Physician Assistant Program - Quinnipiac University Academic Catalog

Program Contact: Timothy Ferrarotti 203-582-7782

The Physician Assistant program, which leads to a Master of Health Science, educates qualified individuals to be highly skilled licensed healthcare providers who practice team-based medicine in collaboration with physicians, in a number of healthcare facilities ranging from private practices to tertiary care hospitals. This program fosters the development of compassionate and professional healthcare providers who embody the competencies of the PA profession. These competencies include medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, patient care, professionalism, practice-based learning and improvement, and systems-based practice. The PA program measures our students' attainment of our competencies using entrustable professional activities (EPAs) that correspond to the clinical and technical skills expected of new graduate PAs.

The vision of the Physician Assistant program at Quinnipiac University is to graduate physician assistants who are dedicated to providing quality healthcare by fostering teamwork, critical thinking skills, high ethical standards, and respect for diverse patient populations.

Quinnipiac is a member of the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA).

At its September 2023 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) placed the Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Quinnipiac University on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in September 2025.

Probation accreditation is a temporary accreditation status initially of not less than two years. However, that period may be extended by the ARC-PA for up to an additional two years if the ARC-PA finds that the program is making substantial progress toward meeting all applicable standards but requires additional time to come into full compliance. Probation accreditation status is granted, at the sole discretion of the ARC-PA, when a program holding an accreditation status of Accreditation - Provisional or Accreditation - Continued does not, in the judgment of the ARC-PA, meet the Standards or when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened.

Once placed on probation, a program that fails to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and is subject to having its accreditation withdrawn.

Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to the Program Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s).

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-quinnipiac-university/.

Review Accreditation FAQs on our website or the Accreditation tab.

MHS Physician Assistant Program of Study*

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Summer Semester		Credits
PY 503	Principles of Interviewing	3
PY 507	Principles of Electrocardiography	1
PY 508	Diagnostic Methods I	2
PY 521	Human Anatomy	3
PY 521L	Human Anatomy Lab	2
PY 522	PA Success Skills	1
PY 550	Physiology and Pathophysiology for PA	5
	Credits	17
Fall Semester
PY 505	Clinical Pharmacology I	2
PY 506	Principles of Medicine	6
PY 514	Diagnostic Methods II	1
PY 518	Physical Diagnosis	3
PY 518L	Physical Diagnosis Lab	1
PY 520L	Clinical Decision Making	1
PY 572	Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases	3
	Credits	17
Spring Semester
PY 504	History, Roles and Responsibilities of the PA	1
PY 509	Principles of Obstetrics and Gynecology	3
PY 510	Principles of Pediatrics	3
PY 511	Principles of Surgery and Emergency Medicine	4
PY 512	Psychosocial Issues in Healthcare,Psychosocial Issues in Health Care	2
PY 513	Behavioral Medicine	3
PY 516	Clinical Pharmacology II	2
	Credits	18
Second Year
Summer Semester
PY 526	Principles of Epidemiology	3
PY 548	Ethics in Healthcare Delivery 1	2
PY 553	Transition to the Clinical Year	1
PY 652	Medical Writing & Biostatistics for PA	3
	Credits	9
Clinical Rotations
PY 611	Clinical Residency I	3
PY 612	Clinical Residency II	3
PY 613	Clinical Residency III	3
PY 614	Clinical Residency IV	3
PY 615	Clinical Residency V	3
PY 616	Clinical Residency VI	3
PY 617	Clinical Residency VII	3
PY 618	Clinical Residency VIII	3
PY 619	Clinical Residency IX	3
	Credits	27
Third Year
Summer Semester
PY 608	Graduate Seminar	3
PY 676	Comprehensive Examination	2
PY 648	Ethics in Health Care Delivery II	1
	Credits	6
	Total Credits	94

*The curriculum for the Physician Assistant program is subject to modification as deemed necessary to maintain a high-quality educational experience and keep current with best practices in the profession.

In addition to the intensive classroom study during the first year, students are introduced to the clinical application of their training by being paired with a licensed healthcare professional one half day a week. This is designed to facilitate application of the skills and knowledge acquired in the classroom setting to the care of the patient.

PY 611-PY 619: All students must complete seven core rotations (clinical residencies) and two elective rotations. The core rotations are: emergency medicine, general surgery, inpatient internal medicine, primary care (family medicine and outpatient internal medicine), pediatrics, psychiatry, and women's health. Supplemental electives include a wide variety of medical, surgical and pediatric subspecialties. Students should expect that clinical rotations will often occur at facilities more than an hour travel distance from the university and may include out-of-state placement, requiring them to obtain temporary housing closer to the clinical site.

Requirements for Graduation

Upon successful completion of the 27-month Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant program, students are granted a Master of Health Science and a certificate of completion as a physician assistant. Students are expected to complete all requirements in 27 months. Students must meet all of the following requirements:

Satisfactory completion of the PA curriculum requirements (including academic, clinical, medical writing, clinical logging, professionalism and community service requirements).
Satisfactory completion of the PA program core competencies and essential learning outcomes; attaining the required level of entrustment for all core and non-core entrustable professional activities.
Satisfactory completion of all PA course requirements.
Satisfactory completion of the capstone comprehensive examination.
A cumulative GPA of at least 3.00/4.00.

Student Learning Outcomes - Program Competencies

Upon completion of the Physician Assistant program, students will demonstrate the following competencies:

Medical Knowledge: Demonstrate a knowledge of biomedical and clinical sciences and apply this knowledge to patient care in a variety of clinical setting as an entry-level practitioner.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Possess the ability to safely and effectively communicate with various populations, including but not limited to other healthcare providers, members of the healthcare team, patients and their families.
Patient Care: Be able to provide cost-effective, equitable, high-quality patient care in a variety of settings as an entry-level practitioner.
Professionalism: Demonstrate the attributes of a high-quality healthcare provider, and be able to apply an ethical framework in medical decision-making, practice evaluation, and their altruism to their profession, community and society.
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement: Be able to evaluate, assess and critically analyze their patient care practices.
Systems-Based Practice: Demonstrate an awareness and responsiveness to all aspects of the healthcare system.

The PA program measures the attainment of these competencies through entrustable professional activities (EPAs). Students must be entrusted at specific, predetermined levels for core and non-core EPAs.

Mission Statement

The mission of Quinnipiac University’s Physician Assistant program is to increase access to quality health care through the education and development of caring, knowledgeable and competent physician assistants who are dedicated to:

Clinical Competence—Developing highly qualified healthcare providers who demonstrate an investigative and analytic approach to clinical situations and provide care that is effective, safe, high quality and equitable.
Professionalism—Providing care with respect, compassion and integrity with a commitment to excellence and ongoing professional development.
Interprofessionalism—Preparing students for a team-based care system through interprofessional education.
Leadership—Working effectively with healthcare professionals as a member or leader of a healthcare team or other professional/community group. Mentoring and developing future leaders within the profession and the community.
Community Engagement—Demonstrating responsibility and accountability to patients, society and the profession through active community involvement and volunteerism.
Cultural Humility—A state of openness toward understanding and respecting important aspects of other people’s cultural identities. This requires an awareness of one’s personal and professional beliefs, biases, attitudes and actions that affect patient care and a commitment to ongoing professional development.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion—Demonstrating awareness, acceptance and accountability in creating a diverse, inclusive, equitable and just community, built upon awareness, acceptance, respect and compassion toward others.

Vision

Graduate physician assistants who are dedicated to providing quality healthcare by fostering teamwork, critical thinking skills, high ethical standards, and respect for diverse patient populations.

Core Values

The PA program core values reflect a commitment to the ethical concepts that guide the PA profession. They stand as the program’s pledge to the profession as well as the patients, families and communities with which the PA students engage.

These core values include:

Excellence—A commitment to teaching excellence and championing quality, patient-centered, evidence-based healthcare in an innovative and supportive learning environment that fosters the student’s personal effectiveness.

Accountability—Demonstrating responsibility to students, the university, patients, society and the PA profession utilizing a continuous process improvement system.

Integrity—Honesty and adherence to the highest standards of professional behavior and ethical conduct.

Teamwork and Collaboration—Building respectful partnerships within the university and the community to transform the healthcare system.

Advocacy and Equity—Seeking to eliminate disparities and barriers to effective, quality health care through patient advocacy and advocacy of the PA profession.

Intellectual Curiosity—Exhibiting self-reflection, intellectual curiosity and initiative, critical thinking and the enthusiastic pursuit of lifelong learning within a supportive environment that encourages research and scholarly work.

Wellness — Promoting an environment of personal health and wellness and mindfulness in the care of self and others.

Admission

The Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant program believes that excellence is inclusive and built upon equity. We recognize that all members of society deserve the best healthcare possible and this is most effectively provided by a diverse healthcare team. We are committed to admitting qualified individuals using a holistic evaluation. The program seeks students who possess intellectual capacity, personal maturity, communication and interpersonal skills.

The Physician Assistant program is a full-time program; there is no part-time status. The program does not accept transfer credits, advanced placement in the program, applications for challenge examinations or credits for experiential learning. The program does not accept graduates of foreign medical school or domestic medical school programs.

Admission to the program is highly competitive. Candidate applications are evaluated for the following factors: overall GPA, science GPA, prerequisite GPA, quality of academic program/load, commitment to organized sports and work, evidence of academic grit, several years of sustained high-level collegiate academic achievement or overcoming a major adversity followed by several semesters of sustained high-level collegiate academic achievement, direct patient care hours and experience, physician assistant shadowing, community service involvement, leadership activities, quality of narratives, letters of reference, performance on the Casper assessment, evidence of professional memberships and history of scholarly (published) activity.

Following this comprehensive application review, the most qualified candidates are invited for on-campus interviews and activities with program faculty, alumni and community partners. Those with the highest overall performance on the application and interviews are offered admission until the complete cohort of 54 students matriculates.

Interested students must possess, at a minimum:

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a nationally recognized institution
An overall GPA of at least 3.20 (includes all undergraduate and graduate coursework)
An overall science GPA of at least 3.20 (includes all undergraduate and graduate science coursework)
A combined GPA of at least 3.20 on the following required prerequisites:
- Four semesters of courses in biology (credits must be in mammalian or human biology), including one semester of microbiology and two semesters of human anatomy and physiology. All these courses must include labs.
- Three semesters of courses in chemistry with labs, including one semester of organic chemistry (with lab) or biochemistry
- One semester of pre-calculus, calculus or statistics
- All prerequisites must be completed at a regionally accredited institution in the United States or nationally recognized institution in Canada within ten years of the date of application
- Prerequisite labs must be completed through an on-campus course (not online)
  - COVID exception (Prerequisite labs that were changed to an online format and completed between the start of Spring 2020 and the end of Fall 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will be accepted. Online labs prior to Spring 2020 or after Fall 2021 will not be accepted.)
All academic requirements must be completed prior to September 1 of the year of application
A minimum of 2,000 hours of direct patient care experience in the United States or Canadian healthcare system. The program values the exposure of direct, patient-facing, hands-on healthcare careers rather than those that lack physical contact with patients. Examples of hands-on experiences that we consider toward the minimum 2,000 hours include: EMT/paramedic, certified nurse’s aide, medical assistant, patient care assistant, orthopedic technician, athletic trainer, radiology technologist, respiratory therapist, registered/licensed practical nurse, licensed clinical social worker, surgical technician, pharmacy technician, military medic, physical therapist/aide and occupational therapist/aide. Examples of experiences that we do not recognize toward this include: lab technician, patient transport technician, massage therapist, personal trainer, medical secretary, life coach, lifeguard and patient sitter. Scribe or clinical research coordinator positions that offer a majority of hands-on patient activities, like those assigned to a medical assistant, do count; scribe and coordinator positions only permitting observation and record-keeping do not.
Scores from the Acuity Insights Situational Judgement Test (Casper). The Acuity Insights Situational Judgment Test (Casper) is only offered on certain dates. Applicants may submit the CASPA application prior to taking the Casper exam. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure the Casper test is completed prior to the September 1 application deadline. Applicants may contact Acuity Insights, CASPA or the Office of Graduate Admissions for more information. Repeat applicants must take a new test each year.
Scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) if the applicant received a bachelor’s degree from a non-English speaking country
Scores from Graduate Record Examination are not required

Entry-Level Master's Physician Assistant Program

Quinnipiac has an undergraduate direct entry program whose students have different requirements for entry into the MHS in Physician Assistant program.
- Entry-Level Master's Physician Assistant (ELMPA) students are required to document 1,000 hours of direct patient care experience before they matriculate into the graduate program.
- Most ELMPA students are not second-career applicants like the CASPA applicants and are less likely to have certifications such as radiologic technologist, registered nurse or paramedic; as a result, the program considers a broader range of allowed direct patient care experiences for ELMPA students. Examples of these allowed direct patient care experiences can be found on that program's admissions page.
- ELMPA students all meet the minimum course prerequisites but are required to complete more higher-level courses than CASPA applicants. More information about the course schedule can be found on that program's curriculum page.
- To enter the graduate PA program, ELMPA students must meet all progression standards and ELMPA curricular requirements.
- In their senior spring semester, ELMPA students must complete an application and participate in interviews of the same format as CASPA applicants; they must also take the same situational judgment test. Their applications are reviewed with a similar rubric as for CASPA applicants, but the results of this process for these ELMPA students are formative and do not influence their admission into the graduate program. ELMPA students who complete all of the ELMPA program requirements have a guaranteed seat in the graduate program.
- Our faculty participates in the admissions interviews of high school seniors who are applying for entry into the ELMPA program.
Our graduate PA program has 54 seats available each year and approximately one-half of those spots are reserved for ELMPA program graduates (2020 - 26; 2021 - 33; 2022 - 35; 2023 - 26; 2024 - 25).

The Quinnipiac Physician Assistant program participates in the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Go to caspa.liaisoncas.com for more information regarding the application process and fees. All applications, transcripts, references and other supporting materials are submitted directly to CASPA. Go to my.acuityinsights.app/signin to complete the Acuity Insights Situational Judgement Test (Casper). Note that these tests are offered only on certain dates and it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the tests are completed prior to the application deadline, September 1. Applicants may contact Acuity Insights, CASPA or the Office of Graduate Admissions for more information.

PA Program Technical Standards

The Physician Assistant program is a rigorous and intense program that places specific requirements and demands on the students enrolled in the program. The PA certificate/master of health science degree signifies that the holder is prepared for entry into the practice of medicine. It follows that the graduate PA student must have the skills and knowledge to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and to render a wide spectrum of patient care. The technical standards set forth by the physician assistant program establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills and competencies of the physician assistant profession as well as to meet the expectations of the program’s accrediting agency:

Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA)

3325 Paddocks Parkway, Suite 345
Suwanee, Georgia 30024
Phone: 770-476-1224
Fax: 470-253-8271

All students entering the graduate Physician Assistant program at Quinnipiac University must be able to meet the established abilities and expectations of the PA program technical standards. Students must possess ability, aptitude and skills in the following areas: observation, communication, motor, intellectual-conceptual-integrative, behavioral, social and physical. PA students must be able to meet the requirements and worker attributes of a physician assistant as defined by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration’s Occupational Information network (O*NET) Handbook. In the event a student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, they will not be admitted or may be dismissed from the program.

Students matriculating into the PA program are required to verify they understand and meet the technical standards. Verification of understanding includes the student reading, thoroughly reviewing with their medical provider, signing and returning a copy of the Technical Standards Agreement to the program prior to arrival on campus in the summer semester.

A listing of the technical standards for the PA program can be found on the program’s website. Both the student and medical provider must sign the document and return it to the PA program prior to the start of class.

Background Check and Drug Screen

To ensure their safety and maintain high quality care of patients, clinical affiliates of the university require students to have a criminal background check. All students entering the Quinnipiac University PA program are required to undergo a criminal background check (through the university vendor) prior to beginning classes and prior to beginning the clinical year. Students are required to obtain a drug screen prior to entry into the pre-clinical experience and again prior to the clinical phase. These are mandatory components of the program. In addition, PA students may be required to undergo a criminal background re-check and/or a drug screen prior to any of their clinical rotations. The results are made available to the student through their own personal and secure online portal. The cost of the criminal background check and any re-checks and/or drug screens is the responsibility of each individual student.

Modifications

The curricular and other requirements for the professional courses in the program are subject to modification as deemed necessary to maintain a high-quality educational experience and keep current with best practices in the profession.

Additional Program Costs

The Physician Assistant program requires some expenses that go beyond standard university tuition and fees. Most of these costs can be included in your financial aid requests and awards. Some of these costs include:

Miscellaneous Costs

The following items are “miscellaneous” components of the Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant Program. Please note that these items have been budgeted for as part of the estimated budget for the program, which is submitted to the federal government. It is from this estimated budget that federal student loans are determined. The program would like to remind students of these miscellaneous costs and fees since they are not listed as a specific line item, but included with other items in your proposed QU PA program budget.

Professional Memberships

The Quinnipiac PA program requires all its students to join the Connecticut Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Physician Assistants. The work of both organizations has made the PA profession what it is today and both continue to advocate for improvements in PA practice and patient care. The cost of both memberships has been factored into student budgets and financial aid packages.

Immunization/Health Insurance

All students must provide proof of immunizations and complete required screenings and health assessments upon admission into the program and at various times throughout the program. Costs: variable (the student should check with their insurance carrier).

Students must have health insurance throughout their time at the program and must show proof of healthcare coverage. Health/medical insurance is offered through the university’s insurance agent; students may enroll or opt out of this coverage. Details are sent to students upon acceptance into the program.

Liability Insurance

All students have liability insurance coverage through the university, free of charge, while performing required clinical activity. Students may choose to purchase additional coverage at their own expense.

Copying Costs

Tuition and fees at Quinnipiac University do not include copying costs. The program provides electronic copies of the PA Program Student Handbook, Clinical Rotation Handbook and course syllabi. In addition, numerous lectures/notes and other resources are posted on Blackboard. If the student desires a printed copy of any program resources it is their responsibility to incur the associated costs. The estimated cost of photocopying/printing is $0.10 per page.

Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required by the program in order to attend pre-clinical experiences in the second semester. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is required by the program prior to entering the clinical phase of a student’s training. Students must have both BLS and ACLS certification that is valid through the end of their second year (the clinical year). Students may choose to attend training set up by the QU PA program or a self-arranged training as long as it meets the requirements as outlined by the QU PA program. The estimated cost of the ACLS program is $250-$350. This cost is figured into the overall estimated PA program budget and is NOT included in the student tuition and fees. The course is offered on site, at the university and is taught by certified instructors. Each year there are a minimum number of registrants necessary in order for the course to be held. If there are not enough students registered by the deadline, it is left up to the students to secure their own training at another facility. Once in the program, all students must provide documentation of successful completion of BLS and ACLS by a specified due date or they cannot go to or continue in clinical rotations. Students do not need to provide proof of BLS and ACLS certification upon entering the program.

Background Checks

All students entering the PA program will be required to have an initial background check through the university-approved vendor (Exxat). The PA program will also require a background recheck and a drug screen prior to entering the clinical year. Additionally, certain clinical rotation sites may require an additional check prior to the student rotating at their institution.

The approximate cost for the initial background check is $63 for all domestic addresses for the past seven years or $158 for students who have resided in New York state in the last seven years due to NY state surcharge. After the initial background check, the cost for each recheck required is $32 (or $143 for NY state residents).

Students must review the criminal background check policy in the University Catalog.

Drug Screening

Students may be required to obtain a drug screen prior to entry into the pre-clinical experience and will be required to obtain a drug screen prior to entry into the clinical phase, and periodically thereafter at the request of clinical sites, during the graduate program. Cost: $43.25 per test. Students must review the drug screen policy in the University Catalog.

Exxat Compliance Software

Students will be required to pay for the initial fee (approximately $35.00) and yearly continuance ($10.00) for the Exxat APPROVE vendor, which the university uses to manage the health requirements. The system allows for completion and compliance checks, storage and distribution of the students’ health requirements without involvement of the program. The prices are subject to change.

Clinical Education Travel (ex: gas, parking, public transportation)

Costs for transportation, vehicle maintenance, parking, travel and housing are the responsibility of the student. Costs: variable

Certification Examination Costs

Upon successful the completion of the program (after graduation), students will be eligible to register for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), administered through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Students may register for this during the final months of the program and are responsible for the registration fees associated with the exam.

Other Costs

Students that have a delayed graduation (“late finishers”) may incur additional costs and fees.

There may be other costs associated with the Graduate PA program. Information regarding tuition and fees can be found on the program’s website

Accreditation

Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to the Program Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s).

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-quinnipiac-university/.

7-2024 Updates:

Quinnipiac University, the School of Health Sciences and the Physician Assistant (PA) program acknowledge the importance of the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The program and institution have made several changes and will continue to comply with the necessary requirements from the ARC-PA. The program and institution are committed to do what is needed to ensure our next program review by the ARC-PA results in the restoration of Accreditation-Continuing status.

Since the last update on February 14, 2024, the team of institutional, school and program faculty and administrators have:

Hired a new full-time, 12-month administrative assistant for the PA program who joined the team in early May 2024.
Completed interviews to identify the best applicants for the new full-time, 12-month Coordinator of Program Data and Assessment position for the PA program. The most qualified applicant started in the full-time position on July 1, 2024.
Completed interviews to identify the best applicants for the new full-time, 12-month principal faculty position for the PA program. This position will share responsibility for PA student academic coaching and remediation. The most qualified applicant is expected to join the team at the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester.
Met biweekly to allow for open communication and to assess the progress of remediating the deficiencies identified by the ARC-PA and to assist with other program initiatives.
Worked with our external consultants with expertise in PA program accreditation and ongoing programmatic assessment. These consultants meet biweekly with the program assessment team.
Met with clinical partners to create new and expand existing clinical experiences for our students. As a result, we gained a number of family medicine rotation sites.
A faculty member participated in an ARC-PA Accreditation Standards Focus Group in March 2024.
School leadership attended the ARC-PA Institutional Support Workshop on April 17, 2024.

The PA program faculty, the dean of the School of Health Sciences and the administration of Quinnipiac University are deeply committed to the continued success of our program and the delivery of high-quality Physician Assistant education to our top priority — our students. Our next report, a modified self-study report, is due to the ARC-PA on February 1, 2025. We are actively working on this document with our external consultants.

2-14-24 Updates:

Quinnipiac University, the School of Health Sciences and the Physician Assistant (PA) program acknowledge the importance of the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) and its placement of the PA program on Accreditation-Probation status in October 2023. The program and institution have already made several changes and will continue to comply with the necessary requirements from the ARC-PA. The program and institution are committed to do what is needed to ensure our next program review by the ARC-PA results in the restoration of non-probationary status.

Since the last update on December 18, 2023, the team of institutional, school and program faculty and administrators have:

Submitted the required citation response document to the ARC-PA on February 1, 2024.
Reviewed applicants and held interviews for a new full-time, 12-month administrative assistant position for the PA program with the goal of bringing this new staff member on board as soon as possible.
Reviewed applicants and held interviews for a new full-time, 12-month Coordinator of Program Data and Assessment position for the PA program with the goal of bringing this new faculty member on board as soon as possible.
Hired a visiting faculty member who is acting as the interim Coordinator of Program Data and Assessment during the search of the new full-time, 12-month position in the Spring 2024 semester.
Approved and posted a new full-time, 12-month principal faculty position for the PA program. This position will share responsibility for PA student academic coaching and remediation. The search committee is actively hiring for this position.
Met weekly to allow for open communication and to assess the progress of program goals.
Met with our external consultant with expertise in PA program accreditation and ongoing programmatic assessment. The consultant led a two-day intensive assessment workshop and is meeting weekly with program faculty.
Met with clinical partners to create new and expand existing clinical experiences for our students.
Continued to demonstrate excellent student outcomes on the first-time Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) with a pass rate of 96% in 2023, exceeding the national average of 92%.
Supported PA faculty to attend ARC-PA Accreditation and Self-Study Workshops in January 2024. The PA program director also participated in ARC-PA New Site Visitor Training in December 2023 and a faculty member has been invited to participate in an ARC-PA Accreditation Standards Focus Group in March 2024.

The PA program faculty, the dean of the School of Health Sciences and the administration of Quinnipiac University are deeply committed to the continued success of our program and the delivery of high-quality Physician Assistant education to our top priority — our students. Our next report, a modified self-study report, is due to the ARC-PA February 1, 2025. We are actively working on this document with our external consultant.

12-18-23 Updates:

Quinnipiac University, the School of Health Sciences, and the Physician Assistant program acknowledge the importance of the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) recent placement of the PA program on Accreditation-Probation status. The program and institution have made several changes and will continue to comply with the necessary requirements from the ARC-PA. The program and institution are committed to doing what is needed to ensure that our next review by the ARC-PA results in restoration of the non-probationary status.

Since the notification by the ARC-PA, the team of institutional, school and program faculty and administrators have:

Submitted a detailed description of the process used to notify students and applicants as required by the ARC-PA.
Submitted the annual report for the program as required by the ARC-PA (December 14, 2023).
Approved and posted a new full-time 12-month administrative assistant position for the PA program. The search committee is actively hiring for this position.
Approved and posted a new full-time 12-month Coordinator of Program Data and Assessment position for the PA program. A search committee has been developed.
Approved and posted a new full-time 12-month Director of Clinical Education and Experiential Learning position. The search committee is actively hiring for this position.
Hired a visiting faculty member to serve as Interim Coordinator of Program Data and Assessment in the PA program for one year to provide immediate support to the program.
Organized weekly meetings comprised of program faculty, leadership and the dean’s office to allow for open communication and to assess goal progress.
Contracted and hired an external consultant with expertise in PA program accreditation and ongoing programmatic assessment. The consultant has onboarded our program and is meeting weekly with program faculty.
Enacted plans and completed work on many of the requirements of the ARC-PA such as updating syllabi for clinical rotations.

We would also like to note that we have received numerous statements of support from PA alumni and PA clinical partners that attest to the quality of the PA program and the excellence of our PA students and PA graduates. We will continue to provide updates regularly on our progress.

The PA program faculty, the dean of the School of Health Sciences, and the administration of Quinnipiac University are committed to the continued success of our program and our priority: our students.

Review our Accreditation FAQs:

The School of Health Sciences and Quinnipiac University fully support the Physician Assistant Studies Program and are actively addressing the concerns raised by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). We remain committed to student success and delivering a high-quality, nationally ranked program.

What is accreditation and why is it important for academic programs?
Accreditation is a voluntary process academic programs engage in to ensure they are offering high-quality education as defined by the standards set forth by the accrediting body (ARC-PA). This process is important because it provides an opportunity to regularly assess our program by internal and external Physician Assistant educators to identify strengths and areas for continuous improvement.

Is a program on Accreditation-Probation status still accredited?
Yes, the Physician Assistant program at QU remains accredited. Accreditation-Probation is a temporary accreditation status to allow programs to make improvements more closely aligned to ARC-PA standards.

How will the Accreditation-Probation status affect the ability of QU to support newly admitted students and current students in this program?
The program will continue its longstanding practice of delivering high-quality education to enable students and graduates to flourish as physician assistants.

How will the Accreditation-Probation status affect future entering classes?
The Physician Assistant program remains accredited and is permitted to admit students on our regular admissions cycle.

How will the Accreditation-Probation status affect the curriculum and clinical experiences?
There will be no changes to the length of time to graduate, course sequencing or additional classes required as a result of this status change. The program will continue to deliver high-quality didactic instruction and clinical experiences for every student in the program. As supported by the ARC-PA, the program has and will continue to make improvements to the student experience to ensure our students and graduates flourish and are well prepared to enter modern medicine practices.

How does the program’s Accreditation-Probation status affect my degree from QU?
There is no effect on your degree. When you meet the degree requirements of the program, you will be awarded a degree as scheduled.

If the program is on Accreditation-Probation status, can I take the PANCE?
Yes. The program is accredited, which allows all program graduates to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). For more information on QU program PANCE pass rates, please visit the MHS page
https://www.qu.edu/schools/health-sciences/programs/masters-degree/physician-assistant/accreditation-and-policies/

Can I apply for licensure if the program I graduated from is on Accreditation-Probation status?
Yes. The primary requirements for licensure are graduation from an accredited program and NCCPA certification. Our Physician Assistant program remains accredited.

Will the Accreditation-Probation status affect my ability to get a job upon graduation?
No, this will not impact your ability to gain employment upon graduation. The Physician Assistant program is accredited, and all students who complete their degrees will graduate from an accredited program.

How does the Accreditation-Probation status affect program alumni?
This temporary status will not affect licensure or certification of alumni.

If I have questions about what the program was cited for to place it on Accreditation-Probation status, where can I find that information?
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.
https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation/accreditation-actions/

How long is the temporary Accreditation-Probation status?
The temporary accreditation-probation status is a status initially not less than two years. That status may be extended for up to an additional two years if the program is making substantial progress toward meeting all applicable standards but requires additional time to come into full compliance.

Will my admission to ELMPA still guarantee me a seat in the graduate physician assistant studies program?
Yes, you have a seat in our graduate program as was promised to you. This temporary status gives us time to respond to what the accrediting body is asking us to do. You will emerge stronger than what we already are as a nationally ranked program with impressive outcomes.

How can I be updated on the action items and progress being made over the next two years?
We remain committed to open communication and transparency during this process. We will be updating our students regularly and are developing a website location where our community can be updated on our action items, progress and status.

Will students get regular updates about the Physician Assistant program accreditation status?
Yes, students will be updated regularly until the next ARC-PA decision in 2025.

Is there any change to the Physician Assistant program requirements and curriculum?
No. Physician Assistant program requirements and curriculum will remain the same for all current students.

Whom should I contact if I have any additional questions regarding the program and its plans?
For specific questions regarding this program and our plans, please contact either Physician Assistant Program Director Dr. Timothy Ferrarotti (timothy.ferrarotti@qu.edu) or School of Health Sciences Dean Dr. Janelle Chiasera (janelle.chiasera@qu.edu).