Our Mission

Mission Statement

Our mission is to foster compassionate PAs who advance health equity through primary care, service, advocacy, and clinical excellence. We educate future health care leaders to work in medically underserved communities and shape the future of the PA profession.

Program Goals

Goal No. 1: Prepare graduates with the medical knowledge and clinical skills necessary to enter clinical primary care practice as an entry-level certified physician assistant on a healthcare team.
Goal No. 2: Recruit students from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Recognize that individuals from underserved communities are often best equipped to return and provide care in these areas, fostering inclusion and access for all.
Goal No. 3: Train PAs to work in underserved communities.
Goal No. 4: Recruit and develop service-minded individuals.
Goal No. 5: Educate future health care leaders.

Indicators of Success in Achieving These Goals

These indicators are still being calculated so some areas may be empty or pending. (September 2025)

Goal No. 1: Prepare graduates with the medical knowledge and clinical skills necessary to enter clinical primary care practice as an entry-level certified physician assistant on a healthcare team.

	Class of 2025	Class of 2024	Class of 2023	Class of 2022
EOC Exam First-Time Pass Rate	N=57 98.27%*	N=59 100%	N=60 98.3%	N=58 96.5%
	Benchmark:	98%
CPX Exam First-Time Pass Rate	N= 58 Results pending	N=59 100%	N=60 100%	N=58 100%
	Benchmark:	100%
Clinical rotation hours in primary care for Core Rotations	960 hours/student	960 hours/student	960 hours/student	960 hours/student
	Benchmark:	960 hours/student
Percent of cohort working in primary care upon graduation	Survey distributed in Fall 2026	Pending	39%	37%
	Benchmark:	35%
Average hours of curriculum that include Interprofessional Education**	727 hours	727 hours	727 hours	727 hours
	Benchmark:	727 hours
First-Time Pass Rate PANCE Results***	Pending	N=58 91%	N=60 92%	N=58 93%
	Benchmark:	91%

**50 percent of total clinical hours

**Includes clinical rotations that have healthcare team, Interprofessional Education Day and Interprofessional presentations in didactic phase.

***Benchmark is set with the first-time test taker five-year average pass rate.

Official NCCPA 5 year summary report of National Board Pass Rates for first-time test takers.

Goal No. 2: Recruit students from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Recognize that individuals from underserved communities are often best equipped to return and provide care in these areas, fostering inclusion and access for all.

	Class of 2028	Class of 2027	Class of 2026	Class of 2025
Percent of students who matriculate and have indicated educational disadvantaged designation	82%	80%	75%	85%
	Benchmark:	65%
Percent of students who matriculate and have indicated economic disadvantage background	52%	50%	58%	33%
	Benchmark:	25%
Percent of students who matriculate that indicated Underrepresented Minority (URM)* status	40%	45%	43%	50%
	Benchmark:	35%

*Underserved groups refer to populations that do not have adequate access to medical care. This includes rural, elderly, low-literacy, blue collar, and poor populations. Minorities per se are not included, but often belong to one or more or the included categories. Similarly, people with special needs and homeless people also may belong to one or more of the included categories.

The U.S. Health Services Administration (HRSA) designates medically underserved areas/populations as areas or populations having too few primary care providers, high infant mortality, high poverty, or a high elderly population.

Goal No. 3: Train PAs to work in underserved communities.

	Class of 2026	Class of 2025	Class of 2024	Class of 2023
Hours of clinical rotations at LA General Medical Center	15,400 hours (pending)	16,500 hours	18,920 hours	17,160 hours
	Benchmark:	13,200 hours
Percent of didactic curriculum that focus on disparities and vulnerable populations	24%	24%	24%	24%
	Benchmark:	15% of didactic curriculum

Goal No. 4: Recruit and develop service-minded individuals.

	Class of 2027	Class of 2026	Class of 2025	Class of 2024
Average service hours completed by students as part of the curriculum	85 total hours	85 total hours	85 total hours	85 total hours
	Benchmark:	80 total hours
Average service hours completed outside required curriculum	243 hours a year	243 hours a year	243 hours a year	243 hours a year
	Benchmark:	200 hours per student a year
Average non-clinical service hours completed by applicants*	1,631 hours	1,961 hours	1,433 hours	1,924 hours
	Benchmark:	1,000 hours

*This data is self-reported by the applicants and calculated at matriculation.

Goal No. 5: Educate future health care leaders.

	Class of 2027	Class of 2026	Class of 2025	Class of 2024
Advocacy Trip Participants Each Year	11	8	12	Virtual Year (no travel)
	Benchmark:	5
PA Student Society Board Roles – Percentage of class	48%	47%	39%	39%
	Benchmark:	30%
External Leadership Positions – number of students in each class who hold these positions*	1	3	1	2
	Benchmark:	1

*Students have held roles in the Student AAPA Board of Directors, PA Education Association Fellows and California Academy of PAs.