Congratulations are in order for the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia Master’s in Science in Physician Assistant Studies program. Graduates from the Class of 2021 earned a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).

Certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is mandated for graduates of physician assistant programs in order to practice the profession in the United States. The NCCPA tracks the first-time pass rate for both the program and the national average.

Since the program’s inception in 2017, graduates have consistently ranked above the national pass rate average with 95% in 2019 and 96% in 2020. The program originally launched with 20 students and increased to 30 students for the Class of 2021.

“This is a testament to the hard work of the faculty, staff and the students in the Class of 2021 who overcame so much,” says Program Director Greg Mangione. “We are extremely proud of all our students and expect great things as they move ahead into the careers.”

 All 75 of the UofSC students across three cohorts have passed the PANCE on either thier first of second attempt.