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PA Program Gains Accreditation

by Rod Jones

Oklahoma City University’s new Physician Assistant Program has taken an important step toward national certification from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA).

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Oklahoma City University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Oklahoma City University.

Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.

“Achieving this status requires a review of hundreds of details about the program,” said Dan McNeill, director of OCU’s PA program. “Out of all of the details, the reviewers found no areas of noncompliance. This is a great way to start our exceptional program.”

Oklahoma City University is only the third institution in the state to offer a PA program, joining OU Health Science Center programs in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. OCU’s program will focus on educating physician assistants with a strong emphasis on providing primary care in community hospitals and clinics. Classes are scheduled to begin in January, with an initial cohort of 36 students.

For more information about the program, visit okcu.edu/physician-assistant or call 405-208-5094.

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