ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ

Make A Meaningful Impact on Patient Care

As a ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ Physician Assistant Program student, you will enjoy wide-ranging academic experiences and hands-on clinical practice. Our faculty are dedicated educators and experienced healthcare providers. At ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ, we educate students to become clinically competent physician assistants who care for the whole patient - respecting diversity and delivering 'patient-centered' care that is ethically sound.

Premier Learning Experiences, Clinical Rotations & Research Opportunities

ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ's Master of Science in Physician Assistant Program is a 27-month program that begins in January and graduates in May. During the first 15 months of the graduate program, students benefit from the expertise of ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ's premier faculty through lectures, practical lab sessions, case presentations, problem-based learning sessions and off-campus clinical interactions. (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules training and certification is provided to every student. The program concludes with a clinical training year, involving clinical rotations in healthcare facilities. In addition, students will learn how to interpret medical literature and research studies, and how to apply these to clinical practice.

Why Choose ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ's Physician Assistant Program?

• Collectively, ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ's Physician Assistant Program faculty members have more than 120 years of clinical practice experience.
• ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ's Physician Assistant Class of 2024 has a 100% Pass Rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).
• 94% of ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ's Physician Assistant Program graduates who have taken the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) in the past five years have passed it on their first attempt.
• 99% of ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ Physician Assistant Graduates have passed the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE).
• Students entering the program as freshmen can earn their B.S. and their M.S. in only five years.
• Top-notch classroom, lab and clinical learning facilities and resources in the Boyle Health Sciences Center.
• Small classes allow students to work directly with faculty members in a supportive environment.
• ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ’s Physician Assistant Student Society provides both undergraduate and graduate students in the Physician Assistant Program with opportunities for community service and attendance at statewide conferences.

Your Career as a Physician Assistant

The job outlook for physician assistants is strong, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects it to grow much faster than the average. In 2023, physician assistants earned an average of $130,020 per year. The job growth outlook for the Physician Assistant profession is projected to be 28% higher than other careers for the period of 2023-2033.

Career Services for Life

ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ’s award-winning Career and Professional Development Center will work with your faculty advisors to provide you with the career preparation skills and placement services you need. Should you ever need them after you graduate, the Center’s services will remain available to you as a ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ alumni.

Accreditation Status of the Program

 At its March 2024 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) placed the ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ University on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in March 2026. 

Probation is a temporary status of accreditation conferred when a program does not meet the Standards and when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened.

Once placed on probation, programs that still fail to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and/or risk having their accreditation withdrawn.

The ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ University Physician Assistant Program is scheduled for a focused site visit in advance of the March 2025 commission meeting. This visit will evaluate the PA Program and institutional progress in addressing specific citations identified during the most recent commission review of the PA Program. Failure of the PA Program and institution to demonstrate significant progress in addressing these citations is likely to result in the withdrawal of accreditation. Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to the Program Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s).

The School of Natural & Health Sciences and ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ’s Physician Assistant Program are actively addressing the concerns raised by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). In every academic program, all of us at ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ are dedicated to making students fit for the world in which they'll live by preparing them with the highest quality education.

FAQs About Accreditation

If I’m a current student in the ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ University PA Program (Class of 2024 or Class of 2025), will I graduate from an accredited program and be able to take the PANCE?

Yes. ARC-PA defines a student as graduating from an accredited program if the program was accredited at the time of matriculation. 

If I joined the ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ University PA program in January of 2024 (Class of 2026), will I graduate from an accredited program and be able to take the PANCE?

Yes. ARC-PA  defines a student as graduating from an accredited program if the program was accredited at the time of matriculation. 

What happens if in March 2026 ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ University PA does not come off probation? Will I still graduate and be able to take the PANCE?

Yes. ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ University PA has the full support of the University and School of Natural Health and Sciences and intends to remain accredited, without probation, in March 2026. In the event this is not the case, the program will continue to teach the current students through graduation and students will still be able to take the PANCE.

Why is ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ University PA on probation?

The ARC-PA provides an overview to ensure students are best prepared for clinical practice.  This temporary status allows us time to make program improvements, and to make sure that we are doing things in alignment with expectations of the ARC-PA.  Specific to ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ University, citations received largely concerned the structure of Learning outcomes and instructional objectives in measurable terms for each didactic and clinical course that would guide student acquisition of the required competencies. 

Additionally, the accreditation commission requires a more robust assessment of student outcomes and the effectiveness of administrative processes. This effort is also already underway, as the program has begun working with an external consultant to improve its assessment processes and its evaluation of how students meet the learning outcomes of the program and thus become ready for clinical practice.  

Will the accreditation action affect my ability to obtain employment?

Employers look for board-certified PAs and rely heavily on recommendations and references from the program’s faculty and preceptors. ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ University PA maintains strong relationships with its clinical partners and preceptors who provide excellent training. ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ University PA has maintained excellent job placement at 6 months of graduation based on the graduate survey data for 10+ years. The program is committed to supporting its students by providing high-quality clinical rotations and facilitating job placement.

Will I be able to obtain a state license to practice?

Yes. PA licensure requirements vary by state requirements, but most states are congruent on graduating from an accredited program. For example, Pennsylvania licensure states one must “have graduated from an accredited program,” then pass the licensure exam, and be certified by NCCPA. The definition of “graduate from an accredited program” will apply to students who matriculate to the program when it is accredited.

Is ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ University accredited overall?

Yes. ÇÑ×ÓÊÓƵ University is accredited by the Middle States Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.