Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Morehouse School of Medicine Physician Assistant program sponsored by Morehouse School of Medicine.

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.

Process and Requirements for Accreditation

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

The accreditation process is voluntary and initiated only at the invitation of the PA program and sponsoring institution. The process is a multifaceted one, involving extensive review of the program by the program itself, as well as by the ARC‐PA.

A critical component of the accreditation process is that of continuous program self‐assessment. Continuous self‐assessment is a comprehensive, regular, and analytical process conducted within the context of the mission and goals of both the sponsoring institution and the program, whereby a program regularly and systematically reviews the quality and effectiveness of its educational practices and policies.

Using the Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education (Standards) as the point of reference, the program critically assesses all aspects of itself. It identifies strengths as well as problems, develops plans for corrective intervention and evaluates the effects of the interventions. Ongoing self‐ assessment provides the means by which programs can envision, attain, and maintain quality PA education.

Accreditation Defined

Accreditation is a process of external peer review. In the United States, the accreditation system is administered primarily by nongovernmental, voluntary organizations that grant recognition to institutions or specialized programs of study that meet established qualifications and educational standards. Compliance with such standards is determined through initial and subsequent periodic evaluations.

The accreditation process:

  • encourages educational institutions and programs to continuously evaluate and improve their processes and outcomes
  •  helps prospective students identify programs that meet nationally accepted standards
  •  protects programs from internal and external pressures to make changes that are not educationally sound
  •  involves faculty and staff in comprehensive program evaluation and planning
  •  stimulates self‐improvement by setting national standards against which programs can be measured

Accreditation also benefits society by providing reasonable assurance of quality educational preparation for professional licensure and practice.

Why is ARC-PA Accreditation Important?

The ARC-PA is the recognized accrediting agency that protects the interests of the public, including current and prospective PA students, and the PA profession by defining the standards for PA education and evaluating PA educational programs within the territorial United States to ensure their compliance with those standards.

The ARC-PA philosophy indicates:

  • High quality education for all physician assistants best serves the interests of both the public and the PA profession
  • Continual self-study is the foundation for improving quality in the content and processes of education

MSM and ARC-PA Accreditation

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Morehouse School of Medicine Physician Assistant program sponsored by Morehouse School of Medicine.

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 the matriculation of the first class.

Important Dates

  • ARC-PA Site Visit #3 TBD
  • ARC-PA Site Visit #2 May 3-4, 2021
  • Mock Debrief April 6, 2021
  • Mock Site Visit #1 March 1-2, 2021
  • ARC-PA Commission Meeting September 2018
  • ARC-PA Site Visit #1 June 18-19, 2018
  • Provisional Study March 26, 2018

Virtual Site Visit Agenda

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do we start a PA program and have it accredited?

    Institutions investigating starting a PA program should review the Provisional section of this web site and contact the ARC-PA for more information.

    The ARC-PA accredits only qualified PA programs offered by, or located within institutions chartered by and physically located within, the United States and where students are geographically located within the United States for their education.

    A single institution must be clearly identified as the sponsor of the program. Sponsoring institutions applying for provisional accreditation of a new PA program must be authorized under applicable law to provide a program of post-secondary education.  They must be accredited by, and in good standing with, a recognized regional accrediting agency and must be authorized by that agency to confer upon graduates of the PA program a graduate degree.

  • Who makes up the ARC-PA Commission?

    ARC‐PA commissioners are elected by the ARC‐PA from a slate of nominees submitted by the ARC‐PA collaborating organizations. Commissioners initially serve a 3‐year term and are eligible for reappointment for a second 3‐year term. Commissioners receive no compensation for their services related to the ARC‐PA meetings or site visits.

    The role of the commissioner is to support and advance physician assistant education by active participation in the work of the ARC‐PA. Each commissioner is responsible for reviewing assigned program materials prior to each commission meeting. This may include applications and evaluation reports, or reports requested from programs as a result of previous commission accreditation actions/review. Commissioners are to complete the required review, providing documented evidence of independent review of all materials, as well as evidence to support final recommendations and decisions. During the commission meeting, the commissioners are responsible for presenting their independent review to the entire commission and participating in the review, discussion and designation of accreditation actions for all programs on the meeting agenda.

    Additional information on the ARC‐PA Commission can be found at http://www.arc-pa.org/about/arc-pa-commissioners/

  • What are the steps in the ARC-PA Accreditation Process?

    The accreditation process requires a program to complete a Self‐Study Report (SSR) based on its self‐ assessment process as well as a detailed accreditation application in advance of an onsite evaluation (site visit) by ARC‐PA prepared site visitors.

    The purpose of the site visit is to allow the site visit team to verify, validate, and clarify the information supplied by the program in its application materials. The team reviews the program based on the Standards and conveys its findings to the ARC‐PA in light of the evidence presented at the time of the site visit. The team’s observations about the program, in reference to the program’s compliance with the Standards, are sent to the program shortly after the completion of the site visit.

    Within a specified time period after the site visit, programs are invited, but not required, to respond to any of the observations contained in the site visit summary in order to eliminate errors of fact or challenge perceived ambiguities and misperceptions. The response should NOT be used to provide new information regarding changes made since the visit or plans for changes in response to the observations contained in the report.

    Programs are reviewed by the full commission in March, June and September each year. Accreditation decisions are based on the ARC‐PA’s review of information contained in the accreditation application, the report of the site visit by the evaluation team, any additional requested reports or documents submitted to the ARC‐PA by the program and the program’s past accreditation history. Additional data to clarify information submitted with the application may be requested at the time of the site visit. New or unsolicited information submitted after a site visit is not accepted or considered by the ARC‐PA as part of that accreditation review.

  • What is the ARC‐PA Program Management Portal?

    The ARC‐PA uses a Program Management Portal as a way of maintaining information on each program. Programs are required to keep their portal data up to date. Annually, each program is required to submit the Program Required Annual Report to the ARC‐PA by submitting its updated, accurate, program data electronically. The Portal is used as a means of notifying programs of reports due to the ARC‐PA and allows programs to submit such reports via the Portal. The Program Management Portal is checked frequently by ARC‐PA staff and commissioners, especially prior to commission review of a program. Therefore, programs must maintain their information within the program management portal.

    Programs that achieve accreditation‐provisional must use the portal to provide an update to the ARC‐PA about hired program personnel 2 months prior to students beginning the program. Programs must also provide an updated listing of supervised clinical practice sites 3 months prior to students entering the supervised clinical education phase of the program.

    Information on how to navigate the Program Management Portal including training videos and instructions can be found here.

Contacts

SACSCOC Seal

Morehouse School of Medicine is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award masters and doctorate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Morehouse School of Medicine may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).