Physician Assistant Practice Test

Physician Assistant Questions and Answers

An advanced-degree holder who is qualified to give direct patient care is known as a physician assistant (PA). Practice with the free Physician Assistant practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (500+ questions with answer explanations).

• Acquire a bachelor’s degree.
• Decide on a PA program.
• Apply to PA schools.
• Finish your PA degree program.
• Succeed on the licensure test.
• Start a career as a medical assistant.

Physician assistants make an average yearly pay of $113,717 in the United States.

The typical length of time to graduate from a physician assistant program is two years.

A physician assistant, or PA, is a qualified healthcare provider who has received training in patient assessment, education, and healthcare services. In order to give a patient the medical treatment and direction they require, a PA collaborates with a physician.

PAs are not medical professionals, but they are certified in advanced practice.

Except for Puerto Rico, all jurisdictions where PAs are licensed allow them to prescribe medicine.

Any bachelor’s degree in healthcare will do as long as you pass the following prerequisite courses: ethics, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, biology, statistics, and quantitative methods. A minimum of three years or 2000 hours of actual patient care in the clinic are required.

There is no “higher” occupation than another. While both NPs and PAs are employed in the healthcare industry, their backgrounds, training, and roles vary. 

At www.breeze.ca.gov, you can renew your license online or email the Board at paboard@dca.ca.gov to get a hard copy of the application. Make your payment payable to the Physician Assistant Board with a check, money order, or cashier’s check.

PAs typically work in hospitals and doctor’s offices. PAs cannot practice independently even if they do have a lot of autonomy in their position. Under a doctor’s guidance, they can make diagnoses for diseases and injuries, write prescriptions, carry out surgeries, and create treatment programs.

Similar to doctors, physician assistants receive their training in the medical model; therefore, they concentrate on the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of the patient’s ailment. Nurse practitioners are educated under the nursing paradigm; therefore, they concentrate on the patient’s disease-related testing, diagnosis, and treatment.

PAs frequently choose to go by their first name. With their last name, some people prefer Mr. or Ms., while some physician assistants go by the title PA (as in “PA Smith”). Asking your provider how you should approach them is fine.

Physician assistants get $57.12 on average per hour in pay.

When used in that context, the word “physician assistant” does not need to be capitalized because it refers to a profession or line of activity. However, it should be capitalized if you are using the term “physician assistant” to refer to a particular physician assistant or the official name of a medical assistant program.

A bachelor’s degree, completion of a number of science prerequisite courses, a predetermined number of hours spent providing direct patient care, a master’s degree from a program accredited by the ARC-PA, a state license, and a passing score on the national certification exam are all requirements for becoming a physician assistant.

Typically, science-related undergraduate majors like biology, chemistry, and biochemistry are the top choices for physician assistants.

All six of the AAPA’s requirements are met by Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Vermont, giving these states the best options for PAs seeking a flexible work environment.

National PA Week is held annually from October 6-12 to honor the work of PAs and everything they do for the medical community.

A PA must enroll in a specialized medical education course that is part of a medical school curriculum and includes both classroom and clinical training.

The typical PA puts in 40 hours per week of full-time employment.

• Comply with the requirements of a recognized program.
• Take and pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam.
• To become a licensed physician assistant in California, submit an application to the Physician Assistant Board of California.
• Keep your license valid.

Within the healthcare sector, a career as a physician assistant can be quite gratifying. It suits you if you want to help others and are interested in a fulfilling job that makes a difference in your community.

Work environments for physician assistants in the healthcare industry include outpatient clinics, hospitals, and doctors’ offices.

No, a PA cannot run their own practice. Every PA must be under the direction of a qualified doctor (either M.D. or D.O.).

As of May 25, 2026, the salary for a dermatology physician assistant is $135,007 on average; however, the range is frequently between $102,997 and $160,344.

• Comply with the admissions requirements for the Texas physician assistant programs for licensure
• Perform the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam)
• Submit a license application to the Texas Board for Physician Assistants
• Keep your Texas license active

An individual who treats patients with typical medical issues is known as a primary care provider (PCP). Doctors are most frequently this person. However, a PCP could also be a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

Although they frequently help doctors during surgical procedures, PAs are not actually qualified to perform surgery.

The PA profession was established in 1967, and there are now more than 168,300 PAs in the United States who interact with more than 500 million patients each year.

In California, a physician assistant makes an average of $126,500 annually.

While a PA must always be under a doctor’s supervision, an MD can practice independently. A PA cannot perform surgery; however, an MD may use a PA’s assistance.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of PAs are happy.

The DEA classifies PAs as “Mid-level Practitioners”+ who are permitted to prescribe restricted substances under state law or regulation. The ability of PAs and other professionals to prescribe banned substances is acknowledged in this category.

White coats are typically associated with doctors; however, they are also frequently worn by medical students, physician assistants, nurses, and nurse practitioners.

In most main specializations, PAs rotate through residency-type rotations.

In Florida, a physician assistant makes an average yearly pay of $105,000.

The typical base income for a physician assistant is $130,263; therefore, those with this credential make +21.78% more money.

Although ZipRecruiter has seen yearly wages as high as $299,500 and as low as $55,000, the median salary for a Surgical Physician Assistant is currently $117,000 (25th percentile), with the highest-earning 10 percent receiving $232,000.

Yes, physician assistants can work abroad. In fact, the flexibility of their profession and the global demand for healthcare services has made it increasingly possible for PAs to work abroad in countries from Chile to Nigeria. The key is being aware of the country’s regulations and healthcare system.

The 173 institutions in the United States that have received accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) offer demanding and thorough academic instruction in various medical areas. Graduate and post-graduate programs are both accredited by ARC-PA.

In Texas, physician assistant salaries can range from $36,000 to $171,500 and are based on a number of variables, including experience, company, bonuses, and tips.

A physician assistant in Michigan will make an average salary of $89,704 per year as of May 27, 2026.

• Pick the Best Florida Physician Assistant Programs to Obtain a License.
• Pass the National Certifying Exam for Physician Assistants (PANCE)
• Submit a Florida physician assistant license application.
• Maintain the license.

National Physician Assistant Day, observed on October 6th every year, served as the launch date for National Physician Assistant Week.

All primary care, specialties, and subspecialties, including labor and delivery, are covered by PAs.

There is still no unsupervised practice allowed in Florida.

A bachelor’s degree in medical assisting, biology, or a closely related discipline is required before you may apply to become a dermatology physician assistant (PA). Experience working as a Spa Esthetician or in another cosmetology-related position is advantageous. After that, you must enroll in a master’s program for PAs.

Getting a physician assistant license requires a lot of hard work and dedication. To become a licensed physician assistant, you will need to complete an accredited Physician Assistant educational program, pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), and obtain licensure from your state’s medical board or licensing agency.

When it comes to healthcare, physician assistants (PA) play a crucial role in everything from reducing emergency room wait times to boosting access to primary care and enhancing elderly patients’ care.

Yes. To offer the professional service they are licensed to perform, a physician assistant may establish their own practice.

A PA can submit a request for a long-term Adderall, Ritalin, a prescription for chronic pain relief, or any prescription that was started in the past by the patient’s doctor.

Unfortunately, PA school is difficult before you even begin. Because before applying to schools, individuals must have some clinical experience.

A master’s degree and prior patient care experience are requirements for physician assistants.

Certainly, with extra education, a physician assistant may become a medical director.

A physician’s assistant (PA) provides many of the same diagnostic, preventative, and health maintenance services.

A physician assistant can open a medical spa if their state of practice permits it.

According to the AAPA, one in every four PAs participates in research. According to Nol Smith, Senior Director of PA and Industry Research and Analysis for the AAPA, “PAs may take on leadership positions in a lot of different ways, and research is one of those.

Clinically equivalent to physician treatment, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants can offer early abortion services.

The majority of scope requirements are set by the state, prohibiting independent practice by the PA.

As of 2026, the use of PAs has extended internationally across a range of health systems, and at least sixteen nations have expanded the use of nonphysician clinicians who are similar to PAs and work under the direction of a doctor: Physician Assistants in Canada.

Doctor of Science in Studies for Physician Assistants (DScPAS) You will be equipped to assume leadership positions in healthcare administration, education, public health, global health, research, and practice thanks to this adaptable online Ph.D. program.

You require a degree and a PA license in order to be hired on a part-time basis as a physician assistant (PA).

All PAs who work in clinical settings should maintain professional liability insurance, often known as malpractice insurance, at all times.

At least one doctor must be in charge of each PA.

Approximately $61.65 is the average hourly wage for AFC Urgent Care Physician Assistants in the US, 29% more than the national average.

• Knowledge, competence, and dedication are necessary for becoming an aesthetic physician assistant. You must complete your schooling first. You might need to initially become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or possibly a Registered Nurse, depending on the laws governing aesthetic medicine. As an Aesthetic Physician Assistant, you might even be able to obtain qualifications that will help you develop in your profession (APA). Experience comes after you have completed the academic requirements for this career path.
• Training primarily pertaining to aesthetic medicine itself comes next. Many organizations provide courses in Botox/facial fillers and laser treatments that instruct physician assistants in these particular specialties; certification usually requires a significant amount of classroom study as well as practice time under supervision.
• Finally, one must be committed and passionate about what they do in order to devote time to perfecting all facets of patient care related to aesthetic medicine: from offering excellent consultations prior to treatment planning through follow-up visits after treatments are finished – APAs must aim for excellence at every turn.

• Earning a bachelor’s degree.
• Successfully completing a graduate program.
• Obtain OPA Certification.
• Obtain a license.
• Comply with CEU requirements and keep your license.
• Make progress in the field.

• Hire a PA who is qualified.
• Examine local rules and laws.
• Come to a practice arrangement.
• Understand how PAs are paid.
• Obtain malpractice insurance.
• Include your PA in the business.

For physician assistants, here are seven relevant side jobs:

• Medical surveys. Even though they are often a low-paying alternative, surveys are a common side business.
• Telemedicine.
• Teaching.
• Content creation.
• Public speaking.
• Tutor.
• Health coach.

Here are some pointers for organizing a productive shadowing experience:

• Establish contact: Speak with nearby PAs or medical practices that specialize in the fields that interest you. Inquire if they provide any shadowing opportunities or if they’re aware of any other companies or agencies that do.
• Make yourself ready: Before contacting anyone, do some background research on the speciality you are interested in as well as some background research on PAs. This will able you to ask intelligent questions when you speak with possible mentors or coworkers about how to set up a shadowing opportunity with them.
• Show initiative and follow through: Being proactive can help you land an opportunity.
• Express appreciation and value learning experiences by reflecting on what was learned during each encounter, recording those moments in writing or digitally afterward, and, last but not least, always expressing gratitude whenever possible by thanking everyone involved for their support and willingness to spend time helping further develop the necessary skills.

As with other medical professionals, working as a physician assistant will be demanding and stressful. You are essentially in charge of your patient’s lives in this capacity. Given the work environment, you may experience stress even when you provide patient care while working under a doctor’s supervision.

A medical assistant typically dresses in scrubs. Medical assistants are occasionally advised to add an additional layer of warmth, such as a long sleeve shirt or t-shirt underneath their scrubs.

In addition to doing minor procedures, they also take notes, administer therapy, educate and counsel patients, and prescribe certain medications.

Someone with excellent interpersonal abilities, sensitivity and compassion, a commitment to patient care, problem-solving skills, and the capacity to perform well under pressure.

In no way. There are more employment being produced in the rapidly expanding industry of health care.

Patient education is a priority for PAs as an allied health professionals, along with nurse practitioners, midwives, nurse anesthetists, and others.

Physician assistants are now called physician associates, and their professional association is called the American Academy of Physician Associates.

In order to do their duties effectively, physician assistants frequently need to be on call.

Yes, PAs are respected. Because they are educated professionals who are frequently more accessible to patients than MDs or DOs, also, they are knowledgeable and skilled in their fields of expertise.

A PA degree indicates wealth status. Certified PAs can expect to earn a median annual salary of $105,000 and an average compensation of $115,000, putting them in the top 25% of all American wage earners.

A physician assistant with the AFSC or other specific identification who graduated from AMP and is qualified to offer medical care to flight and SOD personnel in line with AFMAN 48-149 is known as an aeromedical physician assistant (APA). They do shop visits and fly the airframes their clinic services without interfering.

Australia is home to a limited number of PAs working in both the private and governmental health care industries.

Medical students can benchmark shelf exam readiness with our free NBME Subject Exam practice test — covering Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Psychiatry, and Family Medicine.

Medical assistants can prepare for the AMT certification exam with our free RMA Registered Medical Assistant practice test — covering clinical procedures, anatomy, pharmacology, and administrative duties.

International medical graduates can prepare for the Australian Medical Council multiple-choice exam with our free AMC MCQ practice test — covering clinical medicine, surgery, and community medicine.

CAOP ophthalmic candidates often also prepare with our ABO NOCE practice test for the optics, lens theory, and clinical measurement fundamentals both ophthalmic certification programs assess.

Physician Assistant Exam at a Glance

What changed for Physician Assistant in 2026

• Oct 28, 2026: Registration opens (PANCE) changed to 180 days before expected program completion (previously 180 days before program completion).^[1]
• Oct 28, 2026: Testing window (PANCE) changed to Jan 2 – Dec 18, 2026 (and Jan 2 – Dec 18, 2027) (previously Year-round: Jan 2 – Dec 18, 2026 (and Jan 2 – Dec 18, 2027)).^[4]
• Oct 28, 2026: Renewal (PA-C certification) changed to 100 CME credits per 2-year cycle plus maintenance fee; PANRE or PANRE-LA by end of year 10 ($350) (previously 100 CME credits + maintenance fee every 2 years; PANRE or PANRE-LA every 10 years ($350)).^[3]

According to National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, “To be eligible for PANCE, you must graduate from an entry-level PA program accredited by ARC-PA.”^[1]

Physician Assistant content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official Physician Assistant content outline published by National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through Physician Assistant questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which cell type produces surfactant in the lung?

1. Type II pneumocytes
2. Type I pneumocytes
3. Clara cells
4. Goblet cells

Answer: A. Type II pneumocytes

Explanation:

Type II pneumocytes make and secrete surfactant. Surfactant lowers surface tension inside the alveoli, which keeps them from collapsing at the end of expiration. That is why premature infants with immature type II cells develop respiratory distress.

Type I pneumocytes are thin, flat cells that cover most of the alveolar surface and handle gas exchange, but they do not make surfactant. Clara cells, now often called club cells, sit in the small airways and secrete protective proteins and help detoxify inhaled substances. Goblet cells make mucus in the larger airways.

Rule to remember: when a question asks which cell makes a product, match the product to the location. Surfactant comes from the alveolus, mucus from the larger airways, and gas exchange comes from the thin type I cells.

Example 2

Question: A 28-year-old woman with galactorrhea and amenorrhea has a 6-mm pituitary adenoma and prolactin of 150 ng/mL. What is first-line therapy?

1. Transsphenoidal surgery
2. Cabergoline
3. Octreotide
4. Pituitary radiation

Answer: B. Cabergoline

Explanation:

This woman has the classic picture of a prolactin-secreting adenoma: galactorrhea, amenorrhea, a small 6-mm tumor and a prolactin of 150 ng/mL. A dopamine agonist, preferably cabergoline, lowers prolactin, restores menstrual function and shrinks most tumors, so it is first-line.

Transsphenoidal surgery is kept for patients who do not respond to medication or cannot tolerate it. Octreotide is a somatostatin analog used mainly for growth hormone-secreting tumors, so it does not fit here. Pituitary radiation is a later option for tumors that stay uncontrolled after medication and surgery.

Rule to remember: for a prolactinoma, start with medication, not the operating room. Use surgery or radiation only when drug therapy fails.

Example 3

Question: An ICU patient with septic shock has low total T3, elevated reverse T3, and a low-normal TSH. What is the most likely diagnosis?

1. Central hypothyroidism
2. Nonthyroidal illness (euthyroid sick) syndrome
3. Subclinical hypothyroidism
4. Hashimoto thyroiditis

Answer: B. Nonthyroidal illness (euthyroid sick) syndrome

Explanation:

Severe illness lowers the conversion of T4 to active T3 in the tissues and raises reverse T3. The TSH often stays low-normal. This pattern, called nonthyroidal illness or euthyroid sick syndrome, is an adaptation to critical illness rather than true thyroid disease.

Central hypothyroidism would be suspected if free T4 were low with an inappropriately low TSH and a pituitary or hypothalamic cause, and it would not be defined by a raised reverse T3. Subclinical hypothyroidism means a raised TSH with a normal free T4. Hashimoto thyroiditis usually shows a raised TSH and thyroid antibodies.

Rule to remember: do not diagnose or treat thyroid disease from tests drawn during acute critical illness. Treat the illness and repeat the tests after recovery.

How to use these practice tests

Start by reading the official NCCPA content outline so you know which body systems carry the most weight. Then take one of our practice sets cold, without notes, to see where you stand. Do not worry about the score at this stage. What matters is the list of topics you missed.

1. Pick the body systems where you missed the most questions and work through the matching set on this page, such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine, musculoskeletal or neurological.
2. After each set, read every explanation, including those for questions you got right. Write down the rule behind each miss in a sentence of your own.
3. Return to your weakest areas after a gap of a few days and repeat them. Spaced repetition works better than a single long cram session.
4. Use the general sets, such as clinical knowledge, pharmaceutical therapeutics and formulating a diagnosis, to practise mixed questions that cross body systems, which is closer to how the real exam feels.

Our questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions, so treat them as practice for reasoning, not as a preview of what will appear. In the final days, stop adding new material. Review your notes, confirm your test center and ID requirements on the NCCPA site, and rest.

Free Physician Assistant Study Tools

Interactive Physician Assistant resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• Free Physician Assistant General Information Questions and Answers — 16 questions with instant scoring and answer explanations
• Physician Assistant flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• Physician Assistant study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• Physician Assistant cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Sample Physician Assistant Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free Physician Assistant practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. What materials are collected by the Physician Assistant History Society?

   • A. videos, movies, songs
   • B. books, novels, poems, plays
   • C. papers, manuscripts, magazine and newspaper clippings, newsletters, reports, dissertations, oral histories
   • D. recipes, cooking tips, meal plans

Answer: C. papers, manuscripts, magazine and newspaper clippings, newsletters, reports, dissertations, oral histories

The PA History Society collects written and recorded historical materials—papers, manuscripts, magazine and newspaper clippings, newsletters, reports, dissertations, and oral histories. The other options (videos/songs, novels/poems, recipes) are not the documentary records used to preserve the profession's history.

Answer: C. 10 years

PAs must pass the PANRE every 10 years to maintain their NCCPA certification.

Answer: D. January 17, 2002

The Society for the Preservation of Physician Assistant History was incorporated on January 17, 2002. The other dates are close but incorrect—this specific founding date is the documented one.

Answer: A. Dr. J. Jeffery Heinrich

Dr. J. Jeffery Heinrich was the first elected president of the Society for the Preservation of Physician Assistant History. The other names are not the documented founding leader of the organization.

Take the full Physician Assistant practice test

Sources & last verified

1. National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants — exam fee, delivery, eligibility, registration opens (official source). “You must submit an application and $550 payment when applying for PANCE.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 19, 2026.
2. National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants — retake policy, score release (official source). “All applicants can take PANCE once in a 90-day period or three times a year, whichever is fewer.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 19, 2026.
3. National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants — validity, renewal (official source). “The 10-year certification maintenance process includes five two-year cycles.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 19, 2026.
4. National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants — testing window (official source). “January 2, 2026 – December 18, 2026” Verified Nov 1, 2026 · source checked Nov 1, 2026.
5. National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants — other (official source). “cardiovascular system 11%” Verified Nov 1, 2026 · source checked Nov 1, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.