PA Profession: A Historical Perspective
1965 First formal program for training PAs was established at Duke University.
1968 The AAPA (American Academy of Physician Assistants), the national professional organization was formed.
1971 The AMA’s House of Delegates approved the Essentials of an Approved Educational Program for the Assistant to the Primary Care Physician. A set of standards for PA programs.
1972 The Association of Physician Assistant Programs (APAP) was created.
1973 First national PA certifying exam is given by the National Board of Medical Examiners.
1974 The newly organized National Commission for the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) assumed responsibility for administering the National Certifying Examination.
1976 Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation is established as an independent organization responsible for accrediting Allied Health Educational Programs (including PA Programs).
1977 Passage of Rural Health Clinic Services Act that required utilization of a mid-level practitioner (PAs, Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives). This act provided Medicare reimbursement for PA services in certified rural health clinics.
1979 PAs are employed in all 50 states.
1987 PA services are reimbursable under Medicare (Part A).
1991 PAs are commissioned officers in all branches of the military.
1992 PAs have privileges in thirty-three states. Approximately 21,000 practicing PAs in the USA
1996 Wagner College/Staten Island University Hospital Physician Assistant Program received Provisional Accreditation (April 4, 1996) and admitted its first class of PA students.
1997 The number of PA Programs surpassed 100. Approximately 30,000 practicing PA’s are in the American health workforce.
1998 The Commission on Accreditation (CAAHEP) certified that Wagner College/Staten Island University Hospital Physician Assistant Program had completed an accreditation review and was judged to be in compliance with the nationally established standards. The first class of the Wagner College/Staten Island University Hospital Physician Assistant Program graduated on June 1998.
2000 The ARC-PA (Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.) granted the PA Program Continuing Accreditation for five years.
2002 Wagner College was accredited by New York State Department of Higher Education to offer a graduate program for practicing PAs wishing to receive a Master of Science degree in Advanced Physician Assistant Studies.
2005 The Wagner College PA Program transitioned to a three (3) year professional program offering its graduates the Master of Science in Advance PA Studies.
2008 ARC-PA granted Continuing Accreditation to the Wagner College PA Program until 2011.
2011 ARC-PA granted Continuing Accreditation to the Wagner College PA Program until 2016.
2012 ARC-PA extended Continuing Accreditation to the Wagner College PA Program until 2018.
2013 Wagner College PA Program offers EYH trips to England and to Belize.
2015 Wagner College PA Program offers three EYH medical education and medical mission trips to England, Belize and Guatemala.
2016 ARC-PA extended the Continuing Accreditation Status to the Wagner College PA Program to 2019.
2019 ARC-PA extended the Continuing Accreditation Status to the Wagner College PA Program to 2029.