General Information
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Description of the ProgramAccreditation Status
Community Satellites
Academic Credit
Masters Degree Options
Description of the Program
Students undergo 7 quarters of education whose objectives are based on competencies expected of physician assistants, as well as fulfilling the PCA program mission. The training addresses 5 broad areas:
- didactic coursework (fundamental science and medical knowledge)
- professionalism
- multicultural medicine
- clinical skills (including communications, interview & physical exam techniques, critical thinking, technical procedures)
- community-based preceptorships
Accreditation Status
The PCA program was first accredited in 1976, and has been continuously accredited since then. The most recent decision of the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) was in March 2007, and the program was awarded five years of continuing accreditation. The next accreditation site visit will be in 2012.
Community Satellites
The PCA program continues its community mission by identifying target areas, recruiting students from these areas, and implementing clinical training through a network of local PA coordinators and physician preceptors. The current target communities are:
- Bakersfield area: Kern county
- Humboldt county
- Imperial county
- Salinas area: Monterey, San Benito, and southern Santa Cruz counties
- San Diego county
- Ventura/Los Angeles area
Academic Credit
The PCA Program is a 21-month (seven quarters) PA program and leads to a Certificate of Clinical Proficiency from the Stanford University School of Medicine. Foothill College provides academic credit for all courses. Completion of the PCA program courses qualifies the student for an AS degree through Foothill College.
Master of Medical Science - Saint Francis University
The PCA program offers an articulation with St. Francis University’s Physician Assistant Program for a Masters of Medical Science (MMS) degree.
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