PA Program Policies and Standards

This page covers PA program policies and standards related to ARC-PA accreditation standards.

For complete information on all program policies and procedures, refer to the student handbook.

On this page:

Technical standards

To earn your degree, you must meet both the OHSU technical standards and the PA program's technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation.

OHSU technical standards

You must be able to:

  • Acquire information from experiences and demonstrations conveyed through online coursework, lectures, group seminars, small group activities and other methods.
  • Recognize, understand and interpret instructional materials including written documents, computer-information systems and non-book resources.
  • Manipulate equipment, instruments, apparatus and tools required to collect and interpret data appropriate to the domain of study, practice or research.
  • Follow universal precautions against contamination and cross contamination with infectious pathogens, toxins and other hazardous chemicals.
  • Solve problems and think critically to develop appropriate products and services (e.g., a treatment plan or a scientific experiment).
  • Synthesize information to develop and defend conclusions regarding observations and outcomes.
  • Use intellectual ability, exercise proper judgment and complete all responsibilities within a timeframe that is appropriate to a given setting.
  • Maintain effective, mature and sensitive relationships under all circumstances (e.g., clients, patients, students, faculty, staff and other professionals).
  • Communicate effectively and efficiently with faculty, colleagues and all other persons encountered in any OHSU setting.
  • Work in a safe manner and respond appropriately to emergencies and urgencies.
  • Demonstrate emotional stability to function effectively under stress and adapt to changing environments inherent in clinical practice, healthcare and biomedical sciences and engineering.

Explore full OHSU technical standards.

Division of PA Education technical standards 

You must be able to:

  • Observe demonstrations and experiments in basic sciences.
  • Have sufficient vision, hearing, touch, motor skills and somatic sensation to perform physical exams, including palpation, auscultation, percussion, administering IV medication, applying pressure to stop bleeding, opening obstructed airways and movements requiring equilibrium and coordination.
  • Learn to respond quickly and appropriately in emergencies.
  • Communicate with accuracy, clarity, efficiency and sensitivity.
  • Analyze and synthesize information, solve problems and make diagnostic and treatment decisions.
  • Accept feedback and respond appropriately.
  • Build rapport and positive relationships with patients.
  • Show the perseverance, diligence and consistency to complete the program, including tolerating demanding. workloads, functioning under stress, adapting to changing environments, displaying flexibility and managing the uncertainties inherent in patient care.

Clinical sites and preceptors

You are not required to provide or solicit clinical sites or preceptors. The program arranges all clinical training sites and preceptors for you. You will train in a variety of settings, most outside Portland in rural and urban medically underserved areas across Oregon and southwest Washington.

Commuting and travel for clinical rotations

You are responsible for arranging your own transportation to clinical sites and must arrive on time. Most sites are more than 45 miles from campus, so plan accordingly. If you need disability-related accommodations for travel or commuting, contact the Office for Student Access.

Health and immunization requirements

The program follows CDC recommendations and state mandates for student immunizations and health screenings. Find complete requirements at OHSU Immunization Requirements for Students.

Disability-related accommodations

OHSU recognizes that people with disabilities can study and work as healthcare professionals with reasonable accommodations. You must meet all academic and technical standards, with or without accommodation.

For services, resources or to request accommodations, contact the Office for Student Access at 503-494-0082 or studentaccess@ohsu.edu.

For questions about these standards or to request accommodation, contact the PA program at 503-494-3633 or paprgm@ohsu.edu.

Academic policies

Advanced standing

The program does not award advanced standing or accept transfer credit for previous academic or experiential learning. You must complete the entire curriculum.

Enrollment deferral policy

If unforeseen or extraordinary circumstances prevent you from starting the program, you may request a deferral. Submit a written request to the program director that includes a detailed reason for the deferral at least 30 days before the program start date when possible.

The program director reviews all deferral requests.

If your deferral is approved:

  • You keep a seat in the next cohort.
  • You may defer for one year only.
  • You will receive written acknowledgement of your deferral.
  • You must confirm your intent to return by the date specified in your approval.
  • You must complete all pre-matriculation, onboarding and enrollment requirements, which may change. 
  • Failure to confirm by the deadline results in rescission of your admission and you must reapply.

If your deferral is denied, you may:

  • Accept your admission for the original term, or 
  • Reapply for a future year

Scholarship funding is subject to the terms of each fund or agreement. It is your responsibility to understand how a deferral may affect your scholarship dollars. Contact the Office of Financial Aid or your funding entity to understand the implications for scholarships and federal aid.

Program completion 

You must complete the entire curriculum to graduate. The program does not award credit for previous academic or experiential learning.

Grading criteria

The program uses a pass/no pass grading system. Each course syllabus defines the criteria to earn a pass. Exam scores are not final until faculty review results and confirm the reliability and validity of the assessment. Grades are assigned consistent with the OHSU Course Grading Key and definitions in Policy 02-70-020, University Grading.

  • P (Pass): You met course requirements. A P appears on your transcript.
  • NP (No Pass): You did not meet course requirements. An NP is equivalent to failing and appears on your transcript.
  • I (Incomplete): Your work meets passing standards but remains incomplete due to illness, emergency or another reason beyond your control. Complete requirements within one term unless the Office of the Provost grants an exception.

The program converts incomplete grades as follows:

  • I/P (Incomplete/Pass): You completed requirements and passed.
  • I/NP (Incomplete/No Pass): You failed to complete requirements or did not finish within one term. You must complete remediation for a grade of I/NP.

Determination of grades

Each course syllabus lists grading policies. Grades reflect your level of performance, and faculty consider professional conduct in all grades earned during the program.

Evaluation of performance 

Faculty evaluate whether you demonstrate adequate knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to meet program standards.

Academic year

Faculty calculate your grade based on test performance and class assignments and may consider participation and attendance as well. 

Clinical phase

Completion of each rotation depends on:

  • Preceptor evaluations
  • End-of-rotation exams
  • Assignments
  • Timely documentation of clinical activities and evaluation of your site and preceptor

Remediation and deceleration

If you do not meet passing standards for a course or rotation, faculty and the Progress and Promotions Committee may offer remediation. In some cases, you may extend your program timeline to address academic or personal challenges.

Student employment policy 

The PA program is rigorous and fast-paced, requiring full attention and commitment.

Expectations for students

  • You may not work for the program while you are enrolled in it.
  • Employment is strongly discouraged. The program will not make accommodations for students who choose to work.
  • The program reserves the option to require students on academic probation to give up their employment as a condition of continuing in the program.
  • For prospective students who are OHSU employees, per OHSU policy, it is the responsibility of employees seeking to pursue individual courses for academic credit or an academic degree or certificate within OHSU to notify the academic program of their employment status prior to registering or accepting admissions to ensure the activity does not impact their work schedule and to minimize potential conflicts of interest.
  • For current OHSU students intending to accept an employment offer from an OHSU department, you must notify your academic program prior to accepting the position.

Expectations for the program

  • The program will not require students to perform clerical or administrative work.
  • During clinical experiences, the program will not use students to substitute for regular clinical or administrative staff.

Student withdrawal policy

You may withdraw from the program at any time. Withdrawal generally requires action on your part. If you withdraw mid-quarter, you must submit a written request to the program director and receive written approval. Without this, the program cannot grant dismissal in good standing. 

To withdraw during a quarter, you must:

  1. Submit a written request to the program director
  2. Receive written approval
  3. Complete and submit forms to the registrar

The program will withdraw you administratively if you do not return from a leave of absence or fail to register for classes. In either case, you must reapply and be accepted to return. Before withdrawing, consider a leave of absence, which does not require reapplication.

Student dismissal policy

Because PA graduates may be licensed to practice medicine and responsible for the lives and welfare of other people, every student must demonstrate competence and professional behavior consistent with those responsibilities.

If faculty judge your academic performance or conduct as unacceptable, the Progress and Promotions Committee may recommend dismissal.

Dismissal procedure

  • The program director convenes a special meeting of the Progress and Promotions Committee.
  • The program sends you written notice of charges and hearing at least 10 calendar days in advance.
  • The dean of the School of Medicine receives a copy.
  • After the meeting, the committee issues a written decision to you and the dean.
  • You may appeal through the grievance process. 

Student grievance policy

You have the right to grieve matters including student-faculty or student-mentor conflicts, grading policies, curriculum concerns, school policies and lab safety. You may not grieve assigned grades or disciplinary actions directly. You may raise grade concerns with the course director, academic coordinator or clinical coordinator only if you believe the process was unfair or unreasonable. The Progress and Promotions Committee handles disciplinary actions. The Office of Civil Rights Investigations and Compliance handles discrimination grievances.

Informal procedure

Start by discussing your concern with the individuals involved, such as the course director or faculty member. If you are not comfortable doing so, you may bring your concern to the program director or medical director. If none of those individuals can be approached, contact the associate dean for medical education. Whoever you initially contact will meet with you and, if applicable, the person you are grieving against to attempt an informal resolution.

Formal procedure

If informal resolution fails, you may file a written formal grievance with the program director within 20 days of the end of the informal process.

Your formal grievance must include:

  • The nature of the grievance
  • Circumstances under which it occurred
  • Steps already taken to resolve it
  • Desired outcome

The program director will appoint a Grievance Committee to convene within 20 workdays. The committee includes School of Medicine faculty, current PA students and a non-voting PA faculty chair. Specifically, the committee consists of one student from the curriculum committee, the clinical year class president, the academic year class president, one basic science faculty member, one clinical faculty member and a non-voting PA faculty chair.

The committee will meet within 10 workdays of receiving your grievance when feasible and will notify all parties of the hearing time and place in writing. At any stage, each party may bring an advisor of their choice. The advisor may not speak on your behalf or participate in any way the committee does not approve.

If the committee reaches a resolution, all parties sign a Statement of Understanding. Copies go to the parties, the program director and the associate dean for medical education.

If the committee does not reach a resolution, it will deliberate privately and issue a written decision within 20 workdays of the conclusion of the hearing. The report summarizes the committee's findings, conclusions and recommended resolution, including the vote count. The report goes to the program director, associate dean for medical education, Dean of the School of Medicine and the parties involved. The dean reaches a final decision within 10 days of receiving the report and sends copies to the parties and committee members.

Appeals

You may appeal the dean's decision to the provost within 30 days of receiving the written decision, as provided in OHSU Policy 02-30-050. Appeals to the provost must be in writing and can be submitted to the OHSU Office of Student Affairs.

The university may grant an appeal if: 

  • The program did not follow procedures, and this caused harm
  • New information exists that could not reasonably be presented earlier
  • The decision conflicts with applicable laws, rules or OHSU policies

The provost's decision is final. 

Use of AI policy

Artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI) are increasingly used in healthcare, education and research. The program's policy outlines expectations for the ethical, responsible and transparent use of AI by Physician Associate students and faculty at OHSU.

View the AI policy.

Licensure disclosure

OHSU provides information regarding state licensure on the OHSU out-of-state authorization webpage under licensure.