"The Physician Assistant" (FAQs)
Q. Is a degree required for entrance into the PA Program?
A. No. You must complete the listed course work prerequisites and the clinical experience requirement.
Q. Can I continue to work while in the RCRMC/RCC Physician Assistant Program?
A. Student are advised against working while in this program. In the past, individuals that have attempted to do so have struggled academically, and some have failed out of the program. This is a very intense program that will require your full attention.
Q. I have taken my prerequisites at another college. Will they transfer?
A. PA Program staff and faculty are not qualified to answer questions regarding transfer of specific courses. Each person that applies to the program will submit transcripts for an academic evaluation. The Academic Evaluation Specialist will review your transcripts and make these decisions. If you wish to have these answers prior to applying, you may request an Academic Evaluation for the PA Program prerequisites. Please contact Admissions and Records to obtain the appropriate form.
Q. I am a foreign-trained medical doctor. Can I get credit for the medical classes I took in another country?
A. Unfortunately, no. The RCRMC/RCC Physician Assistant Program does not grant advanced standing under any circumstance. You may, however, be able to transfer some of your undergraduate coursework toward your prerequisites. The first step you must take is to obtain a foreign transcript evaluation by an authorized agency. Consider AERC or IERFI. The next step is to request an academic evaluation for the PA program prerequisites through RCC’s Student Services Department. You will be required to submit an official copy of your transcripts and/or foreign transcript evaluation.
Q. In terms of employment, will I be more marketable if I complete a Master’s degree program than if I complete a certificate program?
A. The RCRMC/RCC PA Program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA). Our Program has also been approved by the Physician Assistant Committee (PAC) of the California Medical Board. Graduation from an ARC-PA accredited and PAC approved program, combined with successfully passing the National PA boards, is required to practice as a PA in the state of California. Individual employers may have additional criteria of their own that must be met.