Technical Standards

Technical Standards (A3.13e)

The mission of New York Institute of Technology’s Physician Assistant program is to provide students with a holistic, learner-centered medical education, producing compassionate healthcare professionals committed to life-long learning and leadership in their careers and communities.

Students at New York Institute of Technology’s Physician Assistant program must possess and demonstrate the capacity to complete the curriculum and perform the essential functions required of practicing Physician Assistants upon graduation.

The program requires demonstration of competency in the following categories with or without reasonable accommodations.

1 . Observation

PA students must demonstrate the ability to:

  • Acquire knowledge through various observational methods, including classroom demonstrations and presentations in lectures and laboratories.
  • Observe a patient accurately at a distance and up close.
  • Engage in the observation process using sensory inputs or adaptive methods to gather and act on essential clinical information.

2. Communication

PA students must demonstrate the ability to:

  • Communicate sensitively and effectively with patients and families in a culturally competent manner.
  • Communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written forms with all healthcare team members.
  • Gather information from patients, interpret nonverbal communications, and identify changes in mood, activity, and posture using appropriate aids or technologies as needed.
  • Communicate effectively through speech, reading, writing, or assistive devices and technologies.
  • Communicate effectively in small and large groups.

3. Motor

 PA students must demonstrate the ability to:

  • Execute the patient care necessary regarding diagnostic maneuvers such as palpation, auscultation, and percussion.
  • Provide continuous general care and emergency treatment to patients.
  • Manipulate equipment and instruments, without interruption, to perform basic laboratory tests and procedures required to attain curricular goals. Transport instruments and equipment from one location to another in a timely fashion to facilitate patient care responsibilities and receive educational training.

4. Intellectual

 PA students must demonstrate the ability to:

  • Comprehend three-dimensional relationships and the spatial relationship of structures.
  • Collect, organize, prioritize, analyze, and assimilate large amounts of technical and complex information within a limited timeframe and present the information in various educational settings, including lectures, small group discussions, and individual clinical settings.
  • Analyze, integrate, and apply information appropriately for problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Be alert and attentive at all times in clinical and educational settings.

5. Behavioral and Social Attributes

PA students must demonstrate:

  • The emotional health, maturity, sensitivity, intellectual ability and sound judgment needed to complete all responsibilities associated with the diagnosis and care of patients.
    • Tolerance toward physical, mental, and emotional stress related to training and the profession.
    • Adaptability, flexibility, and the ability to function in the face of uncertainty.
    • A high level of compassion for others, motivation to serve, integrity, and a consciousness of social values.
    • Sufficient interpersonal skills to interact positively and in a culturally competent manner with people from all levels of society, all ethnic backgrounds, and all belief systems.
    • The ability to accept criticism and respond by appropriate modification of behavior.

    The New York Tech PA Program believes that no person shall be denied admission to the program on the basis of any disability, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, provided that the person demonstrates the ability to meet the minimum standards set forth herein. New York Tech’s Physician Assistant program will reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities, provided that the standards required by the program and the integrity of the curriculum are upheld. Mastery of essential skills is required of all students.

    For additional questions, please contact:  New York Institute of Technology Accessibility Services.