During a recent Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) meeting, the commission voted to award provisional accreditation to the following PA programs:

* Keiser University PA Program in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

* University of Pittsburgh PA Program in Pittsburgh, Pa.

* University of the Cumberlands PA Program in Williamsburg, Ky.

* Franklin Pierce University PA Program in West Lebanon, N.H. 

* South University - Tampa PA Program in Tampa, Fla.

In addition, the ARC-PA Commission voted to award accreditation to the following postgraduate PA programs:

* Arrrowhead Orthopedics Physician Assistant Program in Colton, Calif.

* Mayo Clinic College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program in Phoenix, Ariz.

Congratulations to the new programs and those involved in their development. Unfortunately, effective Sept. 25, 2009, Louisiana's Our Lady of the Lake College and Alderson-Broaddus College in West Virginia voluntarily surrendered their PA program accreditation with ARC-PA. Alderson-Broaddus was first college in the nation to offer a baccalaureate degree in PA students in 1968. 

To see a list of accredited entry level programs, go online to ARC-PA.