NAU\u2019s Department of Physician Assistant Studies offers three 12-credit online post-professional graduate certificates for Physician Assistants\/Associates. These certificates are designed to help PAs understand and address the critical and complex needs of patients, communities, and populations within the health care system. The certificates provide PAs with important education around patient safety and quality improvement, population health, patient-centered care, health economics, health policy, health informatics, and health equity.<\/p>\n
NAU\u2019s Graduate Certificates for PAs are fully transferable to the NAU Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program<\/a>, providing a clear pathway for those who choose to advance their education.<\/p>\n The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Certificate prepares physician associates\/assistants (PAs) to lead system-level initiatives that enhance safety, efficiency, and quality across the continuum of care.<\/p>\n Rooted in health systems science and aligned with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) best practices, the program integrates theory and practice from healthcare systems management, health informatics, and organizational change to cultivate advanced competencies in analyzing, designing, and implementing evidence-based safety and quality interventions.<\/p>\n The curriculum of this certificate is aligned with the content of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) examination. Students completing the certificate will be prepared to sit for the Certified Professional in Patient Safety credential (CPPS)™ examination<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n Students must satisfactorily complete each of the 3 credit hour courses below to obtain the Graduate Certificate in Patient Safety & Quality Improvement<\/p>\n Additional information about the Patient Safety & Quality Improvement graduate certificate can be found in the NAU Academic Catalog<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n The purpose of the Health Equity Certificate is to provide physician associates\/assistants (PAs) with knowledge and competencies to contribute to a patient-centered, equitable, and accessible health care system.<\/p>\n PAs will examine structural, economic, systems, and other factors that influence health outcomes; systematically address the complex needs of vulnerable patients, communities, and populations through the critical analysis of current evidence and case studies; and recommend solutions to address inequities in health care.<\/p>\n PAs who complete the certificate program will be prepared to meaningfully contribute to the improvement of health and health care systems as PA leaders and experts in health equity.<\/p>\n Students must satisfactorily complete each of the 3 credit hour courses below to obtain the Graduate Certificate in Health Equity:<\/p>\n Additional information about the Health Equity graduate certificate can be found in the NAU Academic Catalog<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n The Operations and Leadership Certificate provides physician associates\/assistants (PAs) with knowledge and competencies to contribute to a patient-centered, safe, and cost-effective health care system.<\/p>\n PAs will develop a deep understanding of the U.S. health care delivery system, financing models, and patient outcomes. PAs will apply frameworks for collecting, analyzing, and using data to inform decisions, facilitate care coordination, and improve health outcomes of populations within and outside the health system; manage people, projects, and change within organizations; and apply informatics-based solutions to improve health care delivery.<\/p>\n PAs who complete the certificate program will be prepared to serve as integral members of the leadership team in industry, health care organizations, academic institutions, and other health environments.<\/p>\n Students must satisfactorily complete each of the 3 credit hour courses below to obtain the Graduate Certificate in Operations & Leadership:<\/p>\n Additional information about the Operations and Leadership graduate certificate can be found in the NAU Academic Catalog <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n Current tuition and fee information can be found at the Student & Departmental Account Services<\/a> website.<\/p>\n The program offers three enrollment cycles: fall, summer, and spring.<\/p>\n CME Information<\/strong><\/p>\n Each of the courses in the graduate certificate curricula are approved to offer 15 credit hours of AAPA Cat 1 CME.<\/p>\n NAU\u2019s Physician Assistant Studies Department also offers a Doctor of Medical Science degree for Physician Assistants<\/a>. A student who completes one of these certificates will have their credits transfer seamlessly into the Doctor of Medical Science program, should they wish to pursue that degree.<\/p>\n\n
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\nExplore our PA graduate certificates:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n Patient Safety & Quality Improvement Tab Open<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n
\n Health Equity Tab Closed<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n
\n Operations & Leadership Tab Closed<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n \n
Patient Safety & Quality Improvement Accordion Open<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Health Equity Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Operations & Leadership Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Tuition & fees<\/h3>\n
Admission requirements<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Doctor of Medical Science <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Contact us<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n