PANRE and PANRE-LA: keeping your PA-C certification
Last checked October 16, 2026 · Sources: NCCPA Maintain Certification page and PANRE-LA fact sheet; maintenance fee and CME category detail as summarized by The PA Life and Blueprint PA
Keeping your PA-C certification takes a 10-year cycle made of five two-year periods. In each period you log 100 CME credits and pay a maintenance fee, and by the end of year 10 you must pass a recertification exam: either the proctored PANRE, taken in years 9 or 10, or the PANRE-LA, which asks 25 questions a quarter over years 7 to 9. NCCPA lists the exam registration fee at $350.
How the 10-year PA-C cycle works
| Years | What you do |
|---|---|
| Every two years (years 1-10) | Log 100 CME credits and pay the certification maintenance fee by 11:59 p.m. PT on December 31 of your certification expiration year |
| Year 6 | Apply for the PANRE-LA through your NCCPA Portal, if you choose it |
| Years 7-9 | PANRE-LA: 25 questions a quarter over up to 12 quarters (you may finish in eight) |
| Years 9-10 | PANRE: the proctored exam, if you choose it or didn’t complete the PANRE-LA |
From NCCPA’s Maintain Certification page and PANRE-LA fact sheet, checked October 16, 2026.
PANRE-LA: the longitudinal option
NCCPA adopted the PANRE-LA as a permanent alternative to the traditional PANRE after a two-year pilot. You apply in year 6 of your cycle and answer 25 questions each quarter in years 7 to 9. For every quarter in which you answer all 25, NCCPA awards two Category 1 Self-Assessment CME credits, or three with its 50% self-assessment bonus. NCCPA’s fact sheet notes that PAs due to recertify in 2030 are eligible to apply in 2026, their sixth year. Prep providers describe the PANRE-LA as taken at home and open book, with five minutes per question.
PANRE: the traditional exam
You’re eligible to take the proctored PANRE in years 9 or 10 of your cycle. NCCPA describes it as a four-hour exam of 240 multiple-choice questions in four 60-minute blocks, with 45 minutes of break time and a 15-minute tutorial. NCCPA allows up to two attempts in year 9 and up to three in year 10, with a maximum of four attempts in total, and the registration fee is $350. PAs who don’t complete the PANRE-LA successfully can still take the PANRE before their certification expires. See our exam day guide for test-center rules, which are the same as for the PANCE.
PANRE vs PANRE-LA
| PANRE | PANRE-LA | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Years 9 or 10 | Apply in year 6; questions in years 7-9 |
| Format | One proctored exam at a test center | 25 questions per quarter, at home |
| Fee | $350 | $350, per prep providers citing NCCPA |
| CME credit | None from the exam itself | 2 Category 1 Self-Assessment credits per completed quarter |
| If it doesn’t go well | Up to four attempts across years 9-10 | You can still take the PANRE in years 9-10 |
From NCCPA; delivery details for the PANRE-LA as described by prep providers.
CME and the maintenance fee
Every two-year period needs 100 CME credits logged with NCCPA. According to Blueprint PA’s summary, at least 50 must be Category 1, and the rest can be Category 1 or 2; NCCPA also doubles the first 20 performance-improvement CME credits. The PA Life puts the certification maintenance fee at $180 per two-year cycle. Both payments and CME logging are due by December 31 of your certification expiration year.
If you lose certification
NCCPA says PAs who lose certification can regain it by meeting the CME requirements and passing the PANRE. It also offers a PA-C Emeritus designation for retired PAs, with a one-time $50 application fee and no renewal fee.
Common questions about PANRE and PA-C maintenance
How often do PAs recertify?
By the end of year 10 of your certification maintenance cycle, either through the PANRE in years 9-10 or the PANRE-LA in years 7-9.
When do I apply for the PANRE-LA?
In year 6 of your certification maintenance cycle, through the NCCPA Portal.
How many questions are on the PANRE-LA?
25 questions each quarter, over up to 12 quarters in years 7-9; you may finish in as few as eight.
How many CME credits do PAs need?
100 every two years, logged with NCCPA, alongside the maintenance fee.
How much does the PANRE cost?
$350 for the PANRE, according to NCCPA; prep providers report the same fee for the PANRE-LA.
See also our PA exam guide and PANCE format and scoring. MockTestPrep is independent and is not affiliated with NCCPA.