Accreditation Information for the Hybrid Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program at MUSC

The MUSC Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies - Hybrid program has been approved by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. The program is in development, with plans to open applications for Spring 2027 in April 2026. This page will be updated as more information becomes available.

Accreditation Status

The MUSC Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies – Hybrid program has applied for Accreditation – Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The MUSC Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies – Hybrid program anticipates matriculating its first class in January 2027, pending achieving Accreditation – Provisional status at the July 2026 ARC-PA meeting. Accreditation – Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continue progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

Attrition

Graduating Classes
	Class of 2029	Class of 2030	Class of 2031
Maximum entering class size (as approved by ARC-PA)
Entering class size
Graduates
Attrition rate*
Graduation rate **

*Attrition rate calculation: Number of students who attritted from cohort divided by the entering class size.
**Graduation rate: Number of cohort graduates divided by the entering – class size.

Licensure Information

Being accredited by the ARC-PA confirms the program meets or exceeds established national standards for a professional program leading to the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree. Whereas accreditation applies to training programs, licensure applies to individuals. Our program prepares you for and makes you eligible to take the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) exam, which all individuals must pass in order to practice as a physician assistant. Passing the certification exam is necessary but it may not be sufficient to practice as a physician assistant in any given state. You can find additional requirements for practicing physician assistants in each state at physicianassistantedu.org.