MS in Health Sciences Physician Assistant Studies (PA) Program

PCOM offers a dynamic learning environment where students and educators constantly interact and collaborate with one another. All full-time PA program faculty are, or have been, practicing physician assistants, and thus they bring a broad range of perspectives and experience.

PA students also benefit from extensive hands-on experiences—starting early in the course of their studies. They work with patient-actors who assume the roles of patients with specific medical histories, train in modern medical facilities for clinical rotations, and benefit from clinician-patient encounters in supervised clinical practice experiences.

As a result of all this training, our PA Studies program graduates are exceptionally prepared and highly sought after. First-time pass rate for our graduates on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam is exceptionally high. Our graduates are so highly valued by employers that half pursue active job leads before graduation.

How long is PCOM’s PA Studies program?

PCOM's PA Studies program is a 26-month program consisting of five consecutive terms of instruction and four consecutive terms of clinical rotations.

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Physician Assistants (PAs) are health professionals who practice medicine with supervision by licensed physicians. PAs deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services in a variety of clinical settings.

• Physician Assistants deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services to diverse populations in both rural and urban settings throughout the world.
• PAs work in a variety of settings, including private practice, hospitals, nursing homes, student health services, and rural and urban clinics.
• Look in nearly any specialty within medicine and you'll find a physician assistant at work. With fast growth in the field predicted until 2022 and beyond, there's never been a better time to investigate the profession.

Can a physician assistant become a doctor?

The knowledge, skills and experience acquired as a physician assistant can be applicable to many related careers including physicians. PAs must still complete medical school and a residency program in order to become fully licensed doctors.

What are the prerequisites for becoming a physician assistant?

Applicants should have a baccalaureate degree in science or a health-related field. Direct patient experience, academic ability, problem-solving skills, maturity and commitment to the profession are among the factors considered for admission to PCOM's PA program. Visit our "How to Become a Physician Assistant" guide for more information.

Can you become a PA without a bachelor's degree?

A bachelor's degree—preferably in science or a health-related field, from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom—is required for admission to PCOM's PA program. For more information, visit the application requirements page.

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Visit our application requirements page to learn about degree requirements, the application process, prerequisite coursework and other considerations for PCOM's Physician Assistant Studies program. Ready to apply? PCOM is a participant in the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA), an online application service.

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PCOM is committed to helping students maximize funding sources and minimize student debt. Visit our Office of Financial Aid section to learn about cost of attendance, types of aid available and how to apply for financial aid.

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