PCOM Physician Assistant Studies  
Program Description

The physician assistant program is 26 months in duration, leading to a master of science (MS) degree.

Our physician assistant program curriculum provides comprehensive academic and clinical medical education to prepare students for their professional roles as physician assistants. The physician assistant program consists of five consecutive terms (14 continuous months) of classroom instruction and four consecutive terms (12 continuous months) of clinical preceptorships in multiple medical disciplines.

The didactic component of the curriculum provides a solid foundation for the clinical component. Core didactic courses such as clinical medicine, pharmacology, pathology, history taking and physical examination provide a thorough theoretical and practical background in basic medical education and clinical diagnostic skills.

As students move through the physician assistant program curriculum they will develop a solid grounding as a generalist with a focus on patient communication skills and advanced clinical problem-solving skills. They will acquire technical proficiency in areas related to professional practice and will learn to use the latest in educational and medical technology.

All didactic phase requirements must be successfully completed to be eligible to progress to the clinical phase of the curriculum. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required for progression from the didactic phase to the clinical preceptorship phase.

During their clinical preceptorships, students refine their medical knowledge and clinical skills by participating in supervised patient care, teaching rounds and clinical procedures as they rotate through various preceptorships at out-patient and in-patient clinical facilities. In keeping with the mission of the program, students are exposed to a variety of practice settings and patient populations.

Following completion of preceptorships, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better to graduate. All requirements for graduation must be completed within 4.5 calendar years from the first date of matriculation.

Learn more about how to become a physician assistant.

Competitive applicants will have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution which includes satisfactory scores in prerequisite coursework. Additionally, applicants will be assessed based on letters of recommendation, healthcare experience and other factors. For additional details regarding applying to the physician assistant program and the requirements for admission, visit the physician assistant studies application requirements page.

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