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Required Technical Standards

To succeed in the ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø Physician Assistant Program and in the practice of medicine, students must be able to perform essential functions required for safe and effective patient care. The following Technical Standards outline the core abilities expected of all students, with or without reasonable accommodations, throughout the program.

• Observation

  PA students must demonstrate the observational abilities necessary to acquire and interpret information in academic and clinical settings. This includes the effective use of visual, auditory, and somatic senses to observe patients, recognize clinical findings, and participate fully in learning activities. Students must be able to obtain and interpret information independently; if direct observation is limited, they must demonstrate alternative methods without relying on another person’s interpretation.

  Students must:

  • Have the ability to use instruments commonly used in the evaluation and diagnosis of disease (e.g., stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, otoscope, etc.).
  • Visualize and accurately distinguish findings on X-rays and other imaging studies and interpret digital or analog representations of physiologic phenomena, such as EKGs.
  • Be able to acquire information from electronic media, written documents, films, slides, videos or other media.
  • Observe and differentiate changes in body movement.
  • Observe anatomic structures.
  • Efficiently read written and illustrated materials.
  • Observe and detect signs and symptoms of disease processes and observe subtle changes inherent in illness progression.
  • Possess the necessary visual acumen to perform general and surgical procedures.
• Communication

  PA students must demonstrate effective communication skills necessary to interact with patients, families, and healthcare teams in academic and clinical settings. This includes the ability to communicate clearly, sensitively, and efficiently through verbal, nonverbal, written, and electronic means. Proficiency in English is required.

  Students must:

  • Communicate clearly with patients and families to elicit information, including a thorough history from patients, families and other sources.
  • Be proficient in English to prepare a legible patient evaluation and present the evaluation orally in a focused manner to other healthcare professionals.
  • Accurately describe changes in mood, activity and posture.
  • Perceive verbal and nonverbal communications and promptly respond to emotional communications (sadness, worry, anger, agitation, confusion, etc.).
  • Adjust the form and content of communications to the patient's functional level or mental state.
  • Engage in collaborative relationships with patients and families regardless of race, religion, beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
  • Record observations and plans legibly, efficiently and accurately.
  • Complete forms as directed in a complete and timely fashion.
  • Prepare and communicate precise but complete summaries of individual encounters.
  • Access and use electronic systems sufficient to review and create documentation in electronic records.
  • Possess sufficient hearing for required diagnostic functions and patient care according to generally accepted community standards.
  • Understand and convey information clearly, unambiguously, and rapidly in emergency situations to ensure the safe and effective care of patients. This includes receiving and understanding input from multiple sources simultaneously or in a rapid-fire sequence.
• Cognitive Function

  PA students must demonstrate the cognitive abilities necessary to acquire, process, and apply complex information in academic and clinical settings. This includes the ability to reason, analyze, synthesize, and make sound diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Students must be able to learn through multiple modalities, maintain attention, and function effectively in dynamic and demanding environments.

  Students must:

  • Have the ability to learn through various modalities (e.g., lectures, small group discussions, individual, etc.).
  • Demonstrate skills in clinical reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving.
  • Identify significant findings from history, physical exam and laboratory data.
  • Perform a mental status evaluations and perceive subtle cognitive and behavioral findings.
  • Recall and retain large quantities of complex information.
  • Manage several tasks or problems simultaneously.
  • Identify limitations in their own knowledge, skills and abilities, and seek assistance when appropriate.
  • Incorporate new information from peers, teachers and the medical literature in formulating diagnoses and plans.
  • Show good judgment in patient assessment, diagnostic and therapeutic planning.
• Motor Function

  PA students must demonstrate the motor and sensory skills necessary to perform physical examinations, utilize diagnostic equipment, and carry out clinical procedures safely and effectively. They must be able to respond appropriately in emergent situations, adhere to safety standards and universal precautions, and function effectively in physically demanding and fast-paced clinical environments.

  Students must:

  • Perform palpation, percussion, auscultation and other diagnostic maneuvers necessary to inspect and elicit physical signs and recognize normal and abnormal findings.
  • Utilize gross and fine manual palpation, touch, vibratory sensation and temperature sensation in describing and evaluating various body parts.
  • Respond promptly to medical emergencies.
  • Perform basic diagnostic, therapeutic and emergent procedures (e.g., venipuncture, airway management, placement of intravenous catheters, administration of intravenous medicines, maternity care, advanced cardiac life support, suturing and knot tying, pap smear and endocervical culture, arthrocentesis, application of pressure to control bleeding, etc.).
  • Physically endure demanding workloads and function effectively under stress.
• Behavioral, Emotional, and Social Attributes

  PA students must demonstrate professionalism, emotional maturity, and interpersonal skills necessary to function effectively in academic and clinical settings. This includes the ability to relate to patients, staff, and colleagues with honesty, integrity, respect, and nondiscrimination, while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. Students must be able to function effectively in high-stress and dynamic environments, adapt to change, and engage in self-assessment and growth through feedback.

  Students must:

  • Demonstrate the five components of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills.
  • Maintain an appropriate professional demeanor and demonstrate the capacity to be aware of, control and express emotions judiciously and empathetically.
  • Identify personal biases and recognize multiple points of view, integrating them appropriately into clinical decision-making.
  • Communicate with and care for persons whose gender, culture, sexual orientation, spiritual beliefs or social beliefs are different from their own in a non-judgmental way.
  • Work collaboratively with classmates to sustain a non-competitive learning atmosphere and with colleagues and patients to develop collaborative professional relationships, including establishing appropriate professional boundaries.
  • Physically endure taxing workloads and high-stress environments.
  • Adapt to changing environments and display flexibility in the face of uncertainties inherent in the training process and the practice of medicine.
  • Give and accept suggestions and criticisms appropriately and without defense, implementing modifications as recommended.

• Accommodations

  Reasonable accommodations are available to assist students with disabilities. In accordance with university policy and applicable federal and Utah law, the ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø PA Program does not discriminate in admissions based on disability and makes good faith efforts to provide reasonable accommodations as needed. Accommodations are considered reasonable if they do not fundamentally alter the program or its assessments, impose an undue burden on the department, or pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others, including patients. Students seeking accommodations must contact Weber State University’s Disability Services Center to document the existence of a disability and initiate the request process; disclosure of the specific diagnosis to the program is not required. Maintaining the integrity of the PA curriculum and ensuring patient safety are essential; therefore, all students, with or without accommodations, must meet the same fundamental standards.

  Accommodation Details:

  • Students may establish a disability and request reasonable accommodations at any time before or after matriculation.
  • Students are strongly encouraged to establish accommodations in a timely manner, as the program will not remediate academic deficiencies resulting from disabilities that were not previously documented or approved.
  • Students who decline reasonable accommodations and later experience academic difficulties will be held to the same standards as all other PA students.
  • Students may seek accommodations without fear of judgment or retaliation; all related information will be handled confidentially in accordance with law and university policy.
  • Dissemination of information related to the existence of a disability will be restricted to university administrators with a legitimate need to know. Except as required by law, no mention of the candidate's disability will appear in any university or program correspondence with external agencies unless the candidate specifically requests such disclosure in writing.

   

  In evaluating applicants and preparing students for the MPAS degree, the program maintains the integrity of the curriculum and prioritizes patient safety. While reasonable accommodations may be provided, all students are held to the same fundamental standards.

International Applicants

International applicants can apply to the Weber State University (³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø) PA Program if they meet our admissions requirements.

Applicants with international medical degrees are ineligible to apply unless they also hold a qualifying degree (bachelor’s or higher) from a regionally accredited US institution of higher education prior to matriculation. We do not provide waivers or exceptions for applicants without a qualifying degree.

International applicants are responsible for maintaining their F-1 student status while in the United States. For more information, please refer to the current section of the ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø International Student and Scholar Center (ISSC).

For purposes of admissions and financial aid, US permanent residents are considered equivalent to US citizens.

• English Proficiency

  For applicants for whom English is a second language, the program mandates submission of either TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or Duolingo English Test scores as evidence of English proficiency. These tests must have been taken within two years before the program’s September 1 application deadline. The minimum required proficiency level for TOEFL iBT composite scores is "High-Intermediate," or an equivalent score in Duolingo or IELTS.

  Please visit the  (PDF) for additional information.