PA program at Cumberlands receives continued accreditation

University of the Cumberlands is proud to announce that the school’s Physician Assistant (PA) program has received Accreditation-Continued status from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA). Accreditation-Continued status is granted when a currently accredited program, like the one at Cumberlands, complies with ARC-PA Standards.

“Achieving our continued accreditation status demonstrates that our PA program is meeting all nationally benchmarked standards,” said Larry L. Cockrum, President of University of the Cumberlands. “As we continue working to meet local, regional and national demand for quality medical care, this accreditation confirms we are providing a valuable education that equips medical professionals for the challenges that lie ahead.”

The PA program opened its doors in 2015 and launched its fifth cohort in January of 2019. Cohort I had a 100 percent pass rate for the PA National Certification Exam in 2017. The program has also updated its laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment received through the donations of generous program supporters.

“I would like to compliment our program faculty for their dedication to providing a high-quality program,” said Brad Hall, Executive Director of Medical Education. “To date, 77 students have graduated from three cohorts, and we look forward to continuing this success. All of our medical science programs strive for ‘excellence on purpose’ and this accreditation is an example of that pursuit.”

Hall continued, “We are also grateful for our partnerships with regional and statewide hospitals and medical providers that enable Cumberlands to provide a rigorous educational experience through clinical training sites.”

Cumberlands’ PA Program hosts an annual Mock Interview Day, in which representatives from local hospitals visit campus, host unofficial interviews with students and assess student résumés. Workforce development skills like interviewing are taught as part of the program’s Professional Development course.

“Mock Interview Day gives the students an opportunity to experience an interview with real community professionals, thus preparing them for the job market,” said Dana Campbell, MSPAS-PA-C, Director of the PA Program. “It is also a way for the program to benefit by showcasing all of the talented students who have excelled in the program.”

The application window for Cumberlands’ next PA program cohort opens April 25 and ends August 1. For more information, visit ucumberlands.edu/health-science.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the University of the Cumberlands Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the University of the Cumberlands. Accreditation Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards. 

 Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be 2029 March. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.