeit your fee and have to reapply and pay |
From NCCPA’s pages, checked October 17, 2026. Totals are our arithmetic.
What PANCE prep costs
| Option | Price | Access |
|---|---|---|
| NCCPA blueprint and sample items | Free | Ongoing |
| UWorld trial | Free | 7 days, 60 questions |
| BoardVitals | $199 | 6 months |
| Blueprint PA PANCE Qbank | From $259 | 1 year |
| UWorld PA QBank | At checkout; renewals from $150 | 90 to 360 days |
From providers’ own pages, October 2026. BoardVitals’ shorter plans are priced only in an older blog post.
A typical first-time budget
| Budget | Items | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Lean | PANCE $550 + one NCCPA practice exam $50 + free trials | $600 |
| Typical | PANCE $550 + NCCPA practice exam $50 + BoardVitals 6 months $199 | $799 |
| Full year of practice | PANCE $550 + NCCPA practice exam $50 + Blueprint PA $259 | $859 |
Our example totals, using NCCPA’s fees and providers’ list prices. Excludes state licensing fees.
What it costs to keep your PA-C
NCCPA certification runs on a 10-year cycle of five two-year periods. In each period you log 100 CME credits and pay a certification maintenance fee by December 31 of your certification expiration year; The PA Life puts that fee at $180 per two-year cycle. By the end of year 10 you must pass the PANRE or PANRE-LA, which NCCPA lists at $350. CME courses cost extra, though some recertification question banks include CME. See our PANRE and PANRE-LA guide.
Ways to keep PANCE costs down
- Ask your PA program what prep it already provides.
- Use free trials before buying a bank: UWorld gives 60 questions, Blueprint PA 40.
- Study with classmates: Blueprint PA gives up to 20% off for groups of 10 or more.
- Arrive early with both IDs: a missed appointment can cost the full $550.
- Pass first time: every retake is another $550 and at least 90 days.
Common questions about PANCE cost
How much does the PANCE cost?
$550 per attempt, paid when you apply, according to NCCPA.
How much are NCCPA's practice exams?
$50 each, per NCCPA’s 2025 PANCE presentation.
How much is a PANCE retake?
The full $550 again, and you must wait at least 90 days between attempts.
What does it cost to keep the PA-C?
A maintenance fee every two years (reported at $180) and a $350 PANRE or PANRE-LA by year 10, plus the cost of your CME.
See also our cheapest PANCE prep, best PANCE prep and how to register. MockTestPrep is independent and earns no commission from these providers.