title: Correlations between PANCE performance, physician assistant program grade point average, and selection criteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine correlations between first-time Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) scores and pass/fail status, physician assistant (PA) program didactic grade point average (GPA), and specific selection criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study evaluated graduating classes from 2007, 2008, and 2009 at a single program (N = 119).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no correlation between PANCE performance and undergraduate grade point average (GPA), science prerequisite GPA, or health care experience. There was a moderate correlation between PANCE pass/fail and where students took science prerequisites (r = 0.27, P = .003) but not with the PANCE score. PANCE scores were correlated with overall PA program GPA (r = 0.67), PA pharmacology grade (r = 0.68), and PA anatomy grade (r = 0.41) but not with PANCE pass/fail.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Correlations between selection criteria and PANCE performance were limited, but further research regarding the influence of prerequisite institution type may be warranted and may improve admission decisions. PANCE scores and PA program GPA correlations may guide academic advising and remediation decisions for current students.
authors.affiliation: Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, USA. gina.brown@wichita.edu
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Brittany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Imel
authors.forename: Alyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: LaDonna S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jansen
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012570:School Admission Criteria