Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued Status to the University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the University of Kentucky. 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remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.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 December 2016. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy. The Physician Assistant Studies Program at UK was initiated in 1973 and is one of two Physician Assistant programs in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We are fully accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), which is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree is conferred by the UK Graduate School for students at the UK Lexington campus and at the rural campus located on the campus of Morehead State University. Graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. After successful completion of the examination, they are eligible for state certification and licensure to practice as certified physician assistants. In 1996, the program was extended to include instruction at Morehead State University. Now, 10 dedicated faculty members, two based at Morehead State University, and eight based in Lexington, provide instruction. Each year, averages of 40 students are admitted to the Lexington campus, and 16 to Morehead State site. The PA program also offers international opportunities for its students including some who choose to do their clerkship rotations in various countries including Kenya, Swaziland and England. There are also other opportunities within the college to travel internationally on short-term trips to Ecuador and Mexico, with other partnerships developing as well. What is a Physician Assistant? Physician assistants (PA) are certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and state-licensed. They are health professionals who practice medicine as members of a team with their supervising physicians. PAs deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services to diverse populations in rural and urban settings. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and prescribe medications. PAs promote quality, cost effective medical care to all members of society. The physician assistant functions under the supervision and responsibility of a licensed physician and is competent to: elicit a comprehensive health history perform physical examinations interpret and evaluate diagnostic data establish basic treatment plans counsel and educate patients respond to commonly encountered emergency care situations. Physician assistants serve in a variety of clinical settings, such as primary care practices, geriatric long-term care facilities, hospitals, correctional institutions and community-based clinics. Program graduates also are competitive for positions in clinical research, health care administration and higher education.