Physician Associate (PA) Surgical Year Certificate Course

Offered with full funding by HEE and facilitated by Canterbury Christ Church University

As a PA working in Trauma and Orthopaedic surgery for 9 years it has been my privilege to develop post-graduate PA training in surgical skills and anatomy, to support PAs in their first year working in a surgical specialty with the aim to develop surgical skills knowledge and experience. 


The year certificate includes:

  1. RCS accredited Foundations in Surgical Skills and Anatomy (2 weeks face to face at Medway campus)
  2. Surgical practice – ideally the PA will rotate through two/three surgical specialities during the year with each week including
    • Ward round/ ward work
    • 2 sessions in theatre 
    • 1 out-patient clinic
    • Emergency work
    • 1 post-call review session
    • Post on take round
    • Full integrated working practice into a surgical team including attendance and presenting at MDT’s, X-ray meetings and ward meetings
    • Weekly Trust based teaching
  1. A specialist module provided by the university eg- appendicular skeleton x-ray interpretation for those working in orthopaedics
  2. Action learning sets throughout the year
  3. University liaison support
  4. PA to complete an e-portfolio including
    • 3 meetings with their supervisor per speciality
    • Work based assessments
    • Patient log
  1. Learning agreement between the Trust, the University and the PA


The foundations in surgical skills and anatomy course was designed in conjunction with the Royal College or Surgeons and is accredited by them for 60 CPD points.  The course has proved really popular with PAs and has received good feedback enabling the PAs to practice skills in a simulated environment. This is a two week face to face course based at the simulation suite on CCCU Medway Campus. It covers several topics including suturing, gloving, gowning, patient positioning, surgical instrument recognition and use, introduction to anaesthetics, wound debridement, wound management, introduction to minimally invasive surgery, assessment and management of the surgically unwell patient, introduction to MRI and CT interpretation as well as covering relevant anatomy. This 2 week course can be undertaken as a stand alone element.

If you are interested in this opportunity and would like more information please contact me, Roz Tucker (PA Surgical Year Certificate Programme Lead) at ro********@ca********.uk