Post-Acceptance Requirements

Students who are offered and accept a seat in the program will need to complete and submit post-acceptance documents as outlined in their acceptance letter.

Documents:

All accepted students must complete and submit the following documents prior to matriculation. Instructions will be emailed to accepted students.

Post-acceptance documents
- Technical Standards Attestation Form
- Health Information Release Form
- Consent to Share Information Form
- Human Subject Consent Form
Immunization history, titers, and tuberculosis screening records
Documented proof of health insurance
A certified background check
Official transcripts documenting completion of a bachelor’s degree, in-progress coursework, and/or outstanding prerequisites

Technical Standards:

All students must meet the minimum technical standards with or without reasonable accommodation necessary to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies required for an entry-level physician assistant. All candidates who are offered a seat in the program will be required to sign a statement attesting to their ability to meet these technical standards.

Immunization Records:

All students who accept a seat in the UC PA Program must submit immunization records and/or proof of immunity by submitting an IgG Quantitative titer. Email immunizations, TB test results, and titer documents to jeanettebane@ucwv.edu.

Acceptable Documentation

The documents below will satisfy requirements:

Immunization records from a healthcare provider’s office(s).
Immunizations from grade school that are a part of the student’s permanent record.
Childhood immunization booklet records.
Official lab reports submitted for titers that include the results and the reference range on the report.

Documentation must not include any other health information. Records which contain any other medical information not directly related to immunizations, titer results, or tuberculosis screening will be returned to the sender.

International Students & Documentation

International students who have received immunizations outside of The United States must submit records that are legible and in English. International students who cannot locate documentation of their immunizations need to speak with their healthcare
provider and follow their provider’s recommendations to meet our requirements.

Vaccines:

Students must prove immunity to the following:

Hepatitis B:

Provide three (3) vaccine dates per the guidelines published by the CDC, and
A record of a quantitative hepatitis B surface antibody (HBs Ab IgG) titer validating current immunity.
Be careful, as there is also a Hepatitis B antigen titer, which will NOT be accepted.
What to do if a hepatitis B titer indicates no immunity:
- Receive one additional hepatitis B vaccine, and
- Repeat the IgG Quantitative titer 4 weeks later, and
- Submit documentation of the additional vaccination, and
- Submit documentation of the follow-up titer report.
- If the repeat titer validates immunity, no additional steps are needed.
- If the repeat titer shows no immunity:
  - Complete the two remaining Hepatitis B vaccinations per the CDC recommended schedule, and
  - Submit documentation to note the completion of the remaining Hepatitis B vaccines, then
  - No additional steps needed.

MMR (measles, mumps, & rubella):

Provide two (2) vaccine dates per the guidelines published by the CDC, or
A record of an IgG MMR titer validating current immunity.

Varicella (chicken pox):

Provide two (2) vaccine dates per the guidelines published by the CDC, or
A record of an IgG varicella titer validating current immunity, or
Documentation from a healthcare provider that shows evidence of a previous varicella infection.

Influenza (flu):

A record of having received a viral influenza vaccine during the fall semester preceding matriculation, and
A record of having received a viral influenza vaccine by October 1st of each year while enrolled in the program.

NOTE: Documentation must include the date of the vaccine and the lot number.

Tetanus/Pertussis:

A record of having received a Tdap vaccine within the past 10 years prior to matriculation.
If students have passed the 10-year mark since their last Tdap vaccine prior to the start of their clinical year, they will be required to update their Tdap immunization and provide documentation of such.

Meningococcal:

A record of one (1) dose of a meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY). Either Menactra® or Menveo®. The Serogroup B meningococcal vaccine (Bexsero® or Trumenba®) is recommended.

COVID-19:

Records of all COVID-19 vaccine dates.
If a student is not vaccinated against COVID-19, they should speak with their healthcare provider and refer to CDC guidelines.

Exemption:

In the event a student should need to request a vaccine exemption, the process is as follows:

Email the Dean of Students, Virginia Moore at virginiamoore@ucwv.edu and request a vaccination exemption form, and
Return the completed vaccine exemption form to the Dean of Students, and
Receive an official University letter from the Dean of Students that notes either approval or denial of the immunization exemption request, and
Email a copy of the approval or denial letter to the UC PA Admissions Coordinator at jeanettebane@ucwv.edu.

NOTE: Exemption Statement: Students need to be aware that receiving an approval for vaccination exemptions may prevent them from completing assigned clinical placements as sites define their vaccination requirements. If a student with an approved exemption is assigned to a site which requires vaccination(s) for which they have received an exemption, they may need to be rescheduled to a different site and/or at a later time based on preceptor/site availability. Such a situation could delay clinicals and/or prevent graduation.

Tuberculosis Screening:

Students have two tuberculosis screening options. Choose one of the two screening options below – you DO NOT need to complete both.
- Option One:
  - Obtain a Two-Step Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test (TST):
  - Submit a report for each step.
  NOTE: Documentation must include the test date, result, date result was read, and who read the result.
  OR
- Option Two: Obtain ONE of the following TB blood tests and submit a copy of the test results – options include:
  - - Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), or
    - QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus), or
    - T-SPOT®.TB test (T-Spot).
  NOTE: Documentation must include the name of the test, test date, and whether the result was positive or negative.
What to do if the tuberculosis screening is positive:
- Obtain a chest x-ray, and
- Submit the results of the chest x-ray, and
- Follow CDC guidelines for next steps.

NOTE: Tuberculosis screening results need to be within one year prior to matriculation.
NOTE: Once a student has matriculated into the program, a one-step TB Skin Test may be required prior to the start of clinical rotations.
NOTE: Applicants and students are responsible for costs associated with immunizations, titers, and TB screenings.

Certified Background Check

Prior to matriculation, all students who are admitted to the program will be required to have a certified background check through a background check vendor as determined by the PA Program. Details will be provided at the time of acceptance. Admittance
to the PA Program is contingent upon a successful background check. A background check revealing information that would prohibit a student from participating in clinical rotations or preventing licensure will make him/her ineligible for the program and
will thus result in dismissal from the program.

NOTE: Applicants and students are responsible for costs associated with background checks.

Drug Screens

Students enrolled in the UC PA Program are subject to random drug screenings at any point during the PA program. Failure to perform or successfully pass a drug screen will render the student ineligible for clinical rotations and will thus result in dismissal
from the program.

NOTE: Applicants and students are responsible for costs associated with drug screens.

Health Insurance

Students are required to maintain personal health insurance throughout their enrollment in the UC PA Program. Proof of insurance must be provided prior to matriculation. Details will be provided at the time of acceptance. Students who are not covered
by a relative’s health care plan can find more information about applying for WV Medicaid here. Students will be responsible for any personal health
care costs incurred while enrolled in the program which could include, but is not limited to: illness, immunizations, titers, PPD testing, health evaluation required after possible exposure to communicable disease, or other accidental injuries sustained
during program mandated training activities.

NOTE: Applicants and students are responsible for costs associated with health coverage.

Health Information Release

Each clinical site where students are assigned for their supervised clinical practice experiences requires a copy of the student’s immunization history and tuberculosis screening results. In order to facilitate provision of this information to the clinical
sites, the PA Program requires admitted applicants to sign a health information release form that authorizes the program to:

Maintain a copy of this information in a student record, AND
Release copies of this information to the clinical sites where students are assigned for training.

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