FirstPassPA vs SmartyPANCE
SmartyPANCE pairs a large question bank with didactic courses at a very low annual price. FirstPassPA offers a slightly larger bank with an AI tutor and a low-friction trial. Both are strong budget options — here is how they differ.
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 SmartyPANCE if…
- The lowest annual sticker price of any option here — around $79/year (or ~$99 with ReelDx video).
- Fourteen didactic courses, so you can learn a topic and then practice it in one place.
- A large question bank (~4,500–5,000+).
Choose FirstPassPA if…
- An AI tutor that explains any answer — SmartyPANCE has none.
- A slightly larger bank (7,200+) plus a 514-diagnosis review library and all seven EOR rotations.
- A true monthly plan ($14.99/mo) and a 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
Is SmartyPANCE cheaper than FirstPassPA?
On an annual basis, yes — SmartyPANCE's ~$79/year is lower than FirstPassPA's $129.99/year. But FirstPassPA offers a true $14.99/month plan and a no-card trial for a lower-commitment start, plus an AI tutor SmartyPANCE does not have.
Which has more questions, FirstPassPA or SmartyPANCE?
They are close. FirstPassPA has 7,200+ and SmartyPANCE has roughly 4,500–5,000+ as of July 2026. FirstPassPA also adds an AI tutor and a 514-diagnosis outline library.
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.