Cleveland Ohio Community College

Area of Study: Physician Assistant
Degree/Certificate: Post Degree Professional Certificate / Master's Degree

Contact the Financial Aid Office regarding certificate eligibility.

In 1974, the Physician Assistant (PA) program at Cuyahoga Community College was the first in the state of Ohio to earn program accreditation. In the 40+ years since its inception, the curriculum and structure of the program has evolved alongside the PA profession. The current 28-month graduate level program is the result of a partnership between Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) and Cleveland State University (CSU). Students enroll in both institutions simultaneously and take complementary courses to earn a post-degree professional certificate and a Master of Science in Health Science degree (MSHS).

During the didactic phase, the first 16-months of the program, engaged learning extends outside of the classroom into our unique mock operating room and simulation clinic rooms. During the second year, the clinical phase, students will obtain a variety of training experiences in multiple medical disciplines completing rotations at local hospitals and community healthcare clinics.

Cuyahoga Community College celebrates diversity and does not discriminate based on race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, disability or age. We are proud to offer a cost-effective opportunity to earn a highly sought after education with a promising professional career as a Physician Assistant.

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT NATIONAL CERTIFICATION EXAM (PANCE)

Graduation from a Physician Assistant program that is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) is required prior to registering for the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE). The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) publishes first time test taker pass rates for all PA programs as well as the national pass rate for first time test takers yearly.

Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Cuyahoga Community College/Cleveland State University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Cuyahoga Community College. 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 March 2017. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

Information Sessions:

If you are interested in learning more about the TRI-C/CSU Physician Assistant Program please plan to join us at our next information session. Open information sessions are held by the program throughout the year, the presentation is structured for individuals interested in pursuing an exciting career as a Physician Assistant. Please note that all future scheduled events and cancellations will be listed on the website. Please check back regularly for more information. If the college is closed due to weather or any other unforeseen event, sessions will be rescheduled as soon as possible.