Physician Assistant Studies
Welcome to the South College Orlando Physician Assistant Program!
Welcome to the South College Orlando Physician Assistant Program! We are so glad that you have come to our website seeking information. We are a new physician assistant program that is located in Orlando, FL. Our beautiful Central Florida region is home to a multitude of activities, art, music, and is a haven for ‘foodies’. Please explore our website to learn more about the program.
Here Are Some Fast Facts About Our Program:
- We are a 27-month program with a 15-month didactic curriculum and a 12-month clinical curriculum.
- Our student cohorts start in the Fall term and graduate in December.
- Our maximum class size is 100 students per year.
- Our program requires successful completion of a total of 166 credits with 88 credits in the didactic curriculum and 78 credits in the clinical curriculum earning students a Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree.
- Our prospective student application is managed through CASPA.
- We are a welcoming community working to increase diversity in our profession and to create a program environment that is accepting and inclusive.
Mission of the South College Orlando Physician Assistant Program
The mission of the South College Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program is to educate qualified physician assistant students, preparing them to become competent, compassionate healthcare providers who can meet the diverse needs of the communities in which they choose to practice.
Goals of the South College Orlando Physician Assistant Program
The program has six primary goals that are designed to achieve our mission for educating the next generation of highly qualified physician assistants.
- Select highly qualified applicants for admission into the program.
- Provide students with an educational curriculum that promotes lifelong learning skills/evidence-based medicine skills in preparation for clinical practice.
- Prepare students to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) at a rate at or above the national average.
- Prepare students to practice patient-centered care.
- Ensure that graduates possess the technical skills needed to practice medicine.
- Provide a curriculum that fosters interprofessional education and team-based health care.
Program Competencies of the South College Orlando Physician Assistant Program
• CTS-1: Gather an accurate and complete medical history.
• CTS-2: Perform an appropriate physical examination.
• CTS-3: Order and interpret common diagnostic and screening tests.
• CTS-4: Perform the general skills and procedures of a PA.
• CTS-5: Understand the principles of laboratory and diagnostic studies and their clinical applications.
• CR-1: Determine the significance of clinical findings.
• CR-2: Discern among preventative, chronic, acute, and emergent patient encounters.
• CR-3: Apply evidence-based medicine principles to evaluate and select the most likely diagnosis.
• CR-4: Prioritize differential diagnoses and identify the most likely diagnosis after a clinical encounter.
• CR-5: Develop an evidence-based, customized treatment plan following a clinical encounter.
• CR-6: Recognize when to refer patients to other disciplines.
• ICS-1: Communicate effectively to elicit and provide information.
• ICS-2: Provide accurate and adequate documentation for clinical, legal, quality, and financial purposes.
• ICS-3: Collaborate with other health professionals to provide team-based, patient-centered care.
• ICS-4: Articulate the role and responsibilities of key members of the healthcare team.
• ICS-5: Work effectively with other health professionals to provide collaborative, patient-centered care.
• ICS-6: Maintains a climate of mutual respect, dignity, diversity, ethical integrity, and trust.
• ICS-7: Recognize when to refer patients to other disciplines.
• MK-1: Understand how anatomical and physiological processes apply to states of health and disease.
• MK-2: Identify normal and abnormal states of health based on clinical presentation.
• MK-3: Demonstrate understanding of age-specific considerations in health and disease management.
• MK-4: Understand the risks and benefits of common pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies.
• MK-5: Identify current and credible sources of medical information.
• MK-6: Explain public health principles and strategies for disease prevention and health promotion.
• MK-7: Identify standards of care, relevant laws, policies, and regulations that govern PA practice.
• PB-1: Adhere to standards of care in the role of the PA in the healthcare team.
• PB-2: Deliver patient-centered care that is responsive to individual experiences, treatment goals, and access-related limitations.
• PB-3: Show commitment to ethical principles.
• PB-4: Demonstrate commitment to personal wellness and self-care.
• PB-5: Exercise good judgment and fiscal responsibility when utilizing resources.
ARC-PA Accreditation Status
The South College-Orlando physician assistant (SCOPA) program has applied for Accreditation – Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). SCOPA anticipates matriculating its first class in October 2025, pending achieving Accreditation – Provisional status at the June 2025 ARC-PA meeting.
Accreditation – Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
If Accreditation – Provisional is not granted, program admissions will be delayed until accreditation is received. Prospective students will be notified as soon as we are informed of accreditation results. Should the program not receive Accreditation – Provisional, all deposits will be returned to candidates.
General information on accreditation is available at the ARC-PA website. Once available, the program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-south-college-Orlando.
South College Regional Accreditation
South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award degrees at the doctorate, educational specialist, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate levels. Questions about the accreditation of South College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (sacscoc.org).