PAs and AAs: pre-qualification education framework

These standards, content maps and reports are designed to help course providers and their students understand  the knowledge, behaviour and skills expected of newly qualified PAs and AAs.

A group of students in a lecuture theatre, wearing scrubs

Generic and shared outcomes for PAs and AAs

This sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours that new PAs and AAs must have when they start work. It’s based on our existing guidance for medical schools, Outcomes for graduates.

PA and AA generic and shared learning outcomes

Quick Links:

Related documents

Two people in medical uniforms listen in a classroom

PA registration assessment content map

This outlines what we expect the assessment to cover when it replaces the PA national exam at the start of regulation. The PARA is a two-part examination, taken after successful completion of a PA qualification, that must be passed before a PA can join our register.
An anaesthesia associate supports during a surgery

AA registration assessment content map

This outlines what the assessment will cover when it comes in at the start of regulation. The anaesthesia associate registration assessment (AARA) will be a new two-part exam consisting of an applied knowledge test and workplace-based assessment of clinical skills.
People in medical scrubs share information around a table

Engagement report for PA and AA pre-qualification education framework

These reports are analyses of the responses we received to our engagement on the pre-qualification framework, PARA content map and AARA content map which took place in 2022 and 2023.