Physician assistant studies program posts 100% first-time pass rate on the national certifying exam

By Kate Hunger 

The last four graduating class cohorts of the department of physician assistant studies passed the national certifying exam on the first try. 

The December 2017 cohort of 38 students was the fourth cohort since June of 2014 to notch a 100 percent first-time pass rate of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), according to a report from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. 

The national first-time PANCE past rate was 97 percent for the same period. 

"As far as outcomes go, it's one of the primary reasons students continue to choose our program," said Paul B. Allen Sr. D.Sc., PA-C, and chair of the physician assistant department. 

Allen's statement was true of Kaylin Sallee, who did her homework when researching physician assistant studies programs. Sallee, a December 2017 graduate of UT Health San Antonio's Physician Assistant Studies program, took a look closer at programs' PANCE pass rate. 

"When I was looking at what programs to apply for, that was huge for me," she said. "I wanted it to be 100%." 

Her experience didn't disappoint. 

"Overall our professors did such a good job of preparing us for the board exam," said Sallee, who also praised the program's clinical preceptors for their guidance.