Nazareth’s physician assistant master’s program granted accreditation and NYS approval
The Nazareth University physician assistant (PA) master’s program is ready to accept its first cohort, as the New York State Education Department has officially registered the PA program, and the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted accreditation to the program.
Nazareth’s physician assistant program is one of the few hybrid programs in the U.S. — blending online and on-campus learning to make it accessible to students from a broader geographic area. Remote and short-term in-person immersive education occurs in the first year, followed in year two by full-time, in-person supervised clinical practice at sites in Rochester and beyond.
Prospective students are encouraged not to delay in applying to the physician assistant program and submitting all materials, as the application deadline is fast approaching and available spots are limited. The program has already received a strong pool of applicants. The first cohort of 30 students will begin in January 2026.
“We’re excited to prepare students for rewarding careers in primary care — a field that needs 20% more practitioners over the next 10 years, from urban to rural environments, according to federal estimates,” said Heather Grotke, director of Nazareth's physician assistant master's program. “Primary care prevents and manages chronic disease, supports wellness, and is the key to a healthy community.”
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Nazareth University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Nazareth University. 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 continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from the matriculation of the first class.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-nazareth-university/.
Learn more: naz.edu/academics/grad/physician-assistant/
Contact
Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
