20 Years of the PACKRAT Exam
Twenty years ago, we released an exam that we called the Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Tool. As was our practice back then, we condensed that formidable name to a more manageable acronym: PACKRAT. Two decades and countless exam administrations later, PACKRAT remains one of the best-known, widest-researched, and most-beloved assessment tools in PA education history.
The Packrat Tours America
This year, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of PACKRAT, we’ve sent the mascot on a quest to visit each of the PA programs that are represented on the 2015 PACKRAT committee. This will take our packrat mascot to 11 PA programs:
- Northwestern University
- Oregon Health & Science University
- Midwestern University (Glendale)
- UT Southwestern — School of Health Professions
- University of Texas — Medical Branch at Galveston
- Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale
- Lincoln Memorial University
- MCPHS University
- Northeastern University
- Bay Path University
- Duke University Medical Center
Starting today, you can follow the packrat’s journey across America on Facebook.
Help Us Name the PACKRAT Exam Mascot
The packrat mascot’s final destination on this multi-week journey will be the 2015 Education Forum in Washington, D.C., just in time to announce the release of PACKRAT #20.
Since it’s tedious to keep referring to the packrat as “the packrat” — and because mascots should have names — we need your help in choosing a moniker for our exam mascot. Submit your suggested name on the packrat’s Facebook posts or send them to packrat@PAEAonline.org.
We’ll select the two most popular and interesting entries, and let you vote for your favorite at the Education Forum registration desk in November.
Until then, learn more about the PACKRAT exam.
