The Post-Professional Doctoral Program (PPDP) accreditation process establishes a robust, forward-looking framework for institutions offering doctoral-level education. Developed collaboratively with leaders of existing and emerging PPDP programs, including many current educators, these Standards advance professional preparation for practicing PAs and those in academia seeking doctoral-level training. The PPDP accreditation process fosters excellence, adaptability, and leadership in PA doctoral education, preparing graduates to meet the evolving needs of the profession.

The Post-Professional Doctoral accreditation process conducted by the ARC-PA is a voluntary one entered into by institutions and programs that sponsor a structured educational experience. The process allows programs to demonstrate compliance with the approved accreditation standards. While the process is voluntary, it provides programs with an external validation of their educational offering. Additionally, the process provides PAs with a means to evaluate the quality of the educational experience offered by the program or institution.

Click here to download the Post-Professional Doctoral Eligibility Form.