Entry Level 

Standards Required

Reports and Change Forms

Submitting Forms and Documents

  • Programs are NOT to submit ARC-PA template documents in PDF format unless so directed. Documents are to be submitted in the format in which they were designed.
  • Depending on the nature of the proposed program change or required report, additional supporting materials may be required. If this is the case, they are described within the form.
  • Please note that failure by the program to provide the documents and information as required may delay processing of a change request and /or may result in reconsideration of the program’s current accreditation status or an earlier scheduling of the next site visit to the program.
  • Programs and sponsoring institutions are reminded to retain copies of their applications, required reports, change requests and correspondence sent from the program to the ARC-PA or uploaded to the Portal. The ARC-PA is not a repository for program files. The program and sponsoring institution own the materials submitted to the ARC-PA for review and are responsible for maintaining their copies.

Required Report Forms 

Forms are available by CLICKING ON THE SECTION/DOCUMENT NAME of the sections below. If several forms are required, they are listed within the section. All forms relate to required reporting associated with the Standards.

Student Attrition Template Standard A3.12i

Student Attrition Template – Multi Campus Program Standard A3.12i

To be in compliance with 5th edition accreditation standard A3.12i, the program must complete the ARC-PA Student Attrition TEMPLATE with its most current information.  This completed table must be published and readily available to prospective students.

Student Attrition Required Report – (July 2023) Standard E1.03

In any year that the program has a calculated attrition of 10.9% or higher, the program will be required to submit a Student Attrition Required Report within six (6) months of the cohort’s completion. This report allows the program to provide the ARC-PA with data and analysis related to significant attrition rates (10.9% or greater).  By exploring the relationships of attrition to admissions, student course outcomes, and student support services, the program can identify actions to make program improvements leading to student success in the program.

Programs are required to submit a Student Attrition Required Report effective August 1, 2023.  This means that programs with a student attrition rate of 10.9% or greater for the Class of 2023 must submit a report within 6 months of the cohort’s completion. Programs that had cohorts graduate before June 2023 must submit a report by December 31, 2023.

PANCE Required Report – (Nov 1, 2022) Standard E1.03

The ARC-PA reviews the PANCE first-time pass rate percentages by graduate year cohort. In any year that the PANCE pass rate for first-time takers by cohort for that year has a pass rate percentage of 85% or less, the program must submit an analysis of its PANCE performance to the ARC-PA within six months of when this data is provided by the NCCPA or by July 1 the year following that cohort’s completion, whichever is sooner. The focus for the report will be the ARC-PA’s Four Key Elements of Analysis included in the Data Analysis Resource. Data related to PANCE outcomes should include but is not limited to correlation of PANCE outcomes and:

  • Admissions criteria
  • Effectiveness of the didactic curriculum
  • Effectiveness of the clinical curriculum
  • Breadth and depth of the curriculum
  • Student summative evaluation
  • Remediation efforts and outcomes
  • Student progress criteria and attrition
  • Feedback from students who were unsuccessful on PANCE.

Program Faculty – Temporary Vacancy (Jun 2023) Standard E1.08

This form is to be used to report a temporary leave of absence as defined in Standard E1.08. Use this form when the program director, medical director or principal faculty takes a leave of absence and is expected to return to their role in the program (e.g., family medical leave, short term disability, etc.).

This form is not to be used to report a change in position, vacancy due to an unfilled position or to update the ARC-PA on an ongoing faculty search. Use the Change in PA Program Faculty form for personnel changes.

Exceeding Approved Class Size (Mar 2023) Standard E1.11a

This form is to be used by programs that have a class size, as entered accurately in the program Portal, which exceeds the approved maximum entering class size. Any increase above the ARC-PA approved maximum entering class size for any reason requires program notification to the ARC-PA.

Program Change Forms

**IMPORTANT**

The ARC-PA will review and consider the program changes below and any accompanying materials at its next regularly scheduled meeting in March, June, or September.

Form Submitted

Reviewed at
May 16th – October 1st March Commission Meeting
October 2nd – February 1st June Commission Meeting
February 2nd – May 15th

September Commission Meeting

Programs should plan accordingly to receive approvals within the time frame required by the related Standard. Taking into consideration the length of time between submission and review, it is recommended that programs begin the approval process one year before a change.

Forms are available by CLICKING ON THE SECTION/DOCUMENT NAME below. If several forms may be required, they are listed within the section. All forms relate to required notification or approvals associated with the E section of the Standards.

**Program Change Form COVID-19 Standard E1.03

This form is to be used by programs reporting changes resulting from the spread of COVID-19.

Change in PA Program Faculty (Oct 2023) Standard E1.04

This form is to be used to inform the ARC-PA of a personnel change per Standard E1.04. This includes the resignation, termination, or appointment of the program director, medical director, or principal faculty. Positions remaining open require the program provide quarterly updates (see below) on its progress filling the position. (Standard E1.05).

Quarterly Report Standard E1.05
This form is to be used following notification of a resignation or termination.  The ARC-PA requires that the program provide quarterly updates on its progress filling that vacant position until the program submits another Change in PA Program Faculty form to inform the ARC-PA of the appointment of the person filling that vacancy. The program’s quarterly report is to be submitted via the program Portal.

CV Template
This form is to be used with the Change in PA Program Faculty form when reporting a new program director, medical director or principal faculty or a change in role for any of those positions per Standard E1.04.  Programs are not required to keep updated CVs on the Portal.

Change in PA Program Sponsoring Institution Personnel
This form is to be used by programs reporting changes to the Person Program Director Reports To or the Chief Administrative Officer.

Expansion to Distant Campus Standard E1.09a

Programs must obtain approval at least six months prior to implementing an expansion to a distant campus. Contact the ARC-PA via email to accreditationservices@arc-pa.org to begin the expansion to a distant campus process. The process is presented here in flow sheet format.

Per ARC-PA Policy 11.1, a program holding the status of Accreditation – Continued must maintain five consecutive years of Accreditation – Continued status before the ARC-PA will consider an application for expansion to a distant campus.

A program with the status of Accreditation – Probation is not eligible to request expansion to a distant campus.

A program must have outcomes from the first cohort of students at any distant campus before applying to expand to another distant campus.

Change in Graduation Requirements/Change in Curriculum Resulting in Increase in Tuition (Feb 2023) Standard E1.09b & c

This form is to be used by programs requesting changes in graduation requirements that include changes in the total credits required or any changes in curriculum that result in an increase in the student tuition.

Change in Class Size (Mar 2023) Standard E1.09d

The maximum entering class size is approved by the ARC-PA upon review of the program by the commission or after approval of a change request for a class size increase. Changes to the maximum class size require ARC-PA approval six months prior to implementation. This form is to be used by programs requesting a change in class size.

See ARC-PA Policy 11.2 about eligibility for submission of an application for increase in class size.

Change in Program Length (Mar 2023) Standard E1.09e

This form is to be used by programs requesting a change in program length greater than one month.

Change in Degree (Mar 2023) Standard E1.10

This form is to be used by programs reporting a change in academic degree or credential awarded.

Change/Decrease in Program Fiscal Support (Mar 2023) Standard E1.11b

This form is to be used by programs anticipating a substantive decrease in program fiscal support.

Standard E1.11b requires programs to report any decrease of:

  • ≥ 20% of the program’s overall budget or program expenditures. This includes faculty and staff salaries/ benefits, funding related to faculty and staff development and operations.

or

  • ≥ 5% of its operating budget (program budget less faculty and staff salaries/ benefits)

Change in Program Sponsorship Standard E1.12

This form is to be used by programs planning a change in institutional sponsorship.