Physician Assistant Studies, MS - Hybrid Program

Program Requirements

PAS-Hybrid applicants need to have completed the following prerequisites:

• Biology with lab designed for science majors, two semesters*
• Microbiology with lab, one semester*
• Chemistry with lab designed for science majors, two semesters* 
• Anatomy with lab and Physiology* (This requirement may be met by taking either one semester of Anatomy with lab and one semester of Physiology or two semesters of Anatomy with lab & Physiology combined.)
• Statistics, one semester
• Medical Terminology, one semester for at least 1 college credit
• English Composition/writing, two semesters
• Psychology, one semester

*Both prerequisite science courses and cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is required

There is no expiration date for prerequisite courses. 

Other Admission Criteria

Successful completion of an undergraduate degree (BS or BA) at an accredited institution

• Online Application: Upload all application materials through Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). 
• Patient Care Experience: A minimum of 500 hours of direct, “hands-on,” patient care experience is required by the application deadline. Examples of eligible experiences may include work as an RN, EMT, paramedic, medical assistant, physical therapy or occupational therapy assistant. 
• Personal Statements: Students must provide two personal statements in CASPA. Your first essay should be a personal statement focusing on why you want to become a PA. The second essay should reflect the mission of the PA Studies Hybrid program and commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
• Letters of Recommendation: Submit three letters of recommendation including one (1) character reference, one (1) from a supervisor of the required patient care experience and one (1) insrtuctor.

All coursework, requirements, and degree must be completed by August 31st of the application year in order to be considered for a seat in the class that will begin the following January.

Virtual Interview Process

Interviews for seats in our program are performed and scored by the program director, faculty, and practicing PAs. They include the following parts and scoring:

• Essay: Higher scores are awarded based on apparent appreciation for the state of the PA profession, passion for pursuing PA school to positively impact the profession, language and writing skills, and editorial care
• Individual interview: Higher scores are awarded based on the strength of demonstration of the following qualities: adaptability/stress management, conflict resolution, and technical and professional knowledge/ability to learn
• Group interview: Higher scores are awarded based on the strength of demonstration of the following qualities: active listening, conflict management, probing the group to maximize performance, leadership skills, clarification of group responses, encouraging and harmonizing with fellow group members, articulation, drawing others into the conversation, offering ideas, and summarizing

Program and Admission Notes 

• The program is two full years (six consecutive semesters) and classes start each January (spring semester)
• Applications will be considered only until the class is filled 
• Students are highly encouraged to apply early
• The program does not offer advanced standing 
• All courses within the curriculum are required
• No credit is granted for pre-admission experiential learning
• Only full-time students are admitted
• All applicants need to identify as U.S. citizens, have documentation of permanent residency or have dual citizenship status

Accreditation

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the University of Pittsburgh Physician Assistant Studies Hybrid Program sponsored by University of Pittsburgh.

Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation- Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-university-of-pittsburgh- hybrid/.

Plan of Study

The University of Pittsburgh PA Studies Hybrid Program is a 24-month program that awards a Master of Science degree upon successful completion.  The goals and objectives of the program are guided by the criteria set forth in the Standards and Guidelines for an Accredited Educational Program for the Physician Assistant as established by ARC-PA.

The first three semesters (12 months) are made up of didactic instruction.  This didactic component will consist of asynchronous and synchronous online didactic courses.   The didactic content will be presented using interactive online educational activities to promote knowledge acquisition.  Synchronous, instructor-led, online activities will facilitate application and synthesis of the knowledge acquired through the asynchronous online activities.  The onsite intense immersion laboratory experiences will be utilized to master the development of clinical skills necessary for examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and assessment of outcome.  The curriculum is presented by practicing physician assistants, medical and surgical physicians, and other health care providers who have expertise in their respective specialties.  All didactic component courses are sequential and must be successfully completed in order to progress to the next term of the curriculum. 

The last three semesters (12 months) are made up of a  clinical component and will consist of Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPE) in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Behavioral Health, Obstetrical and Gynecological Medicine, and an Elective.  There is also a Transition to Professional Practice course at the end of the clinical curriculum. 

Since each course in the program is offered only once during each academic year, any departure from completing a course in its planned sequence (e.g. failure to receive a passing grade of ‘C’ or better, leave of absence from the program) will result in a delay by retaking the course the following year, as well as delays in completing the program and graduating with the Master of Science degree.

Program Credits Total: 82

Certification

Graduates of the professional program are eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certification of the Physician Assistant (NCCPA). All States and the District of Columbia have legislation governing the qualifications or practice of physician assistants. All jurisdictions require physician assistants to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. Only those successfully completing the examination may use the credential “Physician Assistant-Certified.” To remain certified, PAs must complete 100 hours of continuing medical education every 2 years. Every 10 years, they must pass a recertification examination.