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South College Asheville Physician Assistant program earns provisional accreditation status

October 19, 2022

The South College Asheville Physician Assistant program has earned provisional accreditation status from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) for its master’s level program in Physician Assistant Studies. This is the accreditation status initially awarded to new programs.

The Commission is the accrediting agency that protects the interests of the public and physician assistant profession by defining standards for education and evaluating programs in the United States to ensure compliance.

“I believe we approach healthcare education with excellence from every angle, and it is great to have that dedication recognized as we eagerly await our first Physician Assistant cohort,” said Lisa Satterfield, campus president of South College in Asheville. “This program broadens our prospective student base, and we invite all who are interested to check out the Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies program.”

Enrollment is open now for the first cohort, which starts Jan. 23, 2023. The program can be completed in as little as 27 months, with 15 months in didactic instruction followed by 12 months in supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs).

The South College Asheville Physician Assistant program has earned accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) for its master’s level program in Physician Assistant Studies.

South College students who qualify for financial aid have access to a range of programs as do members of the U.S. military, veterans, and their families. The institution offers both student and career services. For more information about South College Asheville, please call 828-398-2500 or visit south.edu.

About South College

South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the doctorate, educational specialist, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate levels, as well as certificates. Questions about the accreditation of South College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (https://www.sacscoc.org).

About ARC-PA Accreditation

ARC-PA provides the following statement about this accreditation: The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the South College Asheville Physician Assistant Program sponsored by South College.

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.