PA Program Granted Accreditation-Continued status by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant
ANNUAL REPORT 2021
The CDU Physician Assistant Program was granted “ Accreditation-Continued ” status by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant ( ARC-PA ) in March 2021 . This status means the program ’ s accreditation will remain in effect for an extended period of time without needing recertification . The Program received the maximum accreditation timeframe of 10 years , which is an exceptional accomplishment .
It is significant to note that the CDU Physician Assistant ( PA ) Program was granted Accreditation-Continued status during its 50th year anniversary , as the PA program was founded in 1971 . This is the first master ’ s degree in PA at the University and the only accredited PA program in the nation at an HBCU or Minority Serving Institution .
“ This achievement reinforces the competent skills of our faculty , staff and preceptors , and the outstanding support received from CDU leadership ,” said Dr . Lucy Kibe , Director of the Physician Assistant Program . “ It also reassures students and the public of the quality education received at CDU .”
The ARC-PA awards accreditation to programs through a peer review process that includes extensive documentation and periodic site visit evaluation to substantiate compliance with the Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant education . The accreditation process is designed to encourage sound educational practices and innovation by programs , and to stimulate continuous self-study and improvement .
The next accreditation review of the CDU PA Program is expected to take place in March 2031 .
California Board of Registered Nursing Approves Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs
The Mervyn M . Dymally School of Nursing ’ s ( MMDSON ) Family Nurse Practitioner ( FNP ) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner ( PMHNP ) programs received approval from the California Board of Registered Nursing ( BRN ) in August 2021 . In fall 2020 , MMDSON celebrated its 10th Anniversary , the decade since initial BRN approval of the Entry Level Master of Science Program in 2010 .
The BRN is a state governmental agency established by law to protect the public by regulating the practice of registered nurses . They are responsible for implementing and enforcing the
Nursing Practice Act – the laws related to nursing education , licensure , practice , and discipline .
The FNP track of the Master of Science in Nursing ( MSN ) program prepares advanced practice nurses to manage the care of individuals and families across the lifespan . It is designed for nurses holding baccalaureate degrees , who are interested in completing course requirements leading to a graduate degree in nursing . Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the FNP national certification examinations through the American Nurses Credentialing Center to earn the
FNP-BC credential , or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners to earn the NP-C credential .
The PMHNP track of the MSN program prepares advanced practice nurses to manage the care of individuals and families across the lifespan . It is designed for nurses holding baccalaureate degrees , who are interested in completing course requirements leading to a graduate degree in nursing . Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the PMHNP national certification examinations through the American Nurses Credentialing Center to earn the PMHNP-BC credential .
CHARLES R . DREW UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND SCIENCE 13