POTSDAM -- The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted provisional accreditation to the new Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at Clarkson University.

Physician assistants (PAs) are licensed health professionals who practice medicine as members of a team with supervising physicians. PAs deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services to diverse populations in rural, urban and suburban settings.

As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs prescribe medication, conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care and assist in surgery.

The Clarkson PA program is a 28-month course of study granting a master of science degree in physician assistant studies.

Students in the first Master of Physician Assistant Studies class will begin their studies in January. Applications for the January 2013 class will be available through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants in the coming months at https://portal.caspaonline.org .

For more about Clarkson's Physician Assistant program, visit http://www.clarkson.edu/pa, call 268-7942, or email pa@clarkson.edu .

ARC-PA is the national accrediting agency for all U.S.-based physician assistant programs.