For the first time, the 2012 Physician Assistant Program‘s graduatting class at NSU’s student educational center in Orlando received a 100 percent passing rate on the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE).
Also known as the “PA boards”, the six-hour standardized test certifies physician assistants to professionally practice in the medical field. Since the start of the programs in 2007,this is the first time that NSU has achieved a 100 percent passing rate on the exam, which has a 93 percent national pass average.
Lorilee Butler, assistant professor of the physician assistant program, said that updates have been made to the curriculum since the program’s start, which have helped students pass the exam.
“Certainly it is a reflection of the quality of education provided by the faculty and staff in Orlando,” Butler said.
Students in the program are trained to provide diagnostic and therapeutic healthcare services as delegated by a doctor. Physician assistants also practice medicine and work with members of healthcare teams, including physicians and surgeons.
Michael Daniels, director of the Orlando Student Educational Center, said that having new faculty has definitely contributed to the program’s success.
During their second year, the Orlando PA students complete clinical rotations locally in private health clinics, and throughout the Orlando health system.
Butler said that when students go out to their clinical rotation training, many of them are offered jobs before they even graduate.
Daniels said he thinks the 100 percent pass rate is going to help draw more students to NSU’s PA program, over other schools in Florida.
“This demonstrates that the faculty and staff are committed to helping the students achieve all they can”, said Daniels.
