Physician Assistant
MS
Physician Assistant at CMU
Aspiring to make a difference in healthcare and emphasize quality patient care? Consider becoming a Physician Assistant. Wondering, "How long is PA school?" Our 27-month program not only equips you with an in-depth curriculum and extensive clinical training but also places a strong emphasis on mentorship and teamwork. Here, you'll learn from seasoned professionals in a highly supportive environment, setting the stage for a gratifying and rewarding career as a Physician Assistant. Your pivotal role in patient care will not only fulfill your passion for healthcare but also address the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals in the field of medicine.
The Physician Assistant PA program is a graduate program. Pre-physician assistant is not an undergraduate major so undergraduates would need to select a major and complete all of the prerequisite courses needed for PA school. Common pre-physician assistant majors include exercise science, athletic training, health administration, public health, dietetics, child development, biology, biomedical science, and psychology.
Program Snapshot
How long is PA school?
This 27-month program is designed to prepare you to become a certified and licensed Physician Assistant, ready to practice medicine under physician supervision. The program spans 15 months of instructive education, followed by a clinical mentorship program during the last 2 semesters of the didactic year. The final 12 months comprise clinical clerkship rotations, offering invaluable experiences in primary care, behavioral health, surgery, and emergency medicine.
Your educational journey to becoming a Physician Assistant will take place in the state-of-the-art Health Professions Building, providing advanced learning environments and resources. This includes an outpatient clinic, a laboratory, and a high-tech instructional wing to accommodate various learning styles.
Upon successful program completion, you'll be eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE). This achievement grants you the opportunity to apply for licensure in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories."
What will you learn while becoming a Physician Assistant?
In our Physician Assistant program, you'll participate in:
- A top-ranked program — CMU students regularly score in the top 5-15 percent of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam PANCE.
- A program that prepares you; our five-year first-time PANCE pass rate is 96 percent.
- A program designed to help meet the needs of rural and underserved patient populations; the program was created to address the healthcare needs of residents in the northern lower peninsula and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
- You'll have hands-on clinical clerkship experiences, including emergency medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, women's health, behavior and mental health, general surgery, internal medicine, and an elective option.
Career as a Physician Assistant
A Physician Assistant is a specialized career, yet there are several healthcare setting choices you'll have. You can opt for the fast-paced emergency room environment, a general practitioner practice or a specialized healthcare organization.
| Career | Projected Salary |
|---|---|
| Physician Assistant | $121,530 |
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