New PA and AA courses process

We have a duty to make sure physician associate (PA) and anaesthesia associate (AA) pre-qualification education in the UK is of a high standard. We have a responsibility to make sure that all PA and AA courses meet our standards.

All institutions looking to establish a new PA or AA course will be subject to a set period of quality assurance. During this period there are various stages, outlined below, which must be satisfied before we can add a new course to the list of the approved courses.

The process

Initial screening

  • An initial screening application should be submitted alongside supporting documentation including financial assurance.
  • Following a review of the application the proposed course will receive a letter to confirm the next steps.
  • We approve each PA or AA course in its own right; therefore all new courses will result in the steps below being undertaken.

SAQ completion

  • The course will be asked to submit a self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ) alongside supporting documentation to demonstrate how they intend to meet the standards set out in Standards for the delivery of PA and AA pre-qualification education. This is the same assessment that approved PA and AA courses complete each year as part of the PQA process.
  • The SAQ will be reviewed by a small team of GMC staff and associates who will agree whether they are assured that the course can move to the next stage of the process or if further information on the SAQ is required.

Screening visits

  • Once the team is satisfied with the SAQ submission, an initial screening visit to the course will be arranged. The purpose of this visit is to further explore the organisation’s plans regarding the proposed course. The organisation will receive feedback following this.
  • If the team agree that the course is on track for the planned commencement date the organisation will receive a letter from the Director of Education and Standards to confirm this.
  • Following this letter the organisation will be asked to provide regular updates on progress of the course and there will a follow up visit/meeting prior to the first cohort of students being admitted.

Rolling QA

  • Once students are admitted, there is a rolling quality assurance cycle until the first cohort of students graduates.
  • During this process the course will submit an annual SAQ providing updates on progress towards meeting GMC standards, supplemented by visits from a team of GMC staff/associates to explore the SAQ responses and triangulate these with various stakeholders (students, educators and clinical placement providers). The team may also observe assessments and visit LEPs.
  • The course will receive an annual summary which outlines the quality activities undertaken each academic year and the course's progress towards meeting GMC standards.

GMC Council sign off

  • The course must demonstrate that it meets GMC standards by the time that the first cohort of students is due to graduate.
  • During the final academic year for the first cohort of students, if the GMC team feels the course is sufficiently meeting GMC standards, a recommendation to GMC Council will be made for the course to be added to the GMC's list of approved PA and AA courses.
  • A letter confirming GMC Council's decision will be sent to the course prior to graduation of the first cohort.

Proactive QA

  • Following successful completion of the process, the course will enter the annual proactive QA process which existing approved PA and AA courses already undertake.
  • Any organisations interested in setting up a new PA or AA course should email the Monitoring and Improvement team to request a copy of the initial application form and set up an initial discussion meeting.