Student Performance

• Attrition rate calculation: Number of students who attritted from cohort divided by the entering class size.
• Graduation rate: Number of cohort graduates divided by the entering class size.

Program Performance on NCCPA Certification

To practice in New York State, students must successfully complete an accredited physician assistant program and pass the certifying examination administered by the National Commission of the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and the National Board of Medical Examiners.

Pass rates for first-time takers on the NCCPA certifying examination have been consistently high. Below is a table that provides the program’s board pass rates for the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) compared to the national average for the past year. This data is updated at a minimum twice yearly in January and July as supplied by the NCCPA.

Official Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) performance summary report (PDF).

Standards for Progression

Program Academic Standards-Didactic Year Policy

Requirements For The Successful Completion Of The Didactic Phase

• Successful completion (passing course grades) of all didactic courses, including major exams
• Cumulative QGPA of 3.0
• Satisfactory professional development evaluations (PDET)
• A passing score on the Didactic Summative Written Exam
• A passing score on the Didactic Summative OSCE
• Completion of Packrat I
• Successful completion of BLS & ACLS certification
• Successful completion of NYS Infection Control Module & NYS Mandatory Reporter/Child Abuse Module
• Submission of documentation of a complete physical examination and all required medical screening and testing, including immunizations and TB screening
• No outstanding financial holds, warnings, probation requirements, remediation requirements or unaddressed violations of any Pace University or PA Program Policies.

Requirements For The Successful Completion Of The Clinical Phase

• Successful completion of all clerkships with an 80% or higher
• Cumulative QGPA of 3.0
• Satisfactory professional development evaluations (PDET)
• A passing score on the Clinical Summative Written Exam during the last 4 months of the Program
• A passing score on the Clinical Summative OSCE during the last 4 months of the Program
• Completion of Packrat II
• Successful completion of Capstone project
• No outstanding financial holds, warnings, probation requirements, remediation requirements or unaddressed violations of any Pace University or PA Program Policies, including the Academic Integrity and IT appropriate use policy.

Requirements For Graduation

There are two things that happen once a student completes the requirements for a degree at any University: a graduation ceremony and the conferral of a degree/diploma. While everyone looks forward to the graduation ceremony, the conferral of the degree/diploma is the most important part. Both state licensure boards and the NCCPA require proof of degree conferral (not graduation) in order to grant licenses and permission to sit for the boards.

For the conferral of the degree/diploma, students must complete the University’s “Application for Graduation and Diploma” prior to their January graduation/conferral date. The University has very specific deadlines for submitted this application which can be found here, along with the actual application.

This Application for Graduation and Diploma is what triggers the University Registrar to review the student’s academic records to ensure compliance with all Program and University degree requirements (including the payment of any outstanding balances owed to the University. Once this process is complete, students will receive a Degree Verification or Degree Works notification via email. Any discrepancies can then (hopefully) be addressed and resolved prior to graduation and conferral of the degree.

Licensure Disclosure

Pace University cannot determine whether completion of this program would be sufficient to meet licensure requirements outside of New York State for the intended occupation. We advise you to contact your state licensing board or appropriate licensing entity to determine whether the program meets requirements for professional licensure in the state where you are located or the state in which you intend to pursue licensure. Please contact the dean of your school if you have further questions.