FirstPassPA vs BoardVitals
BoardVitals is a broad medical QBank platform covering many exams, including the PANCE, with short-term access plans. FirstPassPA is a PANCE/PANRE-focused study tool with a larger bank, all seven EOR rotations, and an AI tutor. Here is the spec-level comparison.
Side-by-side specs
| Provider | Lowest price | Billing | Questions | EOR | AI tutor | Free trial | Pass guarantee | Mobile app | CME credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FirstPassPA | $14.99/mo or $129.99/yr |
Monthly or annual | 7,200+ | All 7 rotations | ✓ Yes | 7-day, no card | ✓ Yes annual plan |
Installable web app (PWA) | — |
| UWorld PA | $279+ 90–360-day access |
Fixed-length access | 2,050+ | — | ✗ No | 7-day, 60 Q | — | Yes (iOS & Android) | — |
| Rosh / Blueprint PA | $259+ EOR bundle $349; stacks to ~$699 |
Fixed-length access | ~3,800 | Yes (bundle) | ✗ No | Free tier | ✓ Yes | Yes (iOS & Android) | Yes (PANRE QBank) |
| BoardVitals | $79+ 1–6 months |
Fixed-length access | ~1,650 | No | ✗ No | — | ✓ Yes | — | Yes (CME options) |
| SmartyPANCE | $55+ 2-wk to 1-yr; $79/yr |
Subscription | ~4,500–5,000+ | — | ✗ No | — | — | — | — |
| The PA Platform | $199 lifetime course (~$169 w/ code) |
One-time (not a QBank) | Not a QBank | No native EOR | ✗ No | — | — | — | — |
Pricing and features as of July 2026, summarized from each provider's public pages; they change often — confirm current details with each provider. "—" means we could not confirm that detail publicly (not necessarily "no").
When each is the better choice
Choose BoardVitals if…
- A well-known QBank platform spanning many medical and nursing board exams, not just the PANCE.
- Short access windows (1–6 months) if you only need a QBank for a brief final push.
- A pass guarantee on its board-review QBank.
Choose FirstPassPA if…
- A much larger PANCE bank (7,200+ vs ~1,650) built specifically for PA students, plus all seven EOR rotations.
- An AI tutor that explains any answer, a 514-diagnosis review library, flashcards, and free public sample content.
- A true $14.99/month plan (or $129.99/year) with a full-access 7-day no-card trial for the lowest-commitment start.
What PA students say
“It was an awesome tool -Recertifying after being in specialty for the past 20 years was unnerving - but Firstpass PA and a couple podcasts I used during my commute helped me get through. Awesome prep tool and highly recommend to assess strengths and weakness, practice, check progress and ultimately help you achieve positve results. I'm so glad I signed up.”
“I had a week between graduation and my boards, and I hadn't gotten any sort of Qbank prior, and many others were hundreds of dollars, and the free trials included like nothing. FirstPassPA gave all access to the Qbank, blueprints, tests and more. I used this all week, the blueprints were super helpful, and then you could do questions on just one topic, or just one system, or everything. 10/10, definitely recommend, and its affordable whether you do all year, or just a month!”
“FirstPassPA definitely helped me pass my PANRE. I took a few days off work — my husband helped take care of our four children so I could study and do as many practice questions as possible. I've already recommended it to a few coworkers who need to take their PANRE soon.”
Reviewers receive a free month of Pro for any honest review, including critical ones. Reviews are from FirstPassPA members and are shown as written.
FAQ
Does FirstPassPA have more PANCE questions than BoardVitals?
Yes. As of July 2026 FirstPassPA has 7,200+ questions to BoardVitals' roughly 1,650 in its PANCE bank, and FirstPassPA also includes all seven EOR rotations and an AI tutor. BoardVitals covers many different board exams beyond the PANCE, so its catalog is broader across specialties.
Do both offer a free trial?
FirstPassPA offers a full-access 7-day trial with no credit card. BoardVitals' trial availability changes over time — confirm the current offer on its site. Both offer a pass guarantee (FirstPassPA's is on the annual plan; terms apply).
Try FirstPassPA free
7,200+ questions, all 7 EOR rotations, and an AI tutor on every answer. 7-day trial, no credit card.
Start free → See today's free questionHow we compare. Figures above are summarized from each provider's public pages as of July 2026 and are meant as a neutral, spec-level starting point — plans and features change, so verify current details with each company before buying. FirstPassPA is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by UWorld, Rosh Review, Blueprint, BoardVitals, SmartyPANCE, or The PA Platform; all product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. FirstPassPA is also not affiliated with NCCPA; PANCE® and PANRE® are registered trademarks of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.