Dress Code

Physician Assistant Program Policies & Procedures

Updated: October 29, 2025 (ARC-PA 6th Ed. Std.: A3.01, A3.04)

Policy:

In order to promote professionalism and unity all students are required to adhere to the following dress code standards:

Monday–Wednesday – Scrubs
- Students are required to wear scrubs that are clean, well-maintained, and professional in appearance.
- Students may wear a plain or Bethel attire outerwear with scrubs.
Thursday – Bethel PA Scrub Day:
- Students are required to wear black scrubs with the official Bethel logo.
- The designated Thursday attire may be required on alternate days if students are scheduled for community activities or special events.
Friday – Casual/Spirit Day:
- Students may wear jeans paired with Bethel attire (e.g., approved T-shirts, sweatshirts, or other Bethel branded apparel).
- Alternatively, students may choose to wear scrubs.
- Jeans must be neat, without holes, fraying, or excessive wear.

Clinical Rotations:
- Professional dress unless otherwise directed by your preceptor.
Virtual RTC:
- Students may wear professional dress or Bethel attire (e.g., approved T-shirts, sweatshirts, or other Bethel branded apparel).
In-Person RTC – Depending on scheduled events:
- Students should plan to wear professional dress with white coat for scheduled events such as OSCE and Oral Boards.
- Otherwise, students should plan to wear scrubs and/or Bethel attire and jeans as directed by the RTC agenda.

Name Tag Requirement: Students must wear their official Bethel University PA Program name tag at all times. If the name tag is lost or broken, the student must contact the program to order a replacement immediately.
Didactic Year: Once distributed in the fall semester, students are required to wear their short white lab coat with the program patch and official name tag during designated activities.
Clinical Year: PA students are to be clearly identified in the clinical setting to distinguish them from other health profession students and practitioners; therefore, students are required to wear their white coat and name tag at all times while participating in clinical rotations.
Clinical Site ID: Students must carry their clinical site identification in accordance with clinical site requirements.

Closed-toe, professional footwear is required at all times.
Athletic shoes are acceptable provided they are clean and in good condition.
Sandals, flip-flops, open-toed shoes, or footwear deemed unsafe or unprofessional are not permitted.

Students must maintain a clean and neat appearance at all times.
Hair should be groomed and secured appropriately during labs, clinical activities, or patient interactions.
Hats are not to be worn in the building.
Fingernails must be clean and of appropriate length to ensure safety and professionalism. Artificial nails may be restricted in clinical or lab settings.
Jewelry should be minimal and not interfere with professional duties. Dangling or excessive jewelry is prohibited during labs or clinical activities.
Visible tattoos must be covered if deemed unprofessional or inappropriate by faculty or clinical supervisors.
Strong fragrances should be avoided to maintain a respectful environment for patients, peers, and faculty.

The program reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of attire and grooming.
Students not in compliance with the dress code may be asked to change clothing, leave class, and/or receive a professionalism citation.
The first failure to abide by dress code policy will result in a verbal warning from the program faculty/staff. Repeated violations will result in disciplinary action and a meeting with the Program Retention, and Disciplinary committee to determine the student’s professionalism and future in the program.
Failure to abide by clinical dress code consequences will be based on site where violation occurs. If violation occurs at the clinical site it will result in PRD meeting. If violation occurs during a RTC it will follow didactic policy.

The didactic student will be provided with the dress code policy in the Didactic Year Handbook, which is provided electronically in the new student packet. That packet is sent out by the Admissions Coordinator before the students matriculate.
During orientation week, the Academic Director and Academic Manager review the dress code policy and the Didactic Year Handbook in detail with students. The dress code policy is also reinforced during the professionalism lecture presented in orientation week.

First Offense: The student will receive a warning. The program faculty will fill out the Professionalism Form for dress code violation and it will be placed in the student permanent file.
Repeat Offense: The faculty or staff member will complete a Professionalism Form, which will trigger a meeting with the Promotion, Retention, and Disciplinary (PRD) Committee. The committee will determine whether the student’s behavior reflects broader professionalism concerns that may warrant disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the program.

Clinical year students are provided the Clinical Year Handbook during clinical orientation week. All policies are reviewed with the clinical year students with detailed explanations provided by the Clinical Director.
If there is a violation reported during clinical rotation, a Professionalism Form will be filled out and will be required to meet with the PRD committee.
If there is a violation during a return to campus, First Offense: The student will receive a warning. The program faculty will fill out the Professionalism Form for dress code violation. Repeat Offense: The faculty or staff member will complete a Professionalism Form, which triggers a meeting with the Promotion, Retention, and Disciplinary (PRD) Committee. The committee will determine whether the student’s behavior reflects broader professionalism concerns that may warrant disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the program.