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Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource
allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet
enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA standards
or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate
continued progress in complying with the standards as it prepares for the graduation
of the first class (cohort) of students.
Process and Requirements for Accreditation
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It
is limited to no more than five years from the matriculation of the first class.
The accreditation process is voluntary and initiated only at the invitation of the
PA program and sponsoring institution. The process is a multifaceted one, involving
extensive review of the program by the program itself, as well as by the ARC‐PA.
A critical component of the accreditation process is that of continuous program self‐assessment.
Continuous self‐assessment is a comprehensive, regular, and analytical process conducted
within the context of the mission and goals of both the sponsoring institution and
the program, whereby a program regularly and systematically reviews the quality and
effectiveness of its educational practices and policies.
Using the Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education (Standards) as the point of reference, the program critically assesses all aspects of itself.
It identifies strengths as well as problems, develops plans for corrective intervention
and evaluates the effects of the interventions. Ongoing self‐ assessment provides
the means by which programs can envision, attain, and maintain quality PA education.
Accreditation Defined
Accreditation is a process of external peer review. In the United States, the accreditation
system is administered primarily by nongovernmental, voluntary organizations that
grant recognition to institutions or specialized programs of study that meet established
qualifications and educational standards. Compliance with such standards is determined
through initial and subsequent periodic evaluations.
The accreditation process:
encourages educational institutions and programs to continuously evaluate and improve
their processes and outcomes
helps prospective students identify programs that meet nationally accepted standards
protects programs from internal and external pressures to make changes that are not
educationally sound
involves faculty and staff in comprehensive program evaluation and planning
stimulates self‐improvement by setting national standards against which programs
can be measured
Accreditation also benefits society by providing reasonable assurance of quality educational
preparation for professional licensure and practice.
Why is ARC-PA Accreditation Important?
The ARC-PA is the recognized accrediting agency that protects the interests of the
public, including current and prospective PA students, and the PA profession by defining
the standards for PA education and evaluating PA educational programs within the territorial
United States to ensure their compliance with those standards.
The ARC-PA philosophy indicates:
High quality education for all physician assistants best serves the interests of both
the public and the PA profession
Continual self-study is the foundation for improving quality in the content and processes
of education
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource
allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet
enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA standards
or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate
continued progress in complying with the standards as it prepares for the graduation
of the first class (cohort) of students.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It
is limited to no more than five years from the matriculation of the first class.
Institutions investigating starting a PA program should review the Provisional section of this web site and contact the ARC-PA for more information.
The ARC-PA accredits only qualified PA programs offered by, or located within institutions
chartered by and physically located within, the United States and where students are
geographically located within the United States for their education.
A single institution must be clearly identified as the sponsor of the program. Sponsoring
institutions applying for provisional accreditation of a new PA program must be authorized
under applicable law to provide a program of post-secondary education. They must
be accredited by, and in good standing with, a recognized regional accrediting agency
and must be authorized by that agency to confer upon graduates of the PA program a
graduate degree.
ARC‐PA commissioners are elected by the ARC‐PA from a slate of nominees submitted
by the ARC‐PA collaborating organizations. Commissioners initially serve a 3‐year
term and are eligible for reappointment for a second 3‐year term. Commissioners receive
no compensation for their services related to the ARC‐PA meetings or site visits.
The role of the commissioner is to support and advance physician assistant education
by active participation in the work of the ARC‐PA. Each commissioner is responsible
for reviewing assigned program materials prior to each commission meeting. This may
include applications and evaluation reports, or reports requested from programs as
a result of previous commission accreditation actions/review. Commissioners are to
complete the required review, providing documented evidence of independent review
of all materials, as well as evidence to support final recommendations and decisions.
During the commission meeting, the commissioners are responsible for presenting their
independent review to the entire commission and participating in the review, discussion
and designation of accreditation actions for all programs on the meeting agenda.
The accreditation process requires a program to complete a Self‐Study Report (SSR)
based on its self‐ assessment process as well as a detailed accreditation application
in advance of an onsite evaluation (site visit) by ARC‐PA prepared site visitors.
The purpose of the site visit is to allow the site visit team to verify, validate,
and clarify the information supplied by the program in its application materials.
The team reviews the program based on the Standards and conveys its findings to the ARC‐PA in light of the evidence presented at the time of the site visit. The team’s observations about the program, in reference to the program’s compliance
with the Standards, are sent to the program shortly after the completion of the site visit.
Within a specified time period after the site visit, programs are invited, but not
required, to respond to any of the observations contained in the site visit summary
in order to eliminate errors of fact or challenge perceived ambiguities and misperceptions.
The response should NOT be used to provide new information regarding changes made
since the visit or plans for changes in response to the observations contained in
the report.
Programs are reviewed by the full commission in March, June and September each year.
Accreditation decisions are based on the ARC‐PA’s review of information contained
in the accreditation application, the report of the site visit by the evaluation team,
any additional requested reports or documents submitted to the ARC‐PA by the program
and the program’s past accreditation history. Additional data to clarify information
submitted with the application may be requested at the time of the site visit. New
or unsolicited information submitted after a site visit is not accepted or considered
by the ARC‐PA as part of that accreditation review.
The ARC‐PA uses a Program Management Portal as a way of maintaining information on
each program. Programs are required to keep their portal data up to date. Annually,
each program is required to submit the Program Required Annual Report to the ARC‐PA
by submitting its updated, accurate, program data electronically. The Portal is used
as a means of notifying programs of reports due to the ARC‐PA and allows programs
to submit such reports via the Portal. The Program Management Portal is checked frequently
by ARC‐PA staff and commissioners, especially prior to commission review of a program.
Therefore, programs must maintain their information within the program management
portal.
Programs that achieve accreditation‐provisional must use the portal to provide an
update to the ARC‐PA about hired program personnel 2 months prior to students beginning
the program. Programs must also provide an updated listing of supervised clinical
practice sites 3 months prior to students entering the supervised clinical education
phase of the program.
Information on how to navigate the Program Management Portal including training videos
and instructions can be found here.
Director of Curriculum Innovation and Evaluation Associate Professor Physician Assistant Studies Department of Family Medicine shebrown@msm.edu (404) 752-1132
PA Curriculum Manager Physician Assistant Studies twillingham@msm.edu (404) 752-1959
Morehouse School of Medicine is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award masters and doctorate degrees.
Questions about the accreditation of Morehouse School of Medicine may be directed
in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using
information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).