ALLIANCE, Ohio—The University of Mount Union’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program has been granted Accreditation-Continued status for 10 years by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). 

ARC-PA defines Accreditation-Continued status as “an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA standards.” 

“Ten-year accreditation status is the maximum length granted by ARC-PA, so it is a demonstration of Mount Union’s commitment to quality and the hard-work and dedication of the PA faculty, staff, clinical preceptors, and students” said Betsy D. Ekey, PA-C, director of Mount Union's PA program.

Mount Union’s Physician Assistant Studies Program—which is ranked as the number one physician assistant program in Ohio by U.S. News and World Report— was first accredited in 2008 and first admitted students in 2009.

Since the program’s inception, 198 students have graduated from the program. The program includes a 15-month didactic classroom phase followed by a 12-month clinical phase. The clinical phase consists of patient care experiences at medical facilities in eight core disciplines of medicine and two elective areas of medicine to prepare students for clinical practice. 

For more information about Mount Union’s Physician Assistant Studies Program, visit mountunion.edu/pa.