PA Class of 2025 Achieves 100% First Time Pass Rate on National Certifying Exam

When Enoch Koo set out to find the right Physician Assistant Program, he looked at options across the country.

From his home in Southern California, Koo recognized that the University of Charleston program, with its strong academic reputation and supportive community, would offer him a place where he could not just survive the intensity of PA school but truly excel.

That instinct proved right.

This month, Koo and his UC Physician Assistant Program Class of 2025 achieved a remarkable feat: a 100% first-time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).

“One of our professors said that PA school is like trying to drink from a fire hose—there’s just so much information coming at you,” Koo said, who also served as the class vice president. “But the support system we had really helped us trust the process and build strong relationships with our classmates and faculty.”

That support was woven into every aspect of UC’s program. Early on, students learn to practice with mock patients, facing tough scenarios that test their skills.

“Initially, we were all nervous about applying what we learned in the classroom to real practice. Sometimes, the ‘patients’ can be challenging. However, by the time we reached our rotations and clinicals, we were well-prepared and confident in working with a diverse range of patients in different settings. The preceptors were impressed by how ready we were to take on our roles.”

Now a certified Physician Assistant, Koo is headed to Houston to begin his career, joining a network of UC PA graduates making an impact nationwide.

The PANCE is a standardized exam administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants to assess the clinical knowledge, clinical reasoning, and other medical skills and professional behaviors that have been deemed important for entry-level practice as a PA. It is a crucial step for PA graduates to gain certification and practice as a physician assistant.

“This milestone is a direct reflection of our program’s collective, collaborative dedication to its PA students,” stated Lesley Adkins, UC PA Assistant Professor/Principal Faculty. “From admissions to the classroom to the clinical setting, and all the logistics that go into the behind-the-scenes details, offers a robust education that makes for an exceptional student experience. We are so proud of the Class of 2025 and honored to now call them our colleagues.”

The University of Charleston Physician Assistant Program was established in 2013 with the goal of educating compassionate, skilled caregivers who were ready to practice in a variety of settings. The program is both rigorous and challenging, serving as preparation for students to competently provide medical care in the primary care setting.