Accreditation and Policies

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Soliciting Clinical Sites and Preceptors Policy

Accreditation Status

Evidence in Effectiveness in Meeting Goals

NCCPA PANCE Exam Performance Summary Report

Program Required Competencies

Work Policy

Services Related to Distant Campus

Student Attrition Information

Technical Standards

Accreditation Overview

At its September 2023 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) placed the Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Quinnipiac University on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in September 2025.

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as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and is subject to having its accreditation withdrawn.

Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to the Program Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s).

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-quinnipiac-university/.

Additional Accreditation Policies

The PA program faculty are responsible for setting up all clinical rotation sites and recruiting preceptors. Students have an opportunity to suggest a clinical rotation site, if they wish, however, the program will set up the clinical rotation site if it is found to be a high-quality opportunity and can fulfill the goals, objectives, and learning outcomes of the Program. As a policy of the program, in compliance with ARC-PA accreditation standards, students are not required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors.

Accreditation

At its September 2023 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) placed the Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Quinnipiac University on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in September 2025.

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.

Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to the Program Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s).

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-quinnipiac-university/.

Update March 2025

Quinnipiac University, the School of Health Sciences and the Physician Assistant (PA) program acknowledge the importance of the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The program and institution have made several changes and will continue to comply with the necessary requirements from the ARC-PA. The program and institution are committed to doing what is needed to ensure our next program review by the ARC-PA results in the restoration of Accreditation-Continuing status.

Since the last update in July 2024, the team of institutional, school and program faculty and administrators have:

Welcomed 26 first-year members of the Entry-Level Master of Physician Assistant Class of 2028 to our community.
Welcomed the graduate PA Class of 2024 to our profession. All graduates have gone on to take the PANCE and most have obtained positions as certified and licensed PAs.
Exceeded the national first-time-taker pass rate on PANCE, for the third consecutive year, this year attaining an FTT pass rate of 98%.
Hired two additional full-time faculty members to join our team of clinical coordinators and PA Student Success Coaches. Samela Brown, PA-C joined the team in November 2024 and Kara Strippoli, PA-C joined the team in January 2025. This brings our department to thirteen full-time faculty and three staff.
Continued to meet regularly to allow for open communication and to assess the progress of remediating the deficiencies identified by the ARC-PA and to assist with other program initiatives.
Worked with our external consultants with expertise in PA program accreditation and ongoing programmatic assessment. These consultants meet biweekly with the program assessment team.
Continued to work with our great existing clinical partners and welcomed new clinical partners to provide students with quality supervised clinical practice experiences.
Completed graduate interviews, offered admissions, and received deposits for a complete incoming Class of 2027 who will join our program in May 2025.
Had two faculty members attend ARC-PA Accreditation and You Workshop and the ARC-PA Self-Study Workshop in July 2024.
Completed the annual self-study review, identifying several courses and faculty members as programmatic strengths.

The PA program faculty, the interim dean of the School of Health Sciences and the administration of Quinnipiac University are deeply committed to the continued success of our program and the delivery of high-quality Physician Assistant education to our top priority — our students. As of this posting, we have submitted all documents required by the ARC-PA.

Review our Accreditation FAQs:

The School of Health Sciences and Quinnipiac University fully support the Physician Assistant Studies Program and are actively addressing the concerns raised by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). We remain committed to student success and delivering a high-quality, nationally ranked program.

What is accreditation and why is it important for academic programs?
Accreditation is a voluntary process academic programs engage in to ensure they are offering high-quality education as defined by the standards set forth by the accrediting body (ARC-PA). This process is important because it provides an opportunity to regularly assess our program by internal and external Physician Assistant educators to identify strengths and areas for continuous improvement.

Is a program on Accreditation-Probation status still accredited?
Yes, the Physician Assistant program at QU remains accredited. Accreditation-Probation is a temporary accreditation status to allow programs to make improvements more closely aligned to ARC-PA standards.

How will the Accreditation-Probation status affect the ability of QU to support newly admitted students and current students in this program?
The program will continue its longstanding practice of delivering high-quality education to enable students and graduates to flourish as physician assistants.

How will the Accreditation-Probation status affect future entering classes?
The Physician Assistant program remains accredited and is permitted to admit students on our regular admissions cycle.

How will the Accreditation-Probation status affect the curriculum and clinical experiences?
There will be no changes to the length of time to graduate, course sequencing or additional classes required as a result of this status change. The program will continue to deliver high-quality didactic instruction and clinical experiences for every student in the program. As supported by the ARC-PA, the program has and will continue to make improvements to the student experience to ensure our students and graduates flourish and are well prepared to enter modern medicine practices.

How does the program’s Accreditation-Probation status affect my degree from QU?
There is no effect on your degree. When you meet the degree requirements of the program, you will be awarded a degree as scheduled.

If the program is on Accreditation-Probation status, can I take the PANCE?
Yes. The program is accredited, which allows all program graduates to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). For more information on QU program PANCE pass rates, please visit the MHS page
https://www.qu.edu/schools/health-sciences/programs/masters-degree/physician-assistant/accreditation-and-policies/

Can I apply for licensure if the program I graduated from is on Accreditation-Probation status?
Yes. The primary requirements for licensure are graduation from an accredited program and NCCPA certification. Our Physician Assistant program remains accredited.

Will the Accreditation-Probation status affect my ability to get a job upon graduation?
No, this will not impact your ability to gain employment upon graduation. The Physician Assistant program is accredited, and all students who complete their degrees will graduate from an accredited program.

How does the Accreditation-Probation status affect program alumni?
This temporary status will not affect licensure or certification of alumni.

If I have questions about what the program was cited for to place it on Accreditation-Probation status, where can I find that information?
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.
arc-pa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Accreditation-History-Quinnipiac-114.pdf

How long is the temporary Accreditation-Probation status?
The temporary accreditation-probation status is a status initially not less than two years. That status may be extended for up to an additional two years if the program is making substantial progress toward meeting all applicable standards but requires additional time to come into full compliance.

Will my admission to ELMPA still guarantee me a seat in the graduate physician assistant studies program?
Yes, you have a seat in our graduate program as was promised to you as long as you meet all of the progression requirements. This temporary status gives us time to respond to what the accrediting body is asking us to do. You will emerge stronger than what we already are as a nationally ranked program with impressive outcomes.

How can I be updated on the action items and progress being made over the next two years?
We remain committed to open communication and transparency during this process. We will be updating our students regularly and are developing a website location where our community can be updated on our action items, progress and status.

Will students get regular updates about the Physician Assistant program accreditation status?
Yes, students will be updated regularly until the next ARC-PA decision in 2025.

Is there any change to the Physician Assistant program requirements and curriculum?
No. Physician Assistant program requirements and curriculum will remain the same for all current students.

Whom should I contact if I have any additional questions regarding the program and its plans?
For specific questions regarding this program and our plans, please contact Physician Assistant Program Director Dr. Timothy Ferrarotti (timothy.ferrarotti@qu.edu).

Matriculate and retain qualified applicants from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.
Engage all students in community, professional or experiential learning opportunities. 
Graduate physician assistants who have the knowledge and skills for entry-level practice. 
Promote student and graduate involvement in activities that enrich the PA profession.

Download the A3.12b Evidence in Effectiveness in Meeting Goals (PDF)

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants is the only certifying organization for physician assistants in the United States.

Class graduation year	Number of first-time takers	Program first-time taker pass rate	National first-time taker pass rate for the class graduation year
2024	46	98%	92%
2023	51	96%	92%
2022	52	94%	92%
2021	50	92%	93%
2020	49	96%	95%

Five-year, first-time taker average pass rate for program: 95%

Five-year, national first-time taker average: 93%

Download A3.12c: Current Annual NCCPA PANCE Exam Performance Summary Report Last 5 Years (PDF)

Student Learning Outcomes - Program Competencies

Upon completion of the Physician Assistant program, students will demonstrate the following competencies:

Medical Knowledge: Demonstrate a knowledge of biomedical and clinical sciences and apply this knowledge to patient care in a variety of clinical setting as an entry-level practitioner.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Possess the ability to safely and effectively communicate with various populations, including but not limited to other healthcare providers, members of the healthcare team, patients and their families.
Patient Care: Be able to provide cost-effective, equitable, high-quality patient care in a variety of settings as an entry-level practitioner.
Professionalism: Demonstrate the attributes of a high-quality healthcare provider, and be able to apply an ethical framework in medical decision-making, practice evaluation, and their altruism to their profession, community and society.
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement: Be able to evaluate, assess and critically analyze their patient care practices.
Systems-Based Practice: Demonstrate an awareness and responsiveness to all aspects of the healthcare system.

The PA program measures the attainment of these competencies through entrustable professional activities (EPAs). Students must be entrusted at specific, predetermined levels for core and non-core EPAs.

Work Policy

Due to the labor and time intensive nature of the Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant Program, students are strongly discouraged from working while enrolled in the program. Any student considering working while enrolled in the PA program must meet with the Department Chair/Program Director to discuss the issue prior to taking on a job. After meeting with the student to gather information about the proposed job, the Department Chair/Program Director will make a recommendation with respect to working while in the program, such as whether the job’s schedule is compatible with the PA program schedule. A letter is then placed in the student’s file. This includes all military obligations.

Those students who choose to work (with or without program sanction) while in school are expected to attend scheduled classes and fulfill all stated criteria of the program. Performance and attendance policies are to be upheld as stated in this handbook. A student who chooses to work may not miss, be tardy or reschedule classes, labs, exams, special assignments, community service work or clinical rotations. The student may not switch classes, labs, special assignments, community service work or clinical rotations.

Academic standards must be upheld, and no make-up classes, labs or exams will be offered. If the student’s academic or clinical performance deteriorates or falls below the program standard (minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.00), the Department Chair/Program Director may make the recommendation to discontinue working at any time during the student’s didactic or clinical phase of training. A letter from the Department Chair/Program Director stating the need for the student to discontinue working will be placed in the student’s file. Failure to abide by this policy is grounds for referral to the APR Committee and may lead to dismissal from the program. [ARC-PA Standards, Fifth Edition A3.15e]

The university has a limited number of graduate assistantships available to qualified graduate students. Assistantships are awarded to both full-time and part-time graduate students and provide a monetary award that can be used to offset tuition costs or be taken as a cash stipend. In return for their award, graduate assistants aid or professional service (i.e., library, computer lab, study hall monitor, and clerical positions) in various departments within the university. It should be noted that graduate assistants are not considered employees of the university and therefore they are not eligible for employee benefits or Worker’s Compensation. The number of graduate assistantships varies each year with the needs of the university and the number of qualified applicants. Specific information on graduate assistantships is available from the Office of Graduate Admissions. Physician assistant students may apply for graduate assistantships; however, they are not permitted to serve as a graduate assistant in the Physician Assistant Studies Department. Any student considering applying for a graduate assistantship must meet with the Department Chair/Program Director as outlined in the policy above.

Physician assistant students may not work within the QU Physician Assistant graduate program (or any of its clinical affiliates) and will not be substituted for regular staff or principal faculty. While enrolled in the university, no student may serve as an instructor or tutor (other than a classmate peer tutor) to other enrolled PA students. [ARC-PA Standards, Fifth Edition A3.04 and A3.05]

The Quinnipiac University Physician Assistant Program is a one-campus program located on the Quinnipiac University North Haven campus. There are no additional distant campuses for the PA Program. However, Quinnipiac University has 3 campuses which are approximately 15 minutes driving distance of each other.

Quinnipiac University offers a variety of resources to its students including but not limited to career development fairs, counseling services, student health services, and technical assistance. Certain services are physically located on one campus vs. another. However, student services and resources are available to all students currently enrolled at Quinnipiac University. Please visit the Quinnipiac University catalog for more information on student resources and services.

	Class of 2022	Class of 2023	Class of 2024
Maximum entering class size (as approved by ARC-PA)	54	54	54
Entering class size	54	54	54
Graduates	52	51	46
*Attrition rate	3.7%	5.6%	14.8%
**Graduation rate	96.3%	94.4%	85.2%

Comments: Starting with the Class of 2024, the QU PA Program implemented a new deceleration policy to promote long-term retention. Students have a one-time deceleration option to move to the next cohort. This policy promotes student wellness and success by allowing those who were struggling to reset with time to reflect, change study habits, gather foundational knowledge, and promote mental and physical wellness without the pressure of a fast-paced and rigorous curriculum. In addition, the program has implemented more personalized advising and success coaching for students that may need extra support.

The above table reflects attrition secondary to dismissal, withdrawal, and deceleration. For further information, please access the QU PA Program website “Program Goals”; Goal 1 provides further information regarding attrition.

*Attrition rate calculation: Number of students who attritted from cohort (decelerated + withdrawals + dismissals) divided by the (entering class size + number joining class cohort).

**Graduation rate calculation: Number of cohort graduates divided by the (entering class size + number joining class cohort).

Download the A3.12i Student Attrition Information (PDF)

Technical Standards

Physician assistant students must be able to meet the requirements and worker attributes of a physician assistant as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration’s Occupational Information Network (O*NET) Handbook.

Download the A3.13e Technical Standards (PDF)

For additional information, please visit the Quinnipiac University Academic 2023–24 Catalog.

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