The ARC-PA recognizes that writing learning outcomes that effectively guide student learning is no easy task. The ARC-PA has developed a guide that may be of help to programs when developing learning outcomes, competencies, and writing syllabi. The document titled “Syllabi, Competecies, and Instructional Objectives: A Guide for Clinical Postgraduate PA Program Faculty” is updated periodically and is available on the Postgraduate Accreditation Resources section of the ARC-PA website.

Submit a letter to Accreditation Services on official letterhead describing the name change and have it signed by the chief administrative officer.

The ARC-PA’s scope of accreditation does not include doctorate-level PA programs.

There is a listing of postgraduate accreditation fees on the ARC-PA website.

For additional questions, submit them to the ARC-PA by email.

Questions about the Portal should be emailed to Portal Feedback.

The ARC-PA recognizes that writing instructional objectives that effectively guide student learning is no easy task. The ARC-PA has developed a guide that may be of help to programs when developing syllabi and objectives, describing competencies, and writing syllabi. The document titled “Syllabi, Competecies, and Instructional Objectives: A Guide for Clinical Postgraduate PA Program Faculty” is updated periodically and is available on the Postgraduate Accreditation Resources section of the ARC-PA website.

While accreditation is considered a voluntary process, the accreditation process encourages sponsoring institutions and programs to continuously evaluate and improve their processes and outcomes; helps prospective PA trainees identify programs that meet nationally accepted standards; protect programs from internal and external pressures to make changes that are not educationally sound; involves faculty and staff in comprehensive program evaluation; and stimulates self-improvement.

The Accreditation Manual for Clinical Postgraduate PA Programs, includes the Standards along with suggested evidence of compliance and performance indicators and clarifying comments to help guide programs in their self-assessment of compliance with the Standards.

Anyone with comments related to the Standards may provide their comments to the ARC-PA. The ARC-PA has a standing committee that reviews and evaluates the Standards and comments received related to them. Clarification and changes to the wording of the Standards can be made by the commission at any of the three ARC-PA meetings per year. Substantial changes to the Standards are made every ten years.

The ARC-PA only investigates concerns about a clinical postgraduate 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.

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.

Institutions interested in applying for provisional accreditation should review the Clinical Postgraduate Process and inform the ARC-PA by submitting the Postgraduate Applicant Information Form.

The ARC-PA currently accredited clinical postgraduate programs are listed on the ARC-PA Clinical Postgraduate webpage alphabetically by state, along with information on their accreditation status and the timing of the next scheduled accreditation action.

No, the suggested evidence of compliance and performance indicators are just that, suggestions for how programs can demonstrate compliance with the Standards. They are not mandatory or exclusive lists and programs should feel free to submit other documentation in addition to or instead of the suggested evidence.

First review the Accreditation Manual for Clinical Postgraduate PA Programs, for clarification. If there is still doubt, contact Accreditation Services by email.