Pre-enrollment Requirements
The PA Program considers the health, safety, and welfare of its faculty, learners, staff, and the community we serve of the utmost importance. Therefore, the program has developed the following policy to safeguard the well-being of all.
Required Drug Screens and Criminal Background Checks
Drug Screens: All learners offered conditional acceptance must successfully pass an initial chain of custody drug screen. The PA Program reserves the right to withdraw offers of conditional acceptance if the candidate fails the initial chain of custody drug screen.
Criminal Background Checks: By accepting admission to the PA Program, a learner agrees to submit to national criminal background checks, which may include fingerprinting and paying any associated expenses. The PA Program reserves the right to withdraw offers of conditional acceptance if the candidate fails the initial criminal background check.
Required Physical Examination: Two comprehensive physical examinations are required, one before the didactic phase of the program and the second before the start of the clinical phase of the program by a licensed medical provider (PA, MD, DO, or NP) and must be completed indicating that the conditionally accepted applicant or learner is appropriately screened for TB, current on all CDC immunization requirements for healthcare workers, and has been medically cleared for admission and progression to the clinical phase. The following forms are required before matriculation:
- Healthcare Provider Attestation Statement
- Immunization Form
- Health Screening and Immunization Information Release Form
- Tuberculosis Screening Questionnaire (if PPD or IGRA positive)
Immunizations: The program requires all recommended vaccinations for Healthcare Workers as per CDC (Centers for Disease Control) found by using the Adult Vaccine Assessment tool at CDC Adult Vaccine Assessment Tool checking the healthcare box, the public safety box and any other applicable boxes based on your medical conditions and other situations. All learners must complete the following requirements prior to matriculation. Please provide a screenshot of ONLY the Vaccine Assessment Results for Suggested Vaccines.
Applicants or learners who fail to complete these requirements by the program due date may have their acceptance into the program withdrawn. If an applicant or learner is non-immune (negative or equivocal) to any of the required vaccinations, completion of a booster vaccination series is required.
- Tuberculosis (TB) Screening: Annual TB screening questionnaire within 6 months of matriculation and start of clinical rotations if PPD or IGRA positive. The learner must submit documentation of ONE of the following:
- Results of NEGATIVE TB Skin Testing (TST/PPD)
- This screening requires 2 separate TB skin tests administered at least two weeks apart but within 12 months of each other.
- The last TST must be within 6 months of your start date.
- Lab Copy showing a “NEGATIVE” Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test (QFT or T-Spot) within 6 months of start date. (Accepted in lieu of the “Two-Step” TST.)
- Individuals with a history of a POSITIVE TB skin test or IGRA blood test must submit both of the following:
- Verification of a NEGATIVE Chest X-ray within 12 months of start date*
- AND
- A NEGATIVE Screening Questionnaire within 6 months of start date*
- Both the chest x-ray and TB screening questionnaire will need to be updated annually.
- Start date refers to the first day of matriculation or clinical rotations.
- Rubella (German Measles): Serologic documentation of a positive Rubella immune titer.
- Measles (Rubeola): Serologic documentation of a positive Rubeola immune titer.
- Mumps: Serologic documentation of a positive Mumps immune titer.
- Varicella (Chicken Pox): Serologic documentation of a positive Varicella titer.
- Hepatitis B: Serologic documentation of a positive (quantitative) Hepatitis B surface antibody titer (anti-HBs) that verifies immunity to the Hepatitis B Virus.
- If negative/non-immune, get a 3-dose series of Recombivax HB or Engerix-B or a 2-dose series of Heplisav-B. Get an anti-HBs serologic test 1-2 months after the final dose.
- If still non-immune, test for HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen), discuss with your healthcare provider the results and “vaccine non-responder” results.
- TDAP: Required documentation of an Adult TETANUS/diphtheria/acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine within 5 years of expected graduation.
- Influenza: Required documentation of influenza within the last year.
- Recommended Vaccines
- Polio
- HPV
- Covid-19 - Updated Covid-19 vaccinations are highly recommended. Failure to complete this may limit the ability of learners to enter clinical sites and will require the following infection control protocols at the clinical site.
Financial Responsibility: Candidates are financially responsible for any health care services required to participate in the PA Program (e.g., physical examination, TB testing, immunizations.) Candidates must also sign a Health Screening and Immunization Information Release Form. The program will maintain the health attestation form confirming that the learner has met institution and program health screening requirements, immunization records, and tuberculosis screening of all matriculated learners through a HIPAA secure cloud-based management system.