Clinical Rotation Preparation

Each rotations allows students to apply knowledge and refine skills learned in the Didactic year, within a supervised clinical practice in order to continue to improve clinical problem-solving skills.  At the end of the Clinical education phase, students will be able to efficiently evaluate patient information, develop a differential diagnosis, diagnose, and formulate a rational treatment plan for conditions encountered in physician assistant practice.

At the end of each rotation, students are evaluated on their ability to meet the course learning outcomes through a variety of assessments, including a final preceptor evaluation, completion of course deliverables, and through satisfactory performance of a PA Education Association End of Rotation (PAEA EOR) exam. The instructional objectives listed in the course and the PAEA EOR exam blueprint should guide acquisition of knowledge and skills to pass this exam.In reviewing educational objectives for each academic course and clinical rotation, students should also refer to the NCCPA Content Blueprint, which identifies the percentage of organ systems and task areas included on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).  A copy of the current Blueprint can be found on the NCCPA website.

The PANCE Blueprint, EOR Topic Lists, and Instructional Objectives for each rotation are in no way intended to exclude additional learning experiences acquiring other clinical competencies. Rather they represent the minimum that the DPAS expects students to accomplish with regards to clinical problem-solving skills.