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Exam Blueprint
Exam Dates
RegistrationThe following table represents an approximation of the breakdown of questions on the PA Entry to practice certification examination. This is intended as a guide only and the actual PA Cert Exam may vary slightly from this ideal.
PACCC PA Cert Exam Blueprint (2022)
General Examination Format
| Number of questions |
250 questions |
| Question Format |
Multiple-choice, four-option only |
| Question Presentation |
Standalone questions only |
| Cognitive Levels |
Knowledge, Application, and Critical Thinking |
Systems based Weighting
|
|
Weighting* |
| Cardiovascular |
10.00% |
| Dermatology |
6.00% |
| Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat |
6.00% |
| Endocrine & Metabolic |
9.00% |
| Gastrointestinal |
10.00% |
| Genitourinary |
7.00% |
| Immune & Hematology |
4.00% |
| Infectious Disease |
4.00% |
| Mental Health |
9.00% |
| Musculoskeletal |
10.00% |
| Neurological |
8.00% |
| Obstetrics/Gynecology |
7.00% |
| Respiratory |
10.00% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA) Weighting
|
Weighting* |
|
| EPA1: Practice patient-focused, safe, ethical, professional, and culturally competent medical care across the healthcare continuum. |
7.00% |
| EPA2: Obtain histories and perform physical examinations, demonstrating clinical judgement appropriate to the clinical situation. |
12.00% |
| EPA3: Formulate clinical questions and gather required clinical evidence to advance patient care; and communicate those results to the patient and medical team. |
12.00% |
| EPA4: Formulate and prioritize comprehensive differential diagnoses. |
12.00% |
| EPA5: Develop and implement patient-centered, evidence-based treatment plans within the formalized physician, clinical team, and caregiver relationships. |
12.00% |
| EPA6: Accurately document the clinical encounter, incorporating the patient’s goals, caregiver goals, decision-making, and reports into the clinical record. |
5.00% |
| EPA7: Collaborate as a member of an inter-professional team in all aspects of patient care, including transition of care responsibility. |
5.00% |
| EPA8: Recognize a patient requiring immediate care, providing the appropriate management and seeking help as needed. |
10.00% |
| EPA9: Plan and perform procedures and therapies for the assessment and the medical management appropriate for general practice. |
8.00% |
| EPA10: Engage and educate patients on procedures, disease management, health promotion, wellness, and preventive medicine. |
7.00% |
| EPA11: Recognize and advocate for patients concerning cultural, community, and social needs in support of positive mental and physical wellness. |
5.00% |
| EPA12: Integrate continuing professional and patient quality improvement, life-long learning, and scholarship. |
5.00% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
The following are sample questions which are provided to give the candidate an indication of the style and level of questions on the exam. They do not appear on the exam.
1. What produces a blowing, high-pitched, decrescendo diastolic murmur along the left sternal edge toward the apex?
(1) aortic stenosis
(2) aortic regurgitation
(3) mitral stenosis
(4) tricuspid regurgitation
System – Cardiovascular
EPA – EPA 2
2. A 60-year-old male presents to the clinic with a 2-week history of palpitations. His physical exam was unremarkable except for his pulse rate, which was irregular at 76 bpm. The EKG showed irregular supraventricular rhythm with absent P-wave.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
(a) atrial fibrillation
(b) second-degree heart block
(c) supraventricular tachycardia
(d) ventricular fibrillation
System – Cardiovascular
EPA – EPA 4
3. A 35-year-old male presents to the medical clinic with a 1-day history of severe epigastric pain. He has anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. His abdomen is non-rigid, and there is no rebound tenderness. The laboratory work done is remarkable only for a serum lipase of 2300 mmol/L.
What is the most likely cause of this patient’s pain?
(a) acute pancreatitis
(b) acute cholecystitis
(c) acute myocardial infarction
(d) acute peptic ulcer disease
System – Gastrointestinal
EPA – EPA 4
4. What is the drug of choice to treat pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila?
(a) penicillin
(b) amoxicillin
(c) ceftriaxone
(d) erythromycin
System – Respiratory / Infectious Disease
EPA – EPA 9
5. Which indices on CBC would the physician assistant expect to be elevated in a person with a parasitic infection?
(a) monocytes
(b) neutrophils
(c) eosinophils
(d) lymphocytes
System – Infectious Diseases
EPA – EPA 3