Pennsylvania College of Technology's physician assistant major was recently granted continuing accreditation for the next five years.
The Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant approved the physician assistant program's reaccreditation following a comprehensive site visit and the program?s submission of a self-study report.
"The successful accreditation was accomplished though the hard work of faculty, staff, students, graduates, and local physicians and PAs," said Joseph Mileto, director of Penn College's physician assistant program. "All of these individuals should be commended for their dedication and commitment to PA education."
The physician assistant program at Penn College has been accredited since its inception in 1996. The program must maintain its accreditation from ARC-PA in order for its graduates to be eligible for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination.
Graduates of Penn College's physician assistant program earn a bachelor's degree. Physician assistants are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. They exercise autonomy in medical decision-making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services.
The ARC-PA encourages excellence in physician assistant education through its accreditation process by establishing and maintaining minimum standards of quality for educational programs.
The accrediting body works in cooperation with several professional organizations for physicians, surgeons and physician assistants.
For more information about the academic programs offered by the School of Health Sciences at Penn College, call (570) 327-4519, orsend e-mail .