The goal of the USF PA Major is to prepare its graduates to deliver high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered health care. This is accomplished through a robust, systems-based curriculum. The major (delivered over 24 continuous months) begins with a rigorous 12-month phase in basic and medical sciences. Educational methodologies include traditional lecture, clinical simulation, team-based problem solving, and hands-on laboratory learning experiences – often delivered with students from other USF health students. The 12-month clinical phase follows and students engage in approximately 2300 hours of supervised clinical practice experiences. Students will participate in the following five week, core clinical clerkships: Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Women's Health, Behavioral and Mental Health, and two elective clerkships. Upon successful completion of the two-year curriculum, the student is awarded the Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree. The graduate is then eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the University of South Florida Physician Assistant Program sponsored by the University of South Florida.
Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards. Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.
The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2031. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program's accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at: http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-university-of-south-florida/

