Accreditation

Yes. Accreditation-Probation is an active accreditation status, meaning we are still a fully accredited and functioning program.

Per the ARC-PA, students who matriculate or enter into an accredited program graduate from an accredited program and therefore are eligible to take the PANCE. We remain committed to providing the education, mentorship, and clinical experiences that prepare students for a successful future as physician assistants and are committed along with the university to take actions for a successful outcome at the next accreditation visit.

There are no changes for incoming students. We remain a fully functioning program and are on track to matriculate the next cohort as planned.

The current accreditation status does not affect our admissions process. We are proceeding as usual, as the accreditation report did not highlight any areas related to admissions that require changes.

This temporary status will not affect alumni, including their licensure or certification.

Yes, you can still apply to the Harding PA Program! Our next application cycle will open as scheduled at the end of April. You can connect with our admissions team through this link.

Yes. Per the ARC-PA, students who matriculate or enter into an accredited program graduate from an accredited program and therefore are eligible to take the PANCE.

No, probation does not affect employment opportunities. Employers prioritize hiring board-certified PAs and value recommendations from faculty and clinical preceptors. Our faculty remain dedicated to providing excellent didactic and clinical training to ensure that our graduates are highly marketable.

No. State licensure requirements generally align with the ARC-PA’s accreditation guidelines. Most states require graduation from an accredited program and NCCPA certification. As long as the Harding PA program held accreditation at the time of your matriculation, you will meet the licensure eligibility requirements.

Absolutely not. The probationary period provides an opportunity for the program to reflect, improve, and grow. You can expect the same rigorous curriculum, mentorship, and support from our faculty.

No. The probation status does not affect federal or institutional financial aid eligibility. Your financial aid and scholarship opportunities will remain the same as long as you continue to meet the program and university requirements.

The temporary accreditation-probation status will last for at least two years. After this period, the program will undergo a focused site visit to assess whether the probation status can be lifted or needs to be extended. During this time, required reports will be submitted to demonstrate the program's progress in meeting ARC-PA standards.

In order to ensure PA programs are in adherence with their standards, ARC-PA requires program data and outcomes be reported in accordance with their latest policies. To enhance our program, we are actively working on a new way of reporting our data to better articulate our outcomes and ensure documentation of curriculum elements to demonstrate compliance with each standard. Our probationary status allows us the time to implement these necessary changes and improvements to show we align with ARC-PA's expectations.

We maintain a community of faculty and staff dedicated to training competent and caring PAs and to achieving the necessary steps to ensure accreditation is maintained in order to achieve the program’s mission.

Probation is not uncommon and often serves as an opportunity for growth. Many high-quality PA programs have gone through similar processes. Harding's faculty, alumni, and clinical partners remain committed to the success of every student, and this reflects in our graduates’ PANCE performance and program outcomes.

Yes. Harding University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

If you have further questions, prospective students can reach out to the admissions team at pa-admissions@harding.edu. For any questions or concerns specifically related to accreditation, the program director, Mary Madill, PA-C, is also available and can be contacted at mmadill@harding.edu. We encourage you to connect with us regarding any concerns you may have.