Postgraduate Preceptors/Instructional Faculty

Q: Can preceptors still serve as healthcare providers for trainees in the program?

For the Clinical Postgraduate Accreditation Standards , Standard D1.02 prohibits program faculty from serving as a health care provider for PA trainees in the program, except in emergency situations .

Q: What criteria does ARC-PA use to determine if a clinical postgraduate program meets accreditation standards?

The ARC-PA performs a compr ehensive review of the program relative to the Standards . It is the clinical postgraduate PA program and the sponsoring institution’s responsibility to demonstrate compliance. Accreditation decisions are based on the ARC-PAs evaluation of information contained in the accreditation application, the report submitted by the site visit team, any additional requested reports or documents submitted to the ARC-PA by the program, and the program’s accreditation history.

Preceptors/Instructional Faculty

The ARC-PA acknowledges and values the dedication of postgraduate clinicians who serve as preceptors and educators for trainees!

The ARC-PA offers two pathways for accrediting Clinical Postgraduate programs. The first pathway is for accrediting Clinical Postgraduate PA programs. The second pathway involves joint accreditation for Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Residency Programs, offered through ACEN and the ARC-PA.

Please reference the NP & PA Residency Program Accreditation website for information or questions related to the ACEN and ARC-PA joint accreditation.

Clinical Postgraduate PA Program Accreditation

Effective January 1, 2024, the ARC-PA will extend accreditation for Clinical Postgraduate PA Program under the NP & PA Accreditation Standards. Programs that commenced the provisional accreditation or continued accreditation process prior to this date will continue to adhere to the Clinical Postgraduate Accreditation Standards until undergoing review by the Postgraduate Subcommission and Commission. Following this review, programs will transition to the NP & PA Accreditation Standards.

Furthermore, accreditation manuals are published and accessible to complement the Standards. These manuals provide details about the accreditation process, suggested evidence of compliance and performance indicators, along with clarifying comments to help guide programs in their self-assessment of compliance with the Standards. Please reference the respective NP & PA Accreditation Manual or Clinical Postgraduate Accreditation Manual.

Within the accreditation standards for clinical postgraduate PA programs, you will find that many standards are related to the evaluation of preceptors and clinical sites. The Clinical Postgraduate Accreditation Standards document includes a glossary at its conclusion, defining terms in italics within the Standards. For example, the terms “preceptor” and “instructional faculty”, are defined in the glossary. It should be noted that the term “Instructional faculty” encompasses preceptors, defined as “Individuals providing didactic or clinical supervision during the program, regardless of length of time of instruction or professional background of the instructor. This includes but is not limited to physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and other members of the health care team”.

Typically, 1-2 clinicians at a clinical site are assigned as the “preceptor” of record. This individual usually serves as the primary point of communication with the program, receives program documents, and submits the trainee’s evaluation at the conclusion of the clinical rotation/SCPE.

Competencies, Learning Outcomes, and Instructional Objectives

The (learning) outcomes should be the primary focus of instruction, guiding trainees towards the acquisition of the defined educational competencies. Both preceptors and students should receive orientation regarding the outcomes and the program competencies from the program. For more information, the ARC-PA has developed a document entitled “Syllabi, Competencies, and Instructional Objectives: A Guide for Clinical Postgraduate PA Program Faculty”.

Preceptor & Clinical Site Evaluations

Finally, the Standards require programs to conduct evaluations of preceptors and clinical sites. Typically, these evaluations are conducted by both trainees and the program.

Postgraduate Preceptors/Instructional Faculty FAQs

Who should a preceptor contact if the website or FAQs do not answer specific questions?drewragan2024-05-08T15:52:24-04:00

Who should a preceptor contact if the website or FAQs do not answer specific questions?

For questions regarding Clinical Postgraduate Accreditation, please email postgraduateaccreditation@arc-pa.org.

Who should I contact if a specific standard is not clear?drewragan2024-03-25T07:55:30-04:00

Who should I contact if a specific standard is not clear?

For questions regarding Clinical Postgraduate Accreditation, please email postgraduateaccreditation@arc-pa.org.

Can preceptors still serve as healthcare providers for trainees in the program?drewragan2024-03-25T07:54:56-04:00

Can preceptors still serve as healthcare providers for trainees in the program?

For the Clinical Postgraduate Accreditation Standards, Standard D1.02 prohibits program faculty from serving as a health care provider for PA trainees in the program, except in emergency situations.

Is there a formal process for preceptors to report concerns related to a clinical postgraduate program’s compliance with the accreditation standards?drewragan2024-03-25T07:54:19-04:00

Is there a formal process for preceptors to report concerns related to a clinical postgraduate program’s compliance with the accreditation standards?

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.

The full procedure may be referenced in the Concerns about Program Compliance with Policies and/or Standards document.

Can preceptors provide constructive feedback to programs for continuous improvement?drewragan2024-03-25T07:53:38-04:00

Can preceptors provide constructive feedback to programs for continuous improvement?

Continuous feedback and assessment contribute to the ongoing enhancement of the respective clinical postgraduate PA program and the overall quality of PA education. Programs may employ various methods to solicit constructive feedback, such as a preceptor’s evaluation of its trainees and curriculum, preceptors joining program advisory committee (PAC) meetings, focus groups, and more. For inquiries about providing program feedback, please reach out to the respective program.

As a preceptor, I have agreed to participate in an accreditation interview for my program, which will involve speaking with the site visit team. How can I best prepare for this interview?drewragan2024-03-25T07:53:09-04:00

As a preceptor, I have agreed to participate in an accreditation interview for my program, which will involve speaking with the site visit team. How can I best prepare for this interview?

Before confirming your participation, please ensure your availability during the designated day and time.

The purpose of the site visit is to verify, clarify, and validate what the program wrote in its application regarding the program’s adherence to the Standards. The site visit team will report their findings to the commission based on evidence presented at the time of the site visit. The team will seek clarification on information provided by the program to the ARC-PA; thus, it’s important to respond honestly to any questions you are asked. You can anticipate questions related to the Standards.

When does the ARC-PA update its website with the actions taken at Commission meetings?drewragan2024-03-25T07:52:31-04:00

When does the ARC-PA update its website with the actions taken at Commission meetings?

The ARC-PA updates its website after each Commission meeting. Commission meetings occur three times a year, February, June, and September.

Where can I locate the accreditation status of the program I’m involved with? Additionally, is the program obligated to notify me if this status changes?drewragan2024-03-25T07:51:53-04:00

Where can I locate the accreditation status of the program I’m involved with? Additionally, is the program obligated to notify me if this status changes?

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

When referring to the Standards, please reference Standard A4.09a for information on the program’s responsibilities regarding changes in the program’s ARC-PA accreditation status. While programs do have to publish their accreditation status, they are not required to contact each instructional faculty member directly.

What criteria does ARC-PA use to determine if a clinical postgraduate program meets accreditation standards?drewragan2024-03-25T07:44:31-04:00

What criteria does ARC-PA use to determine if a clinical postgraduate program meets accreditation standards?

The ARC-PA performs a comprehensive review of the program relative to the Standards. It is the clinical postgraduate PA program and the sponsoring institution’s responsibility to demonstrate compliance. Accreditation decisions are based on the ARC-PAs evaluation of information contained in the accreditation application, the report submitted by the site visit team, any additional requested reports or documents submitted to the ARC-PA by the program, and the program’s accreditation history.

What are the qualifications for becoming a preceptor?drewragan2024-03-25T07:46:14-04:00

What are the qualifications for becoming a preceptor?

When referencing the NP & PA Accreditation Standards, Standards 2.1, 2.3, and 2.5 addresses qualifications, including education, experience, and knowledge and skills reflective of the area of specialty. Similarly, the Clinical Postgraduate Accreditation Standards, specifically Standard A3.17, delineates instructional faculty qualifications, to include academic preparation, experience, knowledge, and effectiveness.

Decisions regarding specific academic preparation and/or experience are established at the individual postgraduate program level. For inquiries concerning program participation, preceptor qualifications, and program policies, please contact the respective program directly. Contact information can be found on the program website or by reaching out to the sponsoring institution.

I am interested in becoming a preceptor, does the ARC-PA have a list of accredited programs in my area?drewragan2024-03-25T07:45:25-04:00

I am interested in becoming a preceptor, does the ARC-PA have a list of accredited programs in my area?

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

Regarding the contact information for a clinical postgraduate program, reference the program website or contact the sponsoring institution.

What roles do the four (4) major national PA organizations play in the support of PAs?drewragan2024-03-25T07:56:44-04:00

What roles do the four (4) major national PA organizations play in the support of PAs?

The following presentation is available to offer further insight into the distinct roles of the four major national PA organizations and their support of PAs.

What is the relationship between the AAPA, PAEA, NCCPA, and the ARC-PA?drewragan2024-03-28T12:53:04-04:00

What is the relationship between the AAPA, PAEA, NCCPA, and the ARC-PA?

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.