For the third year in a row, MBKU students achieve 100 percent pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination.
Fullerton, Calif. – The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants announced on Dec. 11, 2018, that every member of MBKU’s School of PA Studies’ Class of 2018 successfully passed the PA National Certifying Examination.
“This is the third year in a row our students have achieved 100 percent pass rate on their licensing exams,” said Director of the School of PA Studies Judy Ortiz, PhD, PA-C. “MBKU’s School of PA Studies is led by committed faculty that ensure our students are prepared for their examinations each year. To say I am proud of our students would be an understatement. This is a significant accomplishment and each one of them should be extremely proud,” Dr. Ortiz concluded.
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants 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. All U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories rely on NCCPA certification as one of the criteria for licensure or regulation of PAs.
"Every member of the PA Class of 2018 performed exceedingly well on their exams," said President Kevin Alexander, OD, PhD. "As University President I am so proud of the academic accomplishments of our students, and when I see results like this I know that we have some of the best students and faculty anyone could ever ask for."
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 300 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, formation of a diagnosis, health maintenance, clinical intervention, clinical therapeutics and the application of concepts.
MBKU’s School of PA Studies was established in 2012 and offers a 27-month, post-baccalaureate program leading to the degree, Master of Medical Science. The PA program is nine quarters in duration.
About Marshall B. Ketchum University
Located in Fullerton, Calif., Marshall B. Ketchum University is an independent, private, non-profit, accredited educational institution. MBKU is home to the Southern California College of Optometry, the School of PA Studies and College of Pharmacy. The Southern California College of Optometry confers a Doctor of Optometry and a Master of Science in Vision Science degree. The School of PA Studies awards a Master of Medical Science degree. The College of Pharmacy welcomed its first class in the fall of 2016 and will award a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. MBKU owns and operates two premier eye and vision care centers: the University Eye Center at Ketchum Health Anaheim and the University Eye Center at Ketchum Health Los Angeles. The University also opened a Family Medicine Practice in 2018, at its Ketchum Health facility in Anaheim.