Developing Competencies and Milestones: Putting the Pieces Together for Student Success.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physician Assistant Studies

Background:

• Competency-based medical education (CBME) is crucial in Physician Assistant (PA) education for ensuring practice readiness.
• CBME aligns educational expectations and assesses essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
• It also aids in meeting accreditation requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a single PA program's methodology for creating program-defined competencies and associated milestones.
• To demonstrate how these elements align with a program's mission and vision.
• To ensure assessments measure tasks required for practice-ready graduates.

Main Methods:

• Initiated with a comprehensive literature search to establish a foundational list of competencies.
• Refined the competency list into a structured format with building-block milestones.
• Involved faculty in the iterative process of competency and milestone development.

Main Results:

• A working list of competencies was developed and refined into a tiered structure with developmental milestones.
• The process facilitated a clear understanding of the program's curriculum, student expectations, and assessment strategies.
• Faculty engagement was integral, aligning with Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant standards.

Conclusions:

• Program-defined competencies and milestones are essential for structuring PA curricula.
• This systematic approach ensures the development of practice-ready graduates.
• Faculty involvement is key to successful competency development and curriculum alignment.