Forms related to reporting proposed changes to the ARC-PA are available in the Change Forms section of this site.
Accredited PA Program Question
Does the ARC-PA accredit postgraduate PA programs?
The ARC-PA does accredit clinical postgraduate programs through a different process than accreditation of entry level PA programs. Clinical postgraduate programs are “formal educational programs that offer structured curricula, including didactic and clinical components, to educate NCCPA eligible or certified PA’s for a defined period of time in preparation for practice in a medical or surgical specialty. Programs typically involve full time study of 12-24 months duration and follow several models including fellowships, graduate degree programs, and residency programs.” Information on the clinical postgraduate process can be found here, Postgraduate Accreditation.
How are concerns submitted about a program?
The ARC-PA only investigates concerns about a program when submitted in writing, signed, and related to the program’s compliance with the Standards. Concerns may be sent by email to Complaints@arc-pa.org.
If a program needs to change the date/delay the date of a site visit. What should be done?
Those needing to change the date of a scheduled site visit should contact the ARC-PA Accreditation Services as soon as a need is known. Due to the fact that site visitors are volunteers and the scheduling of site visits is a complex process, programs changing the dates of their visit after they have been confirmed will likely lose flexibility in rescheduling in terms of dates. Programs requesting such changes will be responsible for any and all non-refundable expenses associated with the visit that have been incurred by the ARC-PA.
An agenda change fee will be assessed each time a request is made to be moved to a different agenda. This agenda change must be a request to be placed on a future agenda within two years from the originally scheduled agenda (as availability allows). See Fee Schedule.
If a program would like to engage the services of a consultant. Who would the ARC-PA recommend?
ARC-PA policy prohibits the commission, site visitors or staff from providing consultation services or maintaining or recommending consultants. The ARC-PA staff are available to answer questions regarding accreditation processes and procedures.
If an individual is interested in becoming a site visitor, what is the process?
When needed, the ARC-PA will make an announcement for site visitors on the website and distribute to PA program faculty through email. To become a volunteer site visitor, an individual must apply and undergo the selection process. Site visitors are required to participate in the initial and ongoing site visitor training sessions.
If the program’s PANCE rate is 85% or less, when is the report due?
Any program with a PANCE pass rate percentage of 85% or less must submit an analysis of its PANCE performance to the ARC-PA within six months of when this data is provided by the NCCPA or by July 1 the year following that cohort’s completion, whichever is sooner. The form for reporting PANCE results is available at PANCE Required Report.
Is there a list of when required forms/reports are due and need to be uploaded to the portal?
Please refer to SECTION E: ACCREDITATION MAINTENANCE of the Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education, 5th edition for when certain required forms/reports are due and need to be uploaded to the portal.
Is there a site visit fee for a program applying for continued accreditation review?
There is no interval assessment fee for continuing reviews. It is included in the annual accreditation fee paid by programs.
What are the annual fees for accreditation of a currently accredited program?
A list of ARC-PA fees can be found on the website.
What if a program has students decelerate? Does the program still need to maintain its maximum approved class size?
Yes, the program has to maintain its approved maximum class size. The ARC-PA does allow programs to temporarily increase class size without review by the ARC-PA when the increase is transient and required to accommodate a unique situation such as students that are decelerated in the program (the loss of a student from the entering cohort, who remains matriculated in the physician assistant program). However, programs making this accommodation must notify the ARC-PA via submission of the Explanation for Exceeding Class Size form.
This flexibility is not designed to encourage a program to recruit beyond its approved maximum entering class size. These increases DO NOT modify or reset the ARC-PA approved class size. They are not meant to be continually increased in successive years. The maximum entering class size is approved by the ARC-PA upon review of the program during a comprehensive review or after a change request from the program.
What is the deadline for most current annual NCCPA PANCE Exam Performance Summary Report Last 5 Years and the most current annual student attrition information on a program’s website?
The 5th edition Standard A3.12c and A3.12i states that programs must post the most current annual NCCPA PANCE Exam Performance Summary Report Last 5 Years and the most current annual student attrition information no later than April 1st each year.
What is the process for formally changing the name of a program?
Submit a formal request on official letterhead to Accreditation Services describing the name change and have it signed by the chief administrative officer.
What roles do the four major national PA organizations play in the support of PAs?
Learn the unique roles that the four major national PA organizations play in the support of PAs from the beginning and throughout their careers by watching this video. Learn how they are enabling PAs to deliver high quality, accessible care to their patients.
What should a program do if a specific standard is not clear?
First review the Accreditation Manual for clarification. If there is doubt, after reading the manual, contact Accreditation Services by email.
When programs hire new administrative assistants, is a Change in Faculty form needed?
The administrative assistant needs to be added to the portal. However, a Change In Faculty form is not required.
When should programs notify the ARC-PA about changes in class size?
The Standards require that programs must inform and receive approval required from the ARC-PA using forms and processes developed by the ARC-PA no less than six months prior to implementation of a proposed change in maximum entering class size of any number of students for any reason.
Timelines for a program seeking ARC-PA approval for a change are below:
Forms related to reporting proposed changes to the ARC-PA are available in the Change Forms section of this site.
When will actions taken at the commission meeting be communicated?
Actions taken at commission meetings are usually communicated to programs within four to six weeks after the meeting.
Where would PA programs find the entry-level change forms?
They can be found on the Required Reports and Forms page on the ARC-PA website. This link also includes the Student Attrition Template needed to be placed on the website by programs.
Who should programs contact if questions are not answered by the website and FAQ’s?
For additional questions, submit them to ARC-PA Accreditation Services.
Who should programs contact if there are questions about the accreditation application?
For additional questions not answered by the website, email them to Accreditation Services.
Why would a program be placed on administrative probation?
Accreditation-Administrative Probation is a temporary status granted when a program has not complied with an administrative requirement, such as failure to pay fees or submit required reports. Once placed on Administrative Probation, a program that fails to comply with administrative requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and/or risk having its accreditation withdrawn.
