RUTLAND—College of St. Joseph’s developing Master of Medical Science Physician Assistant Studies (MMScPAS) program has received accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Looking ahead, the Physician Assistant Program is working to gain provisional accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) in March 2016. The program anticipates matriculating its first class in June 2016, pending that approval.
The Program is currently accepting applications for the first class through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). The deadline for applications is Dec. 1, 2015. Preference is given to Vermont applicants and those from a rural or underserved community. The MMScPAS Program employs a rolling admissions process, and interviews are scheduled from July to January.
“The approval from NEASC is a powerful affirmation which reflects the high level of commitment CSJ has in creating a quality physician assistant program,” said Program Director Catherine Gemmiti.
“The accreditation process is an important step toward making the Physician Assistant Program at CSJ a reality,” said Sarah Tatko, the program’s academic coordinator. “We are very excited about what this program means to the college and medically underserved communities here.”