Skip to main content

Campus News: The PA Class of 2017 Achieved a 100% Pass Rate on National Licensing Exam

Thumbnail

All 32 members of the class passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination.

On Nov. 11, 2017, 32 students from the PA Class of 2017 graduated from Marshall B. Ketchum University with their master of medical science degrees and PA Certificate. These students represent the second PA class to successfully complete Ketchum's 27-month, post-baccalaureate program.

The School of PA Studies’ mission is to educate individuals to become compassionate PAs who can provide the highest quality health care and are dedicated to their communities while advancing the PA profession.

“Under the mentorship of the School’s committed faculty, the Class of 2017 has embodied our mission and we are proud to witness these students enter our community as Ketchum University alumni,” said Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Director of the School of PA Studies Judy Ortiz, PhD, PA-C.

One month after the Commencement Ceremony, on Dec. 11, 2017, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants announced that every member of Ketchum University’s School of PA Studies’ Class of 2017 successfully passed the PA National Certifying Examination.

“This is the second year in a row our students have achieved 100 percent pass rate on their licensing exams,” said Dr. Ortiz. “Led by our esteemed faculty, the Class of 2017 was equipped with the knowledge and resources they needed to achieve this significant milestone.”

The NCCPA is the only certifying organization for PAs in the United States. Established as a not-for-profit organization in 1974, NCCPA is dedicated to assuring the public that certified PAs meet established standards of clinical knowledge and cognitive skills upon entry into practice and throughout their careers. Each state in the U.S., its territories and the District of Columbia rely on NCCPA certification as one of the criteria for licensure or regulation of PAs.

"We are incredibly proud of the members of the Class of 2017 for this admirable achievement," said University President Kevin Alexander, OD, PhD. "This is an outstanding accomplishment and a reflection of the fine effort and preparation by our students. Supporting their preparation and training, faculty and staff are proud to have played a part in their success."

To attain the PA-C designation, graduates of ARC-PA accredited PA programs must take and pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. The examination is a computerized, multiple-choice exam comprised of 360 questions that assess basic medical and surgical knowledge. It is administered by the National Commission on Certification of the Physician Assistant.

The information tested in the PANCE are: cardiovascular, pulmonary, endocrine, EENT, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, reproductive, musculoskeletal, neurological, psychiatric, dermatologic, hematologic and infectious diseases. The skills and abilities tested are: history taking, lab diagnostic, and formation of a diagnosis, health maintenance, clinical intervention, clinical therapeutics and the application of concepts.

“We hope to build on this success and continue to see high pass rates on the national licensing exams of all MBKU PA students,” stated Dr. Ortiz. “We’re a new program, and our results are already speaking for themselves. We are excited for the future of our program here at   Marshall B. Ketchum University,” concluded Dr. Ortiz.