ARC-PA Accreditation
equipping graduates for the practice of medicine in an ever changing clinical environment
Encouraging excellence in by establishing and maintaining standards of quality for educational programs.
The ARC-PA encourages excellence in PA education through its accreditation process by establishing and maintaining standards of quality for educational programs. It awards accreditation to programs through a peer review process that includes documentation and periodic site visit evaluation to substantiate compliance with the Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education. The accreditation process is designed to encourage sound educational practices and innovation by programs and to stimulate continuous self-study and improvement.
Accreditation & Credentials
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status for The CUNY School of Medicine PA Program. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be September 1-3, 2024. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies is conferred when the Physician Assistant Program requirements are fulfilled, including successful completion of all major discipline requirements.
Certification: Upon completion of all P.A. Program and CSOM degree requirements, the graduate is permitted to sit for the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants examination.
Admission to the P.A. Program continues to be highly competitive. Only one class of approximately 30 – 35 applicants is selected each year for admission. The most qualified applicants are selected for admission to the program. Selection of applicants will be based on the Admission Committee’s assessment of the application materials and the interview with the Committee. Applicants not selected for admission in a given year may reapply in subsequent years.