The opening of the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences was celebrated July 23, 2008 with the dedication of Butler-Haney Hall in Yakima, Wash. (AP photo/Yakima Herald-Republic, Gordon King)

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences is set to nearly double the size of its medical college class next year, increasing the number of students from 70 to 135.

The increase will take effect in time for new students entering the school in fall 2013.

Administrators and faculty are thrilled that the Commission of Osteopathic College Accreditation, or COCA, approved the schools application for a class increase, said Dr. Keith Watson, PNWUs president.

This is another step towards realizing PNWUs vision as a leader in community-based primary care education and our efforts to increase the numbers of primary care physicians in the healthcare force, Watson said in a news release. Our graduates will become well-trained, primary-care-focused osteopathic physicians addressing the vast and significant physician workforce shortage areas in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

The COCA approval came two weeks ago after PNWU submitted its application on Dec. 1. But the efforts to make PNWU ready for a larger class go back much further.

The university has been looking to expand its 70-student limit since 2008, with the number of applicants growing from 1,976 for the inaugural class to 2,536 for the class that will graduate in 2016.

In certifying schools for class size increases, COCA examines classroom and lab space, school curriculum, adequacy of faculty and staff, and rotation openings for third- and fourth-year medical students, among other criteria.

In June, PNWU broke ground on a $5 million expansion of the main Butler-Haney Hall as part of the schools Phase II of construction, in anticipation of a larger class and the application it would file with COCA, administrators said at the time.

The school has also been working with a consultant who specializes in medical school buildings to learn how to optimize existing space for students and classes.

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Local medical school class size to nearly double