Questions related to eligibility requirements for PANCE, please go to the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) website.

If a student’s program loses its accreditation, all students will be informed of the next steps in the process.

For NCCPA certification eligibility requirements, please go to the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) website.

Please go to the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) website for eligibility requirements for PANCE.

The accreditation status for programs will be updated on the ARC-PA website when all business from the commission meeting is finalized, usually within 5-6 weeks following the meeting. If students have questions regarding a program’s accreditation status, contact the program itself.

Actions taken at commission meetings are usually communicated to programs within four-six weeks after the meeting. If students have questions regarding a program’s accreditation status, contact the program itself.

Regarding disabled students, the information can be found in Section A of the ARC-PA Standards on the website here. Specifically, Standard A1.02f addresses student policies consistent with federal, state, and local statutes, rules, and regulations; Standard A1.11d addresses resources that promote inclusion; Standard A3.13e addresses technical standards for enrollment.

ADA accommodations should be worked out with the institution’s internal Office of Disability. If accommodations require a different pedagogical or instructional method, the program must ensure that those students receive equivalent course content, experience, and access to didactic and laboratory materials (Standard B1.04).

For general information about becoming a PA, visit the AAPA Career Central website.

For information on eligibility required to apply for a PA program, please contact specific programs in which prospective students are interested. ARC-PA has a list of accredited programs here.

Questions regarding eligibility for PANCE should be directed to the NCCPA, the entity that administers the exam.

Information regarding the program’s accreditation history can be found on the ARC-PA website. Beyond the information found on ARC-PA website, questions should be directed to the program/institution.

If students still have questions, submit them to the ARC-PA by email.

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) and the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) are the collaborating organizations of the ARC-PA. The AAPA and PAEA nominate individuals from its membership to serve as commissioners on the ARC-PA. Each commissioner serves a three-year term, which is renewable once upon recommendation by the ARC-PA.

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.

Probation is an active accreditation status and those entering a program that is on probation are entering a program that is accredited. In order to be eligible to take the PANCE, students must successfully complete a program that was accredited at the time the student matriculated. It is best to check with the NCCPA concerning exam eligibility criteria.

While accreditation is considered a voluntary process, graduation from an ARC-PA accredited PA program is important for practice as a physician assistant in the United States. Graduation from an accredited program is an eligibility requirement for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physicians Assistants (NCCPA) and for state licensure.

The public may find these resources useful:
The PA Education Association (PAEA)
Physician Assistant EDU – State by State Requirements to Become a PA
American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA)

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.

Information on this and other questions related to non-U.S. health professionals is found in this FAQ section on the page for those Educated Outside USA.

Information on specific state requirements for PA practice should be addressed to the state licensing board of the state in which current PA students are interested in. There is a summary of state laws available on the AAPA website.

The ARC-PA accredited PA programs are listed on the ARC-PA web site, alphabetically by state, along with information on their accreditation status, accreditation actions history, the date the program was first accredited and the next scheduled accreditation review.

Deciding which program to attend is not a simple task. There are many accredited PA programs, sponsored by a variety of institutions that include state-funded and privately funded colleges and universities, as well as the military. Programs vary in their prerequisite requirements, their professional PA curriculum, their length, the tuition they charge, and the credential they grant. More information about programs can be found by contacting the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA).

If a PA program is accredited by the ARC-PA, it has met the Standards that provide the minimum requirements and criteria to which PA programs and their sponsoring institutions are held accountable. As long as prospective students are applying to a program that is ARC-PA accredited, students will be eligible upon graduation to sit for the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) offered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Passing this exam is required for practice as a PA in all states.