At LMU’s Tampa Physician Assistant Program, competence is defined as the consistent demonstration of knowledge, clinical skills, and professional attitudes essential for effective, entry-level practice. Our evaluation framework serves a dual purpose: to measure the mastery of program curriculum and to ensure readiness for real-world clinical application. Through longitudinal, multifaceted assessments, including objective evaluations, skill-based simulations, and reflective practice, we track the progressive development of learners across cognitive, technical, and behavioral domains. These rigorous evaluations align with our program’s instructional goals and national accreditation standards. Specifically, adherence to ARC-PA Standard B4.01 mandates systematic, objective, and documented assessments of student performance in both didactic and clinical phases, ensuring alignment with established learning outcomes. Successful completion of these assessments is a non-negotiable requirement for graduation, reflecting our commitment to producing PAs equipped to meet the demands of modern healthcare.
Our assessment instruments include:
1. PACKRAT I & II– End of didactic phase and end of the clinical phase, respectively. The scores are used to determine whether students require additional remediation and mentoring during the clinical phase. Students with the highest level of risk will be required to complete more extensive remediation assignments defined in the Academic Improvement Plan.
2. OSCE I & II – End of didactic phase and end of the clinical phase, respectively. This “hands-on” examination is designed specifically to test the PA student’s clinical competence. This will be administered at the LMU Tampa PA Program or at another designated location.
3. End of Didactic Phase Exam & End of Program Exam –These multiple-choice examinations test the student’s knowledge base for all organ systems. Students will be able to meet with their advisor and discuss a study strategy that students can pursue to prepare for the PANCE.
4. Professionalism Development Assessment Tool (PDAT) I & II. End of didactic phase and end of clinical phase. Evaluation of professionalism is an ongoing process throughout the program. Prior to graduation, students and their assigned advisor will complete the summative tool and discuss their strengths and weaknesses in this area.
To obtain the final signature for graduation, students must successfully complete and pass all formative and summative assessments, including summative evaluations (OSCEs, End of Didactic Phase Exam, End-of-Program Exam, PDAT I & II) and PACKRAT I & II. Those identified as high-risk will be mandated to complete more extensive remediation assignments outlined in a study contract.