A Vision for the Future of Accreditation in PA Education
Accreditation is foundational to quality and public trust in PA education. It provides accountability, supports continuous improvement, and establishes expectations that help programs prepare graduates to meet the needs of patients and communities.
Today, the PAEA Board of Directors is sharing a new belief statement and guiding principles that articulate its vision for the future of accreditation in PA education.
These principles describe the characteristics the Board believes are essential to a fair, transparent, consistent, and improvement-oriented approach to assessing educational quality. Together, they describe the conditions the Board believes are essential to an accreditation system that assures educational quality, protects students and the public, supports continuous improvement and responsible innovation, treats programs fairly, and remains sustainable.
Why the Board Developed These Principles
The Board’s decision reflects decades of dialogue with PA educators about accreditation, complemented by extensive research, benchmarking, and consultation. That work involved engagement with representatives of PAEA’s member institutions, including PA program directors, faculty, and senior academic leaders, as well as consultation with a broad range of experts, spanning national scholars in accreditation and specialists in nursing, medicine, physical therapy, and health equity, as well as institutional accrediting bodies.
Across institution types and regions, programs have affirmed their support for rigorous external review and public accountability. At the same time, many have described challenges related to cost, consistency, transparency, predictability, due process, and the institutional resources required to navigate accreditation. The Board believes these concerns are significant for PA education and warrant closer examination, including further assessment of how the PA experience compares with accreditation in other health professions.
Together, these experiences and the broader research have underscored the need for the Board to articulate the principles it believes are essential to a strong accreditation system for PA education.
What the Principles Describe
The belief statement and guiding principles are not accreditation standards, regulatory requirements, or operational procedures. They do not prescribe how an accrediting organization should fulfill its responsibilities, nor do they diminish the role of an independent accrediting body.
Instead, they articulate the Board’s vision for a fair, effective, and improvement-oriented accreditation system that promotes educational quality and maintains public trust.
Continuing the Discussion
PAEA recognizes that accreditation is complex and that educators, accreditors, and institutions may differ on how best to achieve these outcomes. The Board believes the principles provide a clear foundation for continued discussion about how these essential conditions can best be reflected in accreditation of PA education.
Publishing these principles marks the next phase of that dialogue with PAEA’s member institutions.
Over the coming months, PAEA will invite representatives from member institutions to review the principles, share their perspectives, and identify areas that warrant additional discussion. These conversations will take place through the Annual Membership Meeting, Education Forum, and other opportunities for member engagement.
As that work continues, PAEA will communicate what it is hearing from members, how that feedback is informing the discussion, and where additional consideration is needed.
Engaging Our Partners
In keeping with its commitment to open dialogue, PAEA notified ARC-PA of the forthcoming release of the belief statement and guiding principles and shared the materials with the organization. PAEA also invited ARC-PA representatives to participate in the engagement process that will follow.
PAEA believes continued dialogue around these principles offers an opportunity to identify areas of alignment, clarify areas of disagreement, and explore how accreditation can continue to evolve in support of PA education.
Looking Ahead
As this work continues, PAEA will share recurring themes, identify areas requiring further discussion, and explain how member input is informing the work.
By engaging educators, institutional leaders, and accreditation partners in this conversation, PAEA seeks to advance a thoughtful, member-informed vision for accreditation that supports educational quality and serves the long-term interests of students, programs, the profession, and the public.
We Want to Hear from You
PAEA wants to hear from its members as this conversation moves forward. Submit your questions and perspectives for the Board’s consideration in advance of the Annual Membership Meeting on September 23, 2026. Your input will help inform the discussion and identify areas where greater clarity or further conversation may be needed.
Submit your questions and perspectives by emailing us at president@PAEAonline.org.
