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P.A. Student Employment Policy
Website:
www.nlupaprogram.com
Effective Date: 11/1/2026 Last Reviewed: 11/1/2026 Policy Statement:
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program P.A. Student Employment Policy Effective Date: 11/1/2026 Responsible Office: Program Director and PA Faculty Review Cycle: Annually Related ARC-PA Standards: A3.01,
1. Purpose The National Louis University (NLU) Physician Assistant (PA) Program is a rigorous, full-time graduate professional program requiring substantial academic preparation, classroom and laboratory participation, clinical skills development, examinations, and supervised clinical practice experiences. The purpose of this policy is to establish expectations regarding employment while enrolled in the PA Program and to ensure that outside employment does not interfere with a student's academic, clinical, professional, or attendance responsibilities. This policy is consistent with the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education, Sixth Edition, including Standard A3.14i regarding student employment. 2. Policy Statement The NLU PA Program strongly discourages students from maintaining employment while enrolled in the program . The PA curriculum is a demanding, full-time professional program. Students are expected to devote the time and attention necessary to successfully complete all academic, clinical, professional, and program requirements. Students who elect to maintain employment while enrolled do so with the understanding that employment is an outside commitment and will not be considered a basis for modifying, reducing, rescheduling, or otherwise accommodating any program requirement . Students are responsible for ensuring that employment does not interfere with their ability to meet all program requirements. 3. Program Requirements and Employment Students are expected to allocate sufficient time for required coursework, independent study, examinations, assignments, laboratory and simulation activities, clinical skills development, advising, professional activities, and supervised clinical practice experiences. The program will not accommodate employment-related conflicts involving: 1. Required class, laboratory, simulation, or small-group activities. 2. Examinations, assessments, or competency evaluations.
3. Assignments, projects, or other academic deadlines. 4. Required meetings, advising, remediation, or professional activities. 5. Clinical rotation schedules, attendance, or required clinical hours. 6. Clinical site requirements or preceptor expectations. 7. Any other mandatory academic or clinical program requirement.
Employment will not constitute an approved reason for an absence, missed examination, late assignment, missed clinical day, incomplete requirement, or failure to meet a program competency. 4. Clinical Education and Employment Clinical education is an essential component of PA education. Clinical rotations may require participation during early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, or other times determined by the clinical site. The program does not guarantee that clinical schedules will accommodate a student's employment schedule. Students may not request or expect a clinical rotation, clinical site, preceptor assignment, or schedule to be modified because of employment. Students participating in supervised clinical practice experiences must function in their designated role as NLU PA students and comply with all program and clinical-site requirements and policies. Employment activities may not be represented as PA Program educational activities unless specifically approved by the program. Students may not use employment at a healthcare organization to substitute for required PA Program clinical education or to replace clinical-site employees. 5. Healthcare Employment and Prior Credentials Students who have prior healthcare employment, licensure, certification, or other professional credentials remain subject to this policy. Prior professional experience or credentials do not substitute for PA Program educational requirements. When participating in program activities and clinical experiences, students function in the role of PA students and must comply with applicable supervision, identification, scope-of-practice, and clinical-site requirements. 6. Employment by the University or Program Consistent with ARC-PA requirements, PA students are not required to work for the PA Program. Students may not substitute for or function as instructional faculty, clinical staff, or administrative staff. Students may participate in approved educational activities such as peer tutoring, mentoring, or other student-learning activities when authorized by the program, provided such activities do not interfere with required program activities and do not substitute for faculty or staff responsibilities. 7. Student Responsibility Students who choose to maintain employment remain fully responsible for meeting all academic, clinical, professional, and attendance requirements. Employment does not reduce or modify expectations related to academic performance, attendance, clinical competency, professionalism, patient safety, examinations, assignments, or progression.
Students are encouraged to consider the substantial time commitment associated with PA education before accepting or continuing employment. Students experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to utilize appropriate National Louis University resources, including financial aid, financial counseling, and student support services. Financial hardship or employment obligations do not alter the academic or clinical requirements of the PA Program. 8. Consequences of Employment-Related Noncompliance Maintaining employment is not, by itself, considered a violation of this policy. However, students remain subject to all applicable NLU and PA Program academic, attendance, professionalism, clinical education, and progression policies. If employment contributes to missed classes or clinical experiences, poor academic or clinical performance, failure to complete required work, unprofessional conduct, or failure to meet program requirements, the student may be subject to the same academic or professional consequences applicable to all students in the NLU PA Program. The program will not provide exceptions or accommodations solely because a student has chosen to work. 9. Student Acknowledgment Upon matriculation, students will acknowledge that they have reviewed and understand this policy and agree that:
1. The NLU PA Program strongly discourages employment while enrolled. 2. The PA Program is a rigorous, full-time graduate professional program.
3. Students who choose to work remain responsible for meeting all program requirements. 4. Employment will not be accepted as a basis for modifying program requirements. 5. The program will not accommodate employment-related conflicts. 6. Employment will not constitute an approved reason for missing required academic or clinical activities. 7. Clinical schedules will not be modified solely to accommodate employment. 8. Failure to meet program requirements because of employment may result in consequences under applicable NLU or PA Program policies.
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