FirstPassPA vs UWorld PA
UWorld is one of the best-known names in board prep, with a polished app and richly illustrated explanations. FirstPassPA is the lower-cost, lower-commitment alternative with a much larger bank and an AI tutor. Here is how they compare on the specs.
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 UWorld PA if…
- A strong, trusted brand and a very polished mobile app.
- Detailed explanations with custom illustrations and images.
- A widely used interface many students already know from other UWorld exams.
Choose FirstPassPA if…
- Far lower price and a true monthly plan ($14.99/mo) with a full-access 7-day no-card trial — UWorld PA is fixed-length access from around $279, and its free trial is limited to 60 questions.
- A much larger question bank (7,200+ vs 2,050+) with all seven EOR rotations included.
- An AI tutor that explains any answer in plain language, plus a 514-diagnosis review library and free public sample content.
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 FirstPassPA cheaper than UWorld PA?
Yes. FirstPassPA is $14.99/month or $129.99/year with a full 7-day no-card trial, while UWorld PA starts around $279 for a fixed 90-day window (its own free trial is limited to 60 questions). FirstPassPA is the lower-cost, lower-commitment option; UWorld's strengths are its brand and app polish.
Does UWorld PA have more questions than FirstPassPA?
No. As of July 2026 FirstPassPA has 7,200+ questions versus about 2,050 in UWorld's PA bank, and FirstPassPA also includes all seven EOR rotations.
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.