GPA and Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination Performance Among Physician Assistant Students With Disability Accommodations

Authors

Shelby Edwards, Shelby Edwards, DHSc, PA-C, Associate Professor, D'Youville University, DAC 428, 320 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, New York.
Hannah Anderson, Shelby Edwards, DHSc, PA-C, Associate Professor, D'Youville University, DAC 428, 320 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, New York.
Nicole M. Curry, Shelby Edwards, DHSc, PA-C, Associate Professor, D'Youville University, DAC 428, 320 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, New York.
Renee Andreeff, Shelby Edwards, DHSc, PA-C, Associate Professor, D'Youville University, DAC 428, 320 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, New York.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-23-2025

Journal

The journal of physician assistant education : the official journal of the Physician Assistant Education Association

DOI

10.1097/JPA.0000000000000672

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Many college students in the United States use disability accommodations, and their use has been shown to increase retention and college success. However, even with disability accommodations, these students have lower Grade Point Averages (GPAs) than their nonaccommodated peers and score lower on standardized tests. What has not been reported is the use of disability accommodations by physician assistant (PA) students, their GPAs, and Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) performance compared with their nonaccommodated peers. METHODS: Data were collected from five cohorts of PA students from four institutions for the years 2019 to 2023 (N = 1128). Deidentified data included GPA at the time of graduation, first-time PANCE score, and whether an academic accommodation was used during PA education (yes/no). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression models were analyzed with statistical significance set at P < .05. RESULTS: Physician assistant students with disability accommodations had statistically significant lower GPAs at time of graduation and had lower first-time PANCE scores than those without. Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination failure rates among those with accommodations was 25.58% (22/86) and among those without accommodations was 6.37% (66/1036). DISCUSSION: These results echo national data from undergraduate students, and medical students, namely that PA students with disability accommodations have lower GPAs and lower scores on the PANCE compared with their nonaccommodated peers. Recognizing this trend is an essential step in identifying areas for improvement as the academic community strives to support the success of diverse students, while ensuring excellent training and preparation for the workforce.

APA Citation

Edwards, Shelby; Anderson, Hannah; Curry, Nicole M.; and Andreeff, Renee, "GPA and Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination Performance Among Physician Assistant Students With Disability Accommodations" (2025). GW Authored Works. Paper 6998.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/6998

Department

Physician Assistant Studies