PHILIPPI, W.Va. — Alderson Broaddus University is proud to announce that thirty-four members from the Class of 2018 physician assistant studies program achieved a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).

This is the second year in a row that 100 percent of graduates received a first-time pass rate on the certifying exam. The Alderson Broaddus PA program’s overall pass rate — for first-time exam takers — over the past five years is 94 percent.

PANCE is considered the gold standard certification among physician assistants and the medical field. This certification assures the public that PAs meet established standards of clinical knowledge and cognitive skills upon entry into practice and throughout their careers.

To be eligible for PANCE, a student must graduate from a physician assistant program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

“I believe that our successful pass rate can be attributed to two major factors,” said Thomas Moore,  director of the of physician assistant studies program. “First, the students we attract are highly motivated, and second, our faculty are dedicated to the profession and the success of our outstanding students.”

Founded in 1968 by Dr. Hu C. Myers, the PA program is based on 50 years of success, centered on patient care and the physician-physician assistant team model. AB physician assistants are recognized nationwide for their high quality and professionalism. 

“Our curriculum is designed to prepare our students to be excellent health care providers, so it is natural that they would do well on the national certifying exam,” Moore said. “The mission of the program is to academically and clinically prepare physician assistants who deliver high-quality, patient-centered, primary and specialty care with physician supervision, to diverse populations.”

The Alderson Broaddus University Physician Assistant Studies Program operates its admissions process on a rolling admissions cycle. For more information, call AB Admissions at 1-800-263-1549 or visit www.ab.edu.

Alderson Broaddus University stands out as one of the most innovative health education providers in Appalachia, pioneering the nation’s first baccalaureate physician assistant program of its kind in 1968 and the first post-baccalaureate physician assistant master’s degree program in 1990.