The accreditation process is voluntary and is initiated only at the invitation of the PA program and sponsoring institution.
The ARC-PA recognizes the following categories of accreditation:
Accreditation - Provisional is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status.
Accreditation-Continued is granted 1) when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the Standards, 2) in the case of a program holding Probationary Accreditation when the program has demonstrated that it is once again in compliance with the Standards, or 3) when a program holding Provisional Accreditation demonstrates compliance with the Standards after completion of the accreditation – provisional review process. Accreditation-continued status remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.
Accreditation-Clinical Postgraduate Program is the status of accreditation granted when a new or currently accredited clinical postgraduate program is in compliance with the Standards for Clinical Postgraduate Programs
Accreditation-clinical postgraduate program remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards, ARC-PA requirements or procedures.Accreditation-Probation is a temporary status of accreditation assigned when a program does not meet the Standards and when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened. Once placed on probation, programs that still fail to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and/or risk having their accreditation withdrawn. A program on probation must provide clear evidence of progress toward improving the program by its next ARC-PA review. The maximum period of probation is two years.
Accreditation-Administrative Probation is a temporary, status of accreditation, limited to two years, granted when a program holding an accreditation status of accreditation-provisional or accreditation-continued does not meet the Standards and when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened. Once placed on probation, a program that fails to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and/or risk having its accreditation withdrawn.
Accreditation Withheld is a status granted when an entry-level program seeking provisional accreditation is not in compliance with the Standards. The program receiving this accreditation status may voluntarily withdraw from the accreditation process within the 30-day appeal timeframe.
Accreditation Withdrawn is granted when an established program is determined no longer to be in compliance with the Standards and is no longer capable of providing an acceptable educational experience for its students, or when the program has failed to comply with ARC-PA accreditation actions or procedures. The program receiving this accreditation status may voluntarily withdraw from the accreditation process within the 30-day appeal timeframe.
Voluntary Inactive Status may be granted to programs that temporarily suspend instruction and cease to matriculate students. The conditions of this status are determined program circumstances necessitating this status.