Academic Requirements

Students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to continue and/or graduate from the Mississippi College Physician Assistant Program.  Students are required to maintain a minimum grade of C (70%) in all courses.

 Requirements for Successful Completion of Each Semester

• Students must successfully complete all written, oral and performance-based examinations, with a grade of “C” (≥ 70%) or better.  
• Students must satisfactorily complete all physical examination and patient presentation competency examinations, with a grade of “C”(≥ 70%) or better. 
• Students must maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better. 
• Students must comply with the rules, regulations, and policies of Mississippi College and the Physician Assistant program.
• Students must comply with the Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the Physician Assistant Profession established by the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).
• Students must maintain a professional demeanor as a physician assistant student evidenced by attendance, active participation in all classes, lectures, seminars and clinical experiences as designated by the Physician Assistant program.
• Students must continue to meet all published technical standards.
• Students must maintain current health and immunization standards as required by the program.  

Requirements for Successful Completion of the Preclinical Phase 

• Students must demonstrate skills necessary for supervised clinical practice as determined by the Physician Assistant Program.
• Students must receive a satisfactory preclinical summative evaluation score.
• Students must complete the PACKRAT exam during the summer of the preclinical phase of the program.
• Students must successfully complete BLS and ACLS certification.
• Students must develop curriculum vitae to be sent to clinical sites.
• Students must successfully pass a background investigation.
• Students must complete HIPAA and blood borne pathogen training.
• Students must provide documentation of health and malpractice insurance. 

Requirements for Successful Completion of the Clinical Phase

• Students must complete the PACKRAT exam at or near the beginning and end of the clinical phase of the program, typically in the summer of years 2 and 3.
• Student must satisfactorily complete the nine clinical rotations and advanced clerkship, including the end of rotation evaluations with passing grades and submit all required documentation to Mississippi College Physician Assistant Program.
• Students must achieve passing grades on end of rotation written and oral examinations, and any OSCE during the clinical phase.
• Student must demonstrate required skills necessary for clinical practice and professional behaviors as determined by the Mississippi College PA program. 

Graduation Requirements

• Satisfactorily complete all courses in the program with a grade of 70% or better.
• Earn a minimum of 141 graduate semester credit hours in 48 months or less.
• Earn a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Satisfactorily complete the student portfolio masters project.
• Satisfactorily complete all clinical rotations.
• Successfully complete the written, oral, practical and professional components of the end-of-program summative evaluation.
• Comply with Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the Physician Assistant Profession established by the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).
• Students must continue to meet all published technical standards.
• Receive a satisfactory summative evaluation by meeting all academic and professional standards.