Body
Unit Policy
Title
Department of Health Sciences, Physician Assistant Program: Policy on Clinical Rotation Travel
Introduction
Purpose
This Policy establishes the requirements and processes for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ("UNC-Chapel Hill" or "University") Physician Assistant (PA) Program (Program) students (Students) regarding Clinical Rotation travel.
Scope
This Policy applies to all Students.
Policy Statement
In support of the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine's (SOM) mission to care for the citizens of North Carolina, Students will be assigned and expected to travel to clinical rotations at sites across the State.
Clinical Rotation Travel
To ensure Students are exposed to a broad range of clinical experiences and meet Program Learning Outcomes, Students should expect to participate in a Distant Clinical Rotation for at least two (2) of their Required Clinical Rotations.
All Required Clinical Rotations will take place in North Carolina; the Program does not permit Students to engage in Required Clinical Rotations outside of North Carolina. Students may, however, engage in Elective Rotations outside of North Carolina.
Where a Student is assigned, whether in-state or out-of-state, for a Clinical Rotation depends on many factors, and Students are not guaranteed placement at a specific site or with a specific preceptor.
Clinical Rotation Housing
Students are responsible for securing their own housing for all Clinical Rotations, including Distant Clinical Rotations and out-of-state Elective Rotations, at their own expense.
Students may request housing with the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers (NC AHEC) for their Distant Clinical Rotations by applying through NC AHEC's housing application process (in accordance with this Policy). NC AHEC housing is not available for Students participating in clinical rotations in Chapel Hill, Durham, and/or Raleigh.
AHEC Housing Application Process
Students may apply for NC AHEC housing through the following steps:
- Create a MyAHEC account; and
- Complete and submit a housing application.
- When prompted, Students must identify the county in which their Distant Clinical Rotations will take place to determine the correct NC AHEC region (see the NC AHEC website for a list of regions) for their housing request.
The Program is not involved in the NC AHEC housing process. NC AHEC directly administers and controls the process and, as such, housing availability and assignments are subject to NC AHEC's determinations.
For more information on NC AHEC housing, please see NC AHEC Student Housing and NC AHEC Student Housing Frequently Asked Questions. Students are expected to adhere to all NC AHEC policies and rules while using NC AHEC housing.
Students Unable to Travel
Students who are unable to travel for a Distant Clinical Rotation must apply for accommodations through the University Compliance Office. All Students without a University Compliance Office-approved accommodation are expected to travel to their Distant Clinical Rotations.
Definitions
Clinical Phase: The second phase of the Program's curriculum following a Student's successful completion of the Preclinical Phase. The Clinical Phase consists of Clinical Rotations in a variety of healthcare settings and emphasizes the application of the medical knowledge, patient care, professionalism, and cultural humility, interpersonal and communication skills, systems-based practice, and self-assessment skills Students acquire during the Preclinical Phase with the overall goal of preparing Students for entry into the PA profession.
Distant Clinical Rotation: A Clinical Rotation that is greater than sixty (60) miles from the location of the UNC-Chapel Hill PA Program – 321 South Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.
Elective Rotation: Clinical Rotations that may differ by Student and which allow Students to gain exposure to, or a deeper understanding of medical specialties related to their clinical areas of interest.
Learning Outcomes: The medical knowledge, interpersonal, clinical and technical skills, professional behaviors, and clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities that a Student has attained after completing a curricular component of the Program. All Learning Outcomes are assessed.
Clinical Rotation: A Supervised Clinical Practice Experience for which there are published Learning Outcomes and Student evaluation mechanisms.
Required Clinical Rotation: Rotations that the Program requires all Students to complete. Required Clinical Rotation does not include Elective Rotations.
Related Requirements
External Regulations
Unit Policies, Standards, and Procedures
Contact Information
Primary Contact
Name: Administrative Support Specialist
Telephone: 919-962-8008
Email: paprogram@unc.edu
Publication Details
Issuing Officer: Kathleen Hanlon, PA Program Director
Effective Date: August 1, 2026
Review Cycle: Biennial
Next Review Date: August 1, 2028