Physician Assistant Program Earns Continued Accreditation

Mar 2, 2026 9:00 AM

Frostburg State University announced that the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to its Physician Assistant Program. This designation is awarded to programs that remain in full compliance with ARC-PA Standards and reflects the program’s ongoing commitment to excellence in physician assistant education.

“We are filled with a sense of humble pride having achieved this milestone of full accreditation,” said Laurarose Dunn-O’Farrell, MPAS, MS, PA-C, LCPC, FSU’s chair and PA program director. She noted that the accomplishment reflects significant investment and dedication, and emphasized a continued focus on innovation, resilience and meeting the healthcare needs of the community.

The ARC-PA’s decision followed a comprehensive review process that included institutional reports, a site visit by an external evaluation team and the program’s formal response.

“At Frostburg, we remain committed to delivering a high-quality and forwardthinking education to our PA students,” said FSU Interim President Darlene Brannigan Smith, Ph.D., adding that the university is especially proud of the Class of 2025, which achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the PA National Certifying Exam, exceeding the national average.

Accreditation will remain in effect as long as the program maintains compliance with ARC-PA Standards. The next validation review is scheduled for October 2033, with ongoing reporting required to ensure continued adherence to accreditation requirements.

The decision follows a comprehensive review that included institutional reporting, an external site visit, and an evaluation of the program’s accreditation history.