Celebrating 30 Years of PACKRAT®
Now marking its 30th anniversary, PACKRAT® continues to be a cornerstone of PA education, supporting student self-assessment and program evaluation across the core clinical areas. While the exam has continued to evolve, its purpose has stayed steady: provide a rigorous, comprehensive tool that helps students gauge their knowledge and helps programs understand curricular strengths.
Built to Evolve
PACKRAT by the Numbers
- Over 300 programs administer the exam each year, representing about 95% percent of programs.
- More than 21,000 exams have been administered so far in 2025; the year-end total is projected to be nearly 26,000.
- More than 50 educators have served multi-year terms as volunteer members of the development board, demonstrating the depth of commitment and sustained, long-term stewardship of the exam.
PACKRAT’s format and delivery have changed significantly over the years. Early versions were distributed on paper and returned with printed answer explanations. Today, the exam is delivered online and includes detailed scoring reports that break down performance by content area, task area, and missed-item keywords. Each year, a new version of the exam is created based on a content blueprint and detailed topic list developed by experienced PA educators and national exam experts, specifically for PA programs. The structure remains consistent: 225 multiple-choice questions, administered in either proctored or unproctored settings. Once the new version reaches 300 administrations, national statistics are added and updated weekly.
As Michel Statler, DMSc, MLA, PA-C, one of the exam’s original creators, notes:
“The transition to providing keyword feedback allows students to take ownership of their own learning. Rather than reading the correct answer to one question on one exam, keyword feedback prompts the student to revisit a particular topic and the associated task area so that their understanding is broadened.”
The People Behind the Work
Each year’s exam is the result of extensive peer review and the collective effort of dedicated PA educators whose commitment has shaped PACKRAT from its earliest versions to the present.
Jennifer Feirstein, current chair of the PACKRAT Exam Development Board, reflects:
“Being a part of the PACKRAT Exam Development Board has been a highlight of my career. Every year, I feel such a sense of pride for the collective work of this group in the production of a rigorous, comprehensive, and inclusive tool that is so widely utilized by PA students and member programs.”
Looking Ahead
As PACKRAT marks its 30th anniversary, the exam’s continued use and evolution reflect the dedication of the educators and students who have shaped it. The focus remains on continual refinement and on supporting both students and programs with a high-quality, comprehensive tool.
For questions, contact exams@PAEAonline.org.
