Pre-Physician Assistant Studies

��Ƶ undergraduates who are interested in a career as a physician assistant may choose to complete a pre-PA track along with their bachelor’s degree in preparation for a graduate program. ��Ƶ offers a master’s in physical assistant studies program through its College of Health Professions. Pacific also offers several other pre-professional tracks.

About Physician Assistants

Physician assistants are licensed health professionals who practice medicine with physician supervision, exercise autonomy in medical decision-making, provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services, and may also perform education, research and administrative activities. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive healthcare, assist in surgery, and, in most states, can write prescriptions.

PAs are trained in intensive education programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Because of their close working relationship with physicians, PAs are educated in the medical model designed to complement physician training. They are educated in those areas of basic medical science and clinical disciplines that prepare them to function as primary care providers, including human anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, clinical laboratory medicine, clinical and preventive medicine and psych-social issues in healthcare. They are trained in the areas of family medicine, general internal medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, women's health, general surgery, psychiatry, health maintenance, and ambulatory, emergency and long-term care.

The highest concentration of PAs is in the northeast and southeast United States. More than half of all PAs practice in a primary care setting that includes family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology. About 19 percent are in surgery or the surgical subspecialties. PA programs look for students who have a desire to study, work hard, and to be of service to their community. Most physician assistant programs require applicants to have previous healthcare experience and some college education. The typical applicant already has a bachelor's degree and more than four years of healthcare experience. Nurses, EMTs, and paramedics often apply to PA programs.

Employment of physician assistants is expected to increase 28 percent from 2021 to 2031 as the population grows and as they offer a more affordable primary care model for many patients. The median annual wage of physician assistants in 2021 was $121,530.

Program and Requirements

A physician assistant education program typically takes two years of full-time study. Most accredited programs offer a master’s degree, though rare programs offer a bachelor’s or associate’s degree option.

The ��Ƶ School of Physician Assistant Studies offers a 27-month route to a master’s degree. Admission is highly competitive and requires a bachehlor’s degree, the prerequisite courses below and at least 1,000 hours of experience in direct patient care.

The program emphasizes problem-based learning, small group sessions.