Physician Assistant Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the Physician Assistant exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 Physician Assistant Exam Format at a Glance
📚 Physician Assistant Topics to Study (69)
✍️ Sample Physician Assistant Questions & Answers
1. A 45-year-old with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease is started on an antidiabetic agent. Which class has demonstrated cardiovascular mortality benefit?
SGLT-2 inhibitors (e.g., empagliflozin) have demonstrated significant reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in large outcome trials.
2. In academic writing, which of the following BEST defines a thesis statement?
A thesis statement presents the central argument the writer will develop and defend throughout the essay.
3. Carpal tunnel syndrome results from compression of which nerve?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel, causing numbness and tingling in the thumb, index, middle, and radial half of the ring finger.
4. A patient with peripheral artery disease has an ABI of 0.55. What does this indicate?
An ABI of 0.41–0.70 indicates moderate-to-severe peripheral arterial disease with significant hemodynamic compromise.
5. Which physical exam maneuver increases the intensity of the murmur of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy?
Valsalva decreases preload and venous return, reducing LV size and worsening outflow obstruction in HOCM, increasing the murmur.
6. A 10-year-old presents with limping and dull hip pain for 3 weeks. X-ray shows flattening and fragmentation of the femoral head. What is the diagnosis?
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease is avascular necrosis of the femoral head in children aged 4–10, presenting with insidious hip pain and radiographic femoral head fragmentation.