Program Description and Curriculum
The SHCC/MXC PA Program is a full-time 25-month program with resources located at Malcolm X College, SHCC and nearby medical facilities. The majority of instruction is provided by physician assistant program clinical faculty and attending physicians of SHCC. Twenty-six students are admitted each June. The first 13 months entail classroom and supervised clinical instruction. During the final twelve months, students are assigned to a variety of settings for extensive clinical instruction and practice. The program is a full-time course of study with no provision for part-time or evening study. The PA Program does not offer advanced placement for educational course work or experience. Graduates receive an Associate of Applied Science degree and Certificate of Completion and are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). National certification is a requirement for licensure in Illinois and most other states.

While there are various academic degrees and/or certificates presented at the completion of PA education, reflecting the different types of institutions, PA education at accredited institutions must include the same elements. In Illinois, the degree earned is not a criterion of licensure. Licensure rules and criteria vary from state to state. In a few settings, a minimum academic credential of a baccalaureate degree (in any field), graduation from an accredited PA program and national certification are required. The staff of Malcolm X College's Advising and Transfer Center will assist students and graduates who wish to pursue a baccalaureate degree at institutions of higher learning. 

Master Degree Option: The program has an affiliation agreement with St. Francis University, Lorreto, PA., which provides an opportunity for its PA students to obtain a Master of Medical Science. During the second year, our PA students with a Bachelor Degree have the option to register and apply for a Master’s Degree. Twenty of the Clinical Credits will be transferred to St. Francis. During the start of the fall semester to the following summer semester the students enroll in graduate courses: Research, Advanced Pharmacology and Project.

The SHCC/MXC PA academic program requires the completion of 78 credit hours. During the first or pre-clinical year of the program, 38 credit hours in physician assistant core curriculum courses are required. The second year of training in clinical settings requires the completion of 40 credit hours, or 11 clinical courses/rotations. Throughout the curriculum students are evaluated with objective tests and clinical performance evaluations.

While on clinical rotations, students are instructed during the provision of direct patient care as members of health care teams and during formal lectures and conferences provided by educational coordinators. Clinical year students receive instruction for a minimum of 40 hours per week to a maximum of 100 hours a week, depending on the setting. Some clinical rotations require overnight call and weekend schedules. Students must be able to maintain sufficient flexibility to respond to unexpected patient care demands. 

The SHCC/MXC PA Program has for 20 years provided a high quality, cost-effective physician assistant education. It provides students with excellent clinical instruction and training experiences presented by an enthusiastic faculty of physician assistants, physicians and other professionals. Several types of academic support services are utilized by students for improving retention and completion rates for enrollees. Students are expected to attend all scheduled PA classes, seminars, physical assessment and skills sessions and clinical rotations. Scheduled classes/activities may involve all days of the week (including weekends), and day, evening and/or night hours.

Course Descriptions: