Matriculation Preparation for Admitted Students
The pathways to gain entry to the PA Program are the Selective Internal Admission Pathway (current Butler University students and/or alumni) and the Standard Admission Pathway.
Specific details regarding admissions requirements and processes for each pathway, special considerations, and timelines can be found on the Butler PA Program Admission Information page. Please contact PAadmission@butler.edu for additional admission questions.
On January 1, 2004, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare organizations (JCAHO) instituted new regulations that must be followed for hospitals, home health agencies, clinics, etc., to gain or maintain accreditation status. One of these regulations requires that all persons who are involved with inpatient care activities, i.e., employees, volunteers and students, must have criminal background checks as well as other healthcare-related checks (e.g., up-to-date vaccinations, TB tests).
Candidates offered admission to the PA Program will undergo a criminal background check during orientation and at least once during enrollment. Students will be required to pay for this process. Continuation within the Program is dependent on an acceptable background check that would allow completion of the Program and credentialing requirements and is at the discretion of the Program Director in consultation with the Office of the Dean. Further, any infractions may prevent continuation in the didactic phase of the Program, delay or prevent clinical placement and/or graduation. Should an incident occur any time during the program, the student must self-report the incident to the Program Director or Associate Dean of the College immediately.
More information will be provided at the time of matriculation and orientation to help students obtain criminal background checks.
Rationale
Health care providers are entrusted with the health, safety, and welfare of patients, have access to controlled substances, confidential information, and operate in settings that require the exercise of good judgment and ethical behavior. Therefore, it is imperative that an assessment of the student’s possible impairment that could diminish the student’s capacity to function in such a setting be evaluated. This helps to promote the highest level of integrity in patient care.
Clinical facilities that serve as educational and training sites for students increasingly require drug screening for individuals who provide services within the facility and particularly for those individuals who provide patient care. Clinical rotations are an essential element of the curriculum and are required of PA degree programs. In addition, many licensing agencies require that individuals pass a drug screen as a condition of licensure and/or employment. Thus, it is in the interest of both students and the Program to identify and resolve potential issues where a student may not be allowed to participate in a clinical rotation due to the use of controlled or illegal substances.
The Program has the responsibility to attend to factors that may adversely affect the security of the clinical environment and thus increase liability exposure. As a result, the Program seeks to enhance its scrutiny of the students involved in patient care activities and who are in clinical settings.
Process
All students will be required to undergo a drug screen in preparation for clinical rotations. A negative drug screen is required for participation in any clinical experience. Additionally, at any point in the Program, a student may be requested to undergo an immediate, random drug screen if there is a compelling indication to do so. The Program may re-screen students at any time. Students enrolled in the PA Program will receive information about the requirement for drug screening, deadlines for compliance, results reporting, and associated fees. Students will be responsible for the cost of required drug screening.
Results of the student drug screen will be reported to the Program Director. Students who receive a positive screen will be reviewed by the PA Program and/or College’s Student Professional Conduct Committee and are subject to the Student Substance Use, Abuse and/or Dependency Policy of the College as printed in the COPHS Student Handbook, 2016-17.
The student has the right to review the information reported by the designated vendor for accuracy and completeness and to request that the designated vendor verify that the drug screen results are correct. The student should be prepared to validate any positive results with the laboratory Medical Review Officer within 24 hours of testing. Failure to respond immediately to these requests could result in disciplinary action, delay in rotation start dates, and/or dismissal from the Program. Prior to making a final determination that may adversely affect the student, the Program will inform the student of his/her rights, how to contact the designated vendor to challenge the accuracy of the report, and the role of the designated vendor in any decisions made.
If required by a specific clinical site, a student may be required to submit to an additional drug screening based on the contractual agreements with those clinical sites. This may occur through the designated vendor or it is possible that a contract with a specific clinical training site may have specific
requirements dictating the process, handling, and reporting of “for cause” drug screening of an individual student while the student is participating in a clinical rotation there. All drug screens are obtained at the student’s expense.
Students who refuse to submit to any required drug screen will be dismissed from the Program.
Positive drug screen results
Students who do not pass a required drug screen may face disciplinary action, including administrative withdrawal from courses, placement on a leave of absence, or dismissal from the Program. Students may be referred for evaluation and treatment as a condition for remaining in the Program. Costs incurred are the responsibility of the student.
Students found to have a substance use problem that will likely pose a danger to patient care, as determined through the drug screening evaluation process, will be referred for independent evaluation and treatment at the student’s expense.
Butler University has the right to release, for reasons deemed legitimate, the following information and/or likeness about any Butler student including but not limited to honors lists, programs, student directories, yearbooks, news releases, and similar publications. The student has the right to request otherwise. Students will sign a release of information waiver at orientation.
Students entering the PA Program are expected to demonstrate competency in the use of medical terminology by passing a program developed medical terminology examination. A study list will be available no later than February prior to matriculation. The examination is administered online, will be available by April 1, and may be taken as many times as needed to receive a passing score. Failure to pass the 100-question examination with a score of 80% or higher prior to May 1 will result in the student being declared ineligible to matriculate the Program.
Students are required to have a physical exam by a licensed healthcare provider that has been completed within three months of beginning the MPAS program. The required physical examination and many immunizations may be provided at Butler University Health Services prior to orientation.
Students must provide completed immunization records, health history, and a TB screening questionnaire prior to orientation. Complete required forms and schedule appointments by going to https://myhealth.butler.edu.
Students are financially responsible for the costs associated with obtaining physical exams. If students have any questions or concerns, call 317-940-9385.
View the Health Services FAQ for more information on required immunizations.
Students are required to have proof of immunizations prior to matriculation. The PA Program requires immunization based on current Centers for Disease Control recommendations for health professionals and in compliance with Butler University. Students are financially responsible for the costs associated with immunizations.
Below are the required immunizations to be completed prior to matriculation to the University, clinical rotations, and international travel. The vaccinations currently required prior to matriculation to the University include:
Matriculation to University
- COVID-19
- Must provide date and proof of completed vaccination series
- May provide date(s) of additional booster immunizations received
- Tdap must be up to date
- Hepatitis B (3 or 2, depending on product given)
- Must provide dates of two valid immunizations with Heplisay-B; or must provide dates of three valid immunizations with RecombivaxHB or Engerix-B
- Must have started series prior to arrival on campus
- May provide a quantitative (numeric) blood test as proof of serum immune titers
- Varicella (Chicken Pox) (2)mi
- Must provide dates of two valid immunizations
- May provide a quantitative (numeric) blood test as proof of serum immune titers
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) (2)
- Must provide dates of two valid immunizations May provide proof of serum titers immune results
- Meningococcal B vaccine for students under 26 years of age (2) Brand names: Bexsero or Trumenba
- Two doses
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine Serogroups ACWY (2) Brand names: Menactra, Menveo, or MenQuadfi Two doses
Recommended immunizations
- Hepatitis A
- HPV series for men and women (2-3)
- Influenza
International travel immunizations
- All required immunizations listed above
- Those students participating in international rotations are expected to meet CDC immunization recommendations for international travel for that particular country prior to travel dates.
Additional immunizations and screenings
Students will be required to have a flu shot annually as well as IGRA/Quantiferon Gold Plus blood testing for tuberculosis during orientation, followed by an annual screening.
Many clinical site partners are now requiring the initial COVID vaccine series and annual COVID vaccine boosters so it is highly advised to complete these annual requirements to maximize your clinical rotation placement opportunities.
Additionally, a urine drug screening is also required of all students before starting clinical rotations.
All students must access the myhealth.butler.edu portal using the Butler ID and password you received via email. Here you access the Health History and Tuberculosis Screening Questionnaires. Students with questions or concerns should contact 317-940-9385 or healthservices@butler.edu.
Antibody titers & TB skin tests
Blood draws for Varicella, Rubella, Rubeola, Mumps and Hepatitis B as well as IGRA/Quantiferon Gold Plus blood testing will be done in conjunction with Student Health Services during orientation.
If you have had a positive TB skin test in the past, you will need to submit a copy of the TB test result, physician clearance documented on letterhead from the past 12 months, and a copy of the chest x-ray report if completed as a part of a TB work up/evaluation/treatment during orientation.
Health documentation
Students are required to document immunization compliance and submit titer results in Exxat Approve. Students should also upload confirmation of completion of the required physical examination on the form provided by Butler University Health Services. Health screening records, including physical examination findings, vital signs, and provider documentation, are submitted directly to Butler University Health Services and are not uploaded to Exxat or any program-managed platform.
Student health records are confidential and are not accessible to or reviewed by program faculty or staff. The program distinguishes between health records, which are maintained exclusively by Butler University Health Services and inaccessible to program personnel, and immunization and screening compliance documentation, which is maintained in Exxat Approve. Access to immunization and screening records within Exxat Approve is restricted to the experiential education team and is used solely to verify clinical rotation readiness. Students provide written authorization prior to any release of immunization and screening results to clinical training sites.