Requirements for Graduation from PA Program

Several indicators of performance are used to determine a student's readiness to move forward from the didactic to the clinical phase of the curriculum and to graduate from the PA Program. These indicators include: prerequisite courses completed; grade point average achieved; skills proficiencies attained; results of comprehensive knowledge and skills testing, and completion of all requirements for the Master’s Paper Project.

Students who have been recommended for graduation to the SHP Promotions Committee by the principal faculty of the PA Program may be awarded the Master of Science degree provided they meet all the following conditions.

1. Satisfactory completion of 25 courses during the didactic phase of the curriculum earning 68 semester credits and achieving a minimum overall 3.00 grade point average.
2. Satisfactory completion of six Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) exercises during the didactic phase of the curriculum with minimum performance grades of 76 percent or greater.
3. Satisfactory completion of the comprehensive Clinical Readiness Examination (CRE) at the completion of the didactic phase of the curriculum with a grade of 76 percent of greater.
4. Satisfactory completion of 16 courses during the clinical phase of the curriculum, earning 66 semester credits and maintaining an overall 3.00 grade point average.
5. Satisfactory completion of the mid-year objective structured Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) administered five months into the clinical phase of the curriculum with a grade of 76 percent or greater.
6. Satisfactory completion of the comprehensive Practice Readiness Examination (PRE) administered 12 months into the clinical phase of the clinical curriculum with a grade of 76 percent or greater.
7. Satisfactory completion of the Summative Assessment Examination (SAE) administered three months prior to graduation from the program with a grade of 76 percent or greater.
8. Satisfactory completion of the written paper and poster requirements for the Master’s Paper Project evidenced by signatures of primary and secondary mentors, the MPP Coordinator, Program Director, and SHP Dean.
9. Satisfactory demonstration of the ethical, professional, behavioral and personal characteristics requisite to practicing as a Physician Assistant.

Students unable to fulfill these requirements by the day of graduation will not be allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony without permission of the SHP Dean (or designee). Students will not be considered graduates in any capacity until they have successfully completed all the above requirements.