Clinical Postgraduate PA Program Accreditation
At the September 2017 commission meeting, the Commission voted to take the accreditation process for clinical postgraduate PA programs out of abeyance. A taskforce was charged with developing a proposal for a new accreditation process, timeline and standards for clinical postgraduate PA programs. At the September 2019 commission meeting, the Commission approved the Clinical Postgraduate Accreditation Standards, 3rd edition and a revised accreditation process to be effective January 2020.
The clinical postgraduate PA program accreditation process conducted by the ARC-PA is a voluntary one entered into by institutions and programs that sponsor a structured educational experience. The process gives applicant programs the opportunity to demonstrate compliance with the approved accreditation standards. While the process is voluntary, it provides programs an external validation of their educational offering. Additionally, the process offers prospective PA trainees one means by which they can judge the quality of the educational experience offered by the program or institution.
Clinical postgraduate programs that previously received accreditation from the ARC-PA will receive priority in reapplying for accreditation under the revised process. Any clinical postgraduate programs that were not previously accredited may apply for accreditation by submitting a NP & PA Residency Program Accreditation Eligibility/Candidacy Form.
The Four Major PA Organizations
Constituent organizations (COs) are independent organizations affiliated with AAPA. COs are comprised of state and federal chapters, specialty organizations, special interest groups, and caucuses. They provide their members with locally based CME, networking opportunities, social gatherings, timely information, advocacy and job resources.
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) is the accrediting agency that protects the interests of the public and 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.
Imbued with a strong sense of responsibility to assure that PAs meet professional standards of knowledge and skills, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) strives to meet the needs of its stakeholders efficiently, effectively and honorably.
PAEA is the only national organization representing PA educational programs in the United States. Currently, all of the accredited programs in the country are members of the Association. PAEA provides services for faculty at its member programs, as well as to applicants, students, and other stakeholders.