There are now 300 PA Programs!
Seventeen new PA programs are now accredited by ARC-PA and are accepting applications. This brings the total number of programs in our database to exactly 300. The information on these programs, including links to the programs’ websites, can be found by clicking the name in the list below, or using our search function.
The 17 New Physician Assistant Programs for 2023
Here’s the 17 new programs in our database:
A Bit of Background on PA Program Accreditation
Physician Assistant (PA) programs in the United States are accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). ARC-PA evaluates every aspect of a PA program, including its curriculum, faculty, facilities, and resources. Programs must meet or exceed ARC-PA’s Standards for Accreditation in order to be accredited. It is important that the program you attend is accredited by ARC-PA, both to ensure the quality of education that you will receive, but also to ensure you are able sit for the national certification exam and obtain state licensure to practice as a PA.
There are three basic accreditation levels: Continued, Provisional, and Probation. Continued means the program meets, and is expected to continue to meet, all necessary standards. Provisional is used before a program admits its first cohort of students. If the program continues to meet the necessary requirement, it will transition to Continued. Probation means the program is not currently meeting all of the necessary standards. Sometimes a program can receive both Probation and Provisional designations.
You can find more details at the ARC-PA website.
You can use our search tools to find programs for each accreditation status.