MHS-PA Program Policies
Students may report allegations of student mistreatment to Employee and Labor Relations. Reports may also be made to the UC Whistleblower hotline.
Harassment and Discrimination Assistance and Prevention Program (HDAPP) HDAPP assists individuals and campus units to resolve conflicts and complaints related to harassment, discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual violence and hate and bias. Serving
Students are not permitted to work for the program.
Current PA students are not permitted to work for the program. This includes substituting or functioning as instructional faculty, clinical or administrative staff.
Official UCD name badge is required to be worn in all clinical settings.
Before entering any setting where infectious or environmental exposures may occur, PA students must complete required safety training that covers prevention, exposure procedures, and financial responsibility. This training, along with all immunization and health-screening requirements, is completed before participation in skills labs, simulations, or clinical rotations. Students who have not met these requirements are not permitted to enter environments where exposure risk exists.
The Master of Health Services – Physician Assistant Studies Program Director, Medical Director, Faculty, Preceptors, and staff must not and will not participate as healthcare providers for students enrolled in the program except in an emergency.
All PA students have multiple options for timely counseling and referral based on their needs.
Graduate Advisors are assigned to each student once they start the program. Advisors meet with student on a regular basis in addition to as needed based on student needs. When identified, advisors will refer students in a timey manner for student services support.
Students may not solicit clinical sites or preceptors for their clinical rotations.
The PA program follows the UC immunization requirements, which align with CDC and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). More information can be found on the UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services website.
The PA program does not currently participate in international clinical rotations.
Students enrolled in the Master of Health Services – Physician Assistant Studies Program are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress and professional conduct throughout the program.
Academic standards include:
- Maintaining a cumulative and quarterly grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.
- Successfully completing all required coursework and program requirements.
- Meeting the minimum passing standards established for individual courses and assessments.
- Demonstrating satisfactory professional behavior and conduct consistent with program, university, and clinical expectations.
- Maintaining satisfactory academic progress and meeting all program progression requirements.
The official Physician Assistant Studies degree requirements, including curriculum requirements, course sequencing, academic milestones, and progression requirements, are maintained by UC Davis Office of Graduate Studies. Applicants and students should refer to the Grad Studies degree requirements for the most current program requirements.
Students must successfully meet all requirements for completion of the Master of Health Sciences – Physician Assistant Studies degree program. Program completion requirements include:
- Completion of all required didactic, clinical skills, and supervised clinical practice coursework.
- Achievement of all required program competencies and academic progression requirements.
- Successful completion of all required summative evaluation components.
- Advancement to candidacy and fulfillment of all UC Davis Office of Graduate Studies degree requirements.
- Completion of all degree requirements within the timeframes established by the program and Office of Graduate Studies.
The official and most current Physician Assistant Studies degree requirements, including curriculum requirements, academic milestones, advancement to candidacy requirements, summative evaluation requirements, and completion timelines, are maintained by UC Davis Graduate Studies. Applicants and students should refer to that webpage for the most current and authoritative information regarding degree requirements.
UC Davis Graduate Studies maintains both current and archived versions of the approved degree requirements. Prospective students should review the most recent degree requirements, as students admitted to the program are expected to meet the requirements in effect at the time of matriculation. Students who are already enrolled in the program generally complete the degree under the requirements that were approved and in effect when they entered the program.
Remediation
The PA Program defines remediation as a structured process that supports students in addressing academic or professionalism deficiencies so they can meet program expectations.
For academic remediation, the PA Handbook specifies that students who score below 78% on a summative exam or OSCE must complete the remediation process. Students who score below 75% are considered to have failed the exam and must complete all remediation requirements plus an additional step, including a mandatory meeting with the Director for Learning and Academic Support. Students must earn a minimum of 73% on supervised clinical experiences from the preceptor evaluation of the student (POS) in order to pass a clinical course. Students who earn less than 73% on either section of the POS will be given a remediation plan from course IORs. Some failed evaluations may be resolved through remediation, while others may require repeating the entire clinical course. This decision will be determined using both the quantitative and qualitative results of the POS, as well as discussions with the preceptor and the student.
Per UC Davis Graduate Studies policy, students must also maintain a 3.0+ cumulative and term GPA. Students who are not able to maintain these standards will discuss next steps with their faculty advisors. These could range from creating a remediation plan, taking a temporary Planned Educational Leave (PELP) to withdrawal or disqualification from the program.
Required remediation activities may include participating in a concept review session, submitting a written self-reflection, completing additional clinical experiences, and completing handwritten relearning of missed content within defined timelines. Professionalism concerns follow the remediation process outlined in the UC Davis Code of Academic Conduct and may include warnings, reflective assignments, or additional clinical expectations.
Deceleration Policies
The School of Nursing defines deceleration as an adjustment in a student’s academic progression in which the student moves out of their original cohort and continues the curriculum on an extended timeline. As outlined in the NSHL General Student Handbook, deceleration may occur when a student cannot continue with their cohort due to academic, personal, or program-defined reasons. If permitted by the program, decelerated students may be required to repeat or delay coursework before rejoining a later cohort.
Part-time enrollment is not an option. The program is only approved for full-time enrollment.
Deceleration occurs through two mechanisms: UC Davis Planned Educational Leave Program and additional quarters.
Planned Educational Leave Program (PELP) is a leave of absence. Information and policies about PELP may be found on the Graduate Studies website.
Students may request PELP for the following reasons:
- Personal circumstances that lead to a need for a break from academics, or
- Following course failure that impacts program progress.
Withdrawal
The School of Nursing defines withdrawal as the formal removal of a student from a course or from the program through established university procedures. Students must complete the appropriate withdrawal forms and consult with their Graduate Advisor and Student Services to ensure proper processing. Failure to formally withdraw may result in academic penalties or financial consequences, as described in the NSHL General Student Handbook and Graduate Studies policy.
Dismissal
The School of Nursing defines dismissal as the permanent removal of a student from the program due to failure to meet academic, clinical, or professionalism standards. Dismissal may result from repeated academic deficiencies, failure to remediate, unprofessional conduct, violations of the Code of Academic Conduct, or unsafe behavior in clinical or academic settings. Dismissal decisions follow formal university procedures and are communicated to the student in writing.
The Master of Health Services – Physician Assistant Studies Program is committed to providing students with fair and transparent processes for addressing concerns, grievances, and appeals. Because different types of appeals are governed by university, graduate studies, and program-specific policies, students should follow the process applicable to the issue being appealed.
The following resources provide information regarding common student appeal processes:
Appeals by Topic
Admissions Appeals
Applicants seeking review of an admissions decision should refer to the UC Davis Office of Graduate Studies admissions review process.
Academic Recovery, Disqualification, and Appeal
Students seeking to appeal academic actions, including disqualification decisions, should refer to the Graduate Studies Academic Recovery, Disqualification, and Appeal Policy.
Conduct Appeals
Students appealing decisions related to student conduct matters should follow the appeal procedures outlined in the UC Davis Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline.
Registration, Enrollment, Fee Refunds, Grade Changes, and Administrative Requests
Students seeking exceptions or appeals related to registration, enrollment, fee refunds, retroactive actions, grade changes, or other eligible administrative matters should consult the Office of the University Registrar appeal processes.
Students who are unsure which appeal process applies to their situation should contact their assigned Graduate Advisor, Student Services, or PA Program Leadership for guidance. Additional support resources are available through UC Davis Office of Graduate Studies and the UC Davis Office of Student Support.
Due to the intensity and rigor of the program, students are strongly discouraged from seeking or maintaining employment while enrolled in the PA program.
If a PA student chooses to work during the program, it is his/her responsibility to ensure that employment does not interfere with their learning experience nor hinder academic progress. Program expectations, assignments, deadlines, examinations, and other student responsibilities will not be altered or adjusted to accommodate a working student.
PA students are required to travel to assigned clinical rotation sites, which may be located throughout the region and may be outside the Sacramento area. Reliable transportation is required to ensure timely arrival to all clinical assignments and activities.
Indirect Costs in Clinical Year
Indirect costs during the clinical year of the program are expenses related to the pursuit of completing required clinical site rotations. Clinical year travel and housing costs will vary based upon clinical placement, site location and demographics. Students are responsible for their own transportation, lodging, and travel-related costs for all supervised clinical practice experiences.
The costs associated with completing the clinical year is estimated at $30,908.
For a complete breakdown of cost of attendance, including direct and indirect costs, please visit School of Nursing Cost of Attendance webpage.
