Bay Path University’s Physician Assistant Program Earns 10-year Reaccreditation
LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announced that its physician assistant (PA) program has been awarded a 10-year continuing accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, the maximum term granted by the national accrediting body.
The 10-year accreditation affirms the program’s sustained commitment to academic excellence, clinical training, and student success. Graduates consistently achieve strong first-time pass rates on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination and secure employment across a range of healthcare settings.
“This achievement is a testament to the extraordinary work of our faculty and staff,” Program Director Theresa Riethle said. “Together, we set incredibly high standards for our program, and we carried those standards into this rigorous and detailed accreditation process. Earning the maximum term of accreditation reflects the strength of our curriculum, the quality of our instruction, and our dedication to producing compassionate, highly skilled physician assistants.”
Bay Path’s physician assistant master’s program, launched in 2010, is based at the state-of-the-art Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center in East Longmeadow. The two-year program combines classroom instruction, laboratory experiences, and extensive clinical rotations designed to prepare students for real-world practice. Through a recent partnership with Harvard, students have been able to attend lectures on ways emerging technologies and AI can be applied to patient care.
In 2022, the program doubled in size and now admits 60 students per year. As Bay Path’s ongoing integration with Cambridge College continues, the university is exploring opportunities to expand the program and serve new populations of learners through flexible modalities that may include online coursework paired with in-person practicums at its Boston location.
“To meet the growing demand for physician assistants who provide essential healthcare, we’re exploring ways to extend this program while maintaining its exceptional quality,” Riethle said. “We remain committed to upholding the high standards we’ve set for ourselves, our students, and the communities they will go on to serve.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 20% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth reflects the increasing emphasis on preventive care, the need to expand healthcare access in underserved communities, and the rising demand for versatile providers who can meet the complex needs of an aging population.