Tradition of Excellence
The Physician Assistant Program has a long and distinguished history within the Texas Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine. Since inception of the PA Program in 1971, the faculty has worked diligently to ensure that students receive a quality learning experience appropriate to entry-level practice as a PA. The quality of the learning experience provided is reflected in a sustained record of program accreditation since 1972 and an outstanding graduate performance on the national certifying examination since the process of national certification began in 1973. The overall passing rate for all graduates of the BCM PA Program on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination is 97 percent.
|
PANCE Performance Scores 1974-2008
|
||
|
Calendar Year
|
BCM First Time Taker
Pass Rate |
NCCPA National First Time Take Pass Rate
|
|
1973-1980 Average
|
94.7%
|
81.8%
|
|
1981-1990 Average
|
87.7%
|
84.1%
|
|
1991-2000 Average
|
95.0%
|
88.7%
|
|
2001-2008 Average
|
98.7%
|
90.2%
|
|
All years average
|
94%
|
86.2%
|
|
2001
|
97%
|
92%
|
|
2002
|
100%
|
90%
|
|
2003
|
100%
|
89%
|
|
2004
|
100%
|
90%
|
|
2005
|
100%
|
86%
|
|
2006
|
93%
|
92%
|
|
2007
|
100%
|
89.83%
|
|
2008
|
100%
|
94%
|
|
Eight Year Average
|
98.7%
|
90.2%
|
|
Calendar Year
|
BCM
Pass Rate |
BCM
Score |
NCCPA National
Pass Rate |
NCCPA National
Score |
|
2001
|
97%
|
557
|
92%
|
491
|
|
2002
|
100%
|
551
|
90%
|
492
|
|
2003
|
100%
|
540
|
89%
|
487
|
|
2004
|
100%
|
514
|
90%
|
496
|
|
2005
|
100%
|
602
|
86%
|
486
|
|
2006
|
93%
|
510
|
92%
|
504
|
|
2007
|
100%
|
569
|
93%
|
517
|
|
2008
|
100%
|
582
|
94%
|
528
|
Administrative faculty of PA programs nationwide are periodically asked by U.S. News and World Report to rank the academic programs offering PA education. Since implementation of this ranking process the BCM PA Program has been repeatedly listed among the top ten master's-level programs for PA education in the nation.
Factors contributing to this ranking include the quality of the faculty teaching students, the level of institutional support provided the program, and the clinical facilities available for the experiential education of PA students. In this regard, BCM resides within the heart of the Texas Medical Center, the largest center for patient care and health professions education in the nation. The availability of these resources through BCM-affiliated facilities within and outside of the medical center make it possible to offer quality learning opportunities in Level I Trauma Centers, public and private hospitals equipped with the latest in diagnostic technology, clinics in managed care facilities, and private community-based practices in rural communities providing services to the underserved residents of Texas.