


Though programs can use the PACKRAT results to assess their curriculum content, in practice, many utilize it mainly as a self-assessment tool for students to gauge their knowledge. So first, why does the EOC exist in a world that already has the PACKRAT and the EOR? So, let’s cover what you should know about the exam as a current or one-day PA student. However, with students now vaccinated and programs resuming relatively normal operations, you’re likely to be hearing more about the EOC. Then, as with most things, PAEA suspended the rollout within a few months due to an inability for programs to meet the in-person proctoring requirement. In early 2020, the End of Curriculum (EOC) exam was launched. However, the exams themselves were developed by the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), a national organization representing physician assistant educational programs in the US that currently counts every accredited PA school in the country as a member.Ībout five years ago, PAEA started work on developing another kind of exam tool aimed at evaluating a “PA student’s medical knowledge as one component of their readiness for graduation.” During development, 80 PA programs participated in at least one stage or another to generate the first version. Though adoption rates are quite high, whether these exam tools are used is ultimately the decision of individual PA programs. Many programs use this exam as a board prep component for students nearing graduation.Īround for the past eight years, the End of Rotation (EOR) exam is used during the clinical year and, as its name suggests, assesses students’ knowledge at the end of each clinical rotation. Typically, it’s administered near the end of didactic training and, later, clinical training. The PACKRAT has been around for over 25 years and is primarily a self-assessment tool for PA students. If you’re a current PA student or have been scoping out the curricula of PA schools as an aspiring PA student, you’re likely acquainted with a couple of exams integrated into PA training: the PACKRAT (Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Tool) and the End of Rotation (EOR) exam.
