Program Competencies

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) defines competencies as “the medical knowledge, interpersonal, clinical and technical skills, professional behaviors, and clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities required for PA practice.” The program “must define, publish and make readily available to enrolled and prospective students…program required competencies for entry level practice.”

Medical Knowledge (MK)
MK1: Demonstrate knowledge of basic, medical and clinical sciences to evaluate and manage patients.

Interpersonal Skills (IP)
IP1: Communicate with patients and with other people that patients include in their care in a clear and effective manner.
IP2: Create and sustain therapeutic relationships with patients.
IP3: Collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide patient-focused care.

Clinical and Technical Skills (CT)
CT1: Elicit an accurate and pertinent medical history.
CT2: Perform a physical exam relevant to the medical history and correctly interpret the findings.
CT3: Demonstrate the ability to perform clinical procedures common to physician assistant practice safely and effectively.

Professional Behaviors (PB)
PB1: Adhere to the professional and ethical standards of the program and the physician assistant profession.
PB2: Understand how professional practices affect patient care, other healthcare professionals and healthcare systems.

Clinical Reasoning and Problem - Solving Abilities (RS)
RS1: Order and interpret appropriate diagnostic studies to assist in the evaluation and treatment of patients.
RS2: Formulate a differential diagnosis and identify the most likely diagnosis based on medical history, physical exam and diagnostic studies.
RS3: Create a therapeutic treatment plan, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities.