At its 2021 March meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) placed the Florida International University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Florida International University on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in 2023 March.
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as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and is subject to having its accreditation withdrawn.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.
What does this mean for our program and our students?
The FIU Master in Physician Assistant Studies program is still accredited. This change in accreditation status will not adversely affect our students’ academic progress. Furthermore, this status will have no bearing on our student's ability to graduate, take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, and obtain licensure.
We remain confident that we will meet ARC-PA accreditation standards. We are fully committed to providing you with a high-quality education, so you are prepared to enter the profession with the required competencies, clinical knowledge, and skills to thrive as a collaborative, compassionate, evidence-based practitioner dedicated to delivering exceptional patient-centered care.
Please direct any questions to:
Dr. Richard Ball, DHSc, MPH, PA-C
Assistant Dean and Program Director
Master in Physician Assistant Studies Program
rball@fiu.edu