PA-S --> PA-C. I Passed My Boards 🎉 (& If I Can Do It, You Can Too)
- Katie Johnson
- Sep 2
- 3 min read
I did it. I officially passed my boards.
If you know me, you know I wasn’t the kind of student pulling straight A’s. I wasn’t always the top of the class, the one who made things look effortless. But what I am is a hard worker, devout Christian, & I have an amazing support system. & that’s what got me through.
If you’ve ever doubted yourself, I hope my story encourages you: you don’t need to be “perfect on paper” to succeed.
I took my boards in Durham, NC at 2pm. (personally, I think afternoon test times are a cruel joke. My brain is sharpest in the morning, so waiting all day definitely threw me a bit.) I went in feeling relatively confident, but when I walked out… I cried in the parking lot. I was sure I failed.
Fast forward about three agonizing days later—I PASSED. Here is the NCCPA Verification Website you can check to see if you've passed. It seems to update in real time. I was so nervous about checking my scores that morning that my boyfriend slipped away to check this website, saw I was board certified, & then told me to check because he already knew I had passed. He's the best.
📚 Tools & Resources I Used
Here were the tools I used building up to my actual boards.
Cram the PANCE. Honestly, this helped me out THE MOST. I wish I had gone through every single one of his videos in the days counting up, but I had to be strategic about my time. I am forever grateful for Scott.
UWorld question sets. I tried to expose myself to as many questions as I could. Here is my performance before my exam. I had already used my one-time reset button.
According to chat, this is how the breakdown of scores pans out
<55% → ⚠️ At risk. Needs more review. Passing still possible, but tighten weak systems.
55–60% → 🤔 Borderline. Some people pass, some don’t. Focused review + practice
test strongly recommended.
60–65% → ✅ Likely to pass. This is the common “safe floor” most programs look for.
65–70% → 💪 Solid zone. Strong chance of not just passing, but with cushion.
70–75%+ → 🚀 Very safe. Typically correlates with above-average PANCE scores.
>80% → 🧠 Flex zone. You’re basically the friend people text in panic before exams.
PANCE Prep Pearls. My school had Dwayne come and walk us through a week long board prep with him. That was helpful, but after he left, I didn't really touch the books again unless I needed to look up something specific.
Practice Exams:
This shot my confidence. I was ready to move my boards back, but held out to take another one a week later.
Had me feeling better.
Half PANCE Practice Exam - this was highly recommended to me as it's known to reflect the score you'll get +/-20 points. After taking this, I cemented in my mind that I was ready to take boards, but needed to continue studying until time came.
If I can do this, you absolutely can too. & if you’re gearing up for boards right now & already feeling the stress: you’ve got this. Truly.
I’d love to help however I can - so don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, study tips, or anything else you think I might be able to help with. I’m a newly certified PA-C, so this isn’t professional advice, just one PA sharing what worked for me. I’ve been in your shoes, & if I can make your journey even a little bit easier, that’s what I'd like to do. Just leave a comment here or on the PA School section & I'll be sure to get back to you. God bless ♡ ♡
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