Accreditation
At its March 2024 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) placed the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine PA Program sponsored by University of Oklahoma on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in March 2026.
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as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and is subject to having its accreditation withdrawn.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 at https://www.arc-pa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Accreditation-History-Univ-of-Oklahoma-SoCM.pdf.
The University of Oklahoma is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission/A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA), 30 North LaSalle St., Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602; 312/263-0456.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is accreditation and why is it important for academic programs?
- Accreditation is a voluntary process academic programs engage in to ensure they are offering high-quality education as defined by the standards set forth by the accrediting body (ARC-PA). This process is important because it provides an opportunity to regularly assess our program by internal and external Physician Assistant educators to identify strengths and areas for continuous improvement.
Is a program on Accreditation-Probation status still accredited?
- Yes, the Physician Assistant program at OU-Tulsa remains accredited. Accreditation-Probation is a temporary accreditation status to allow programs to make improvements more closely aligned to ARC-PA standards.
How will the Accreditation-Probation status affect the ability of OU-Tulsa to support newly admitted students and current students in this program?
- The program will continue its longstanding practice of delivering high-quality education to enable students and graduates to flourish as physician assistants.
How will the Accreditation-Probation status affect future entering classes?
- The Physician Assistant program remains accredited and is continuing to admit students on our regular admissions cycle.
How will the Accreditation-Probation status affect the curriculum and clinical experiences?
- There will be no changes to the length of time to graduate, didactic phase, or clinical phase as a result of this status change. The program will continue to deliver high-quality didactic instruction and clinical experiences for every student in the program. As supported by the ARC-PA, the program has and will continue to make improvements to the program to ensure our students and graduates flourish and are well prepared to enter modern medicine practices.
How does the program’s Accreditation-Probation status affect my degree from OU-Tulsa?
- There is no effect on your degree. When you meet the degree requirements of the program, you will be awarded a degree as scheduled.
If the program is on Accreditation-Probation status, can I take the PANCE?
- Yes. The program is accredited, which allows all program graduates to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). For more information on OU-Tulsa program PANCE pass rates, please visit our Program Success in Meeting Goals webpage.
Can I apply for licensure if the program I graduated from is on Accreditation-Probation status?
- Yes. The primary requirements for licensure are graduation from an accredited program and NCCPA certification. Our Physician Assistant program remains accredited.
Will the Accreditation-Probation status affect my ability to get a job upon graduation?
- No, this will not impact your ability to gain employment upon graduation. The Physician Assistant program is accredited, and all students who complete their degrees will graduate from an accredited program.
How long is the temporary Accreditation-Probation status?
- The temporary Accreditation-Probation status is a status initially no less than two years. That status may be extended for up to an additional two years if the program is making substantial progress toward meeting all applicable standards but requires additional time to come into full compliance.
Our Response
The OU-Tulsa PA program faculty, the dean of the School of Community Medicine, and the administration of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center are committed to the continued success of our program and our ultimate priority: our students. We are actively addressing the concerns raised by the ARC-PA in the following ways:
- The approval of a new full-time Director of Evaluation and Assessment for the PA program by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
- Monthly meetings with the Accreditation Compliance Committee, which includes the PA program director, PA program faculty, the dean of the School and Community Medicine, and other administrative leadership to allow for open communication of PA program needs and to assess goal progress.
- The hiring of an external consultant with expertise in PA program accreditation and ongoing programmatic assessment.
- The development of an accreditation work plan to ensure timely submission of all required ARC-PA reports and the successful achievement of improvement goals within established deadlines.