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MILLIGAN, Tenn. (June 26, 2020) — Milligan University graduated its first class of physician assistant (PA) students this May, and these 24 graduates received a 100% first-time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).
PANCE is a multiple-choice certification exam which assesses PA graduates’ basic medical and surgical knowledge. Milligan’s graduates exceeded the 2019 national average for all PA program first-time test takers, where the average pass rate was 93%.
“We are very excited about this significant accomplishment from our first class of PA graduates,” said Andrew Hull, director of Milligan’s PA program. “Our program provides a unique experience where students are trained not only to be excellent medical providers, but also encouraged to be servant-leaders in their profession and community.”
Milligan’s PA program launched in 2018 with strong support from Mountain States Health Alliance, now Ballad Health, and it was developed to meet a critical healthcare need both regionally and nationally. The program trains healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat patients, in addition to prescribing medicine. PA students receive a foundation in primary care, so they may work with physicians and other members of the healthcare team in a variety of medical specialties.
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Milligan University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Milligan University. 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. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.
For more information on Milligan’s PA program, visit www.milligan.edu/pa.