Accredited Physician Assistant Programs

State-by-State Listing of ARC-PA Accredited Physician Assistant Graduate Programs

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) is responsible for defining standards for PA education and evaluating programs to ensure they comply with established standards. Dedicated to protecting the interests of the public, as well as current and prospective PA students, the ARC-PA works to uphold the integrity of the PA profession by serving as the sole accrediting agency for physician assistant graduate programs in the United States.

Find Accredited Physician Assistant Programs By State

Here at PhysiciansAssistantRequirements.org we have worked to develop the premier resource for aspiring PA students and candidates for PA licensure. We compiled this comprehensive list of ARC-PA accredited programs to make it easier for our readers to find quality programs anywhere in the country.

You can confidently browse these schools knowing that they meet the ARC-PA’s rigorous accreditation standards by meeting certain key criteria:

The school must be geographically located in the U.S.
The School must be clearly defined as the sponsor of the PA program
The School must be authorized to provide a program of post-secondary education
The school must be accredited by and in good standing with a regional accrediting agency
The school must be authorized by the regional accrediting agency to confer a graduate degree

As of October 2015, the ARC-PA granted accreditation to the following PA programs:

Alabama

University of Alabama, Mobile

Program details: 27 months, on-site (no online classes)

University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham

Program details: 27 months; clinical hours in primary care, trauma, critical care, emergency medicine, and surgery

Alaska

Although there are no campus locations in Alaska that offer ARC-PA-accredited physician assistant programs, students can select from accredited online programs.

Arizona

Arizona School of Health Sciences, Mesa

Program details: 26 months; program also requires the completion of a capstone paper/project in collaboration with the faculty

Midwestern University, Glendale

Program details: 27 months; class of 2014 had a 96.7 percent graduation rate

Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 24 months; some courses delivered in collaboration with the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix

Arkansas

Harding University, Searcy

Program details: 28 months; clinical phase includes rotations throughout Arkansas

University of Arkansas, Little Rock (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 28 months; didactic phase (13 months), clinical phase (15 months)

California

Loma Linda University, Loma Linda

Program details: 24 months; pre-clinical phase (12 months), clinical phase (12 months)

Marshall B. Ketchum University, Fullerton (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 27 months; class size limited to 28 students

Moreno Valley College, Moreno Valley (probation status)

Program details: Withdrawing from the ARC-PA program effective October 1, 2016

Samuel Merritt University, Oakland

Program details: 27 months; small class sizes

Stanford University, Stanford

Program details: 21 months (7 quarters); includes community-based preceptorships

Touro University, Vallejo

Program details: 33 months; dual MSPAS/Master of Public Health (MPA) program

University of California – Davis, Sacramento

Program details: 27 months; a master’s thesis is required

University of Southern California, Los Angeles

Program details: 33 months; program curriculum emphasizes primary care

Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona

Program details: Two years (six semesters); small, private institution

Colorado

Red Rocks Community College, Lakewood

Program details: 25 months; students are co-registered at Saint Francis University

University of Colorado, Aurora

Program details: three-year program; offers several specialized track options: rural track, global health track, CU Unite, LEADS, and pediatric critical and acute care

Connecticut

University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport

Program details: 28 months; admits only one class in January of each year

Quinnipiac University, North Haven

Program details: 27 months; includes an extensive network of fieldwork experiences

Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven

Program details: 28 months; 12-month didactic phase, 16-month clinical phase

Delaware

Although there are no campus locations in Delaware that offer ARC-PA-accredited physician assistant programs, students can select from accredited online programs.

District of Columbia – Washington, DC

George Washington University

Program details: two programs available: traditional, 2-year program leading to a Master of Science in Health Sciences (MSHS); and the 3-year joint program leading to an MSHS and a Master of Public Health (MPH)

Howard University

Program details: Program remains a prominent educator of minority physician assistants nationally

Florida

Adventist University of Health Science, Orlando (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 27 months; 63 trimester hours of didactic education and 44 trimester hours of clinical education

Barry University, Miami Shores

Program details: three campus locations; students must take a 40-hour total immersion Medical Spanish course

Florida University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 27 months; 15 months of didactic education and 12 months of supervised clinical rotations

Keiser University, Clearwater

Program details: 24 months; accepts only 40 students per admissions cycle

Miami Dade College, Miami

Program details: 24 months (56 semester credits); 12-month didactic phase, 12-month clinical phase

Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Fort Myers

Program details: extensive network of clinical sites throughout Florida; also offers a concurrent PA/MPH degree

South University, Tampa

Program details: 27 months; eight, six-week clinical rotations conducted at a variety of clinical sites

University of Florida, Gainesville

Program details: two-years; clinical training areas include Gainesville, Jacksonville, Pensacola, Orlando, and Tampa

Georgia

Emory University, Atlanta

Program details: 29 months; also offers a PA/MPH program

Georgia Regents University, Augusta

Program details: Three-year program

Mercer University, Savannah

Program details: 28 months; admission limited to 50 students each spring

South University, Savannah

Program details: didactic phase (15 months), clinical phase (12 months)

Hawaii

Although there are no campus locations in Hawaii that offer ARC-PA-accredited physician assistant programs, students can select from accredited online programs.

Idaho

Idaho State University, Pocatello

Program details: 24 months, 12 months didactic and 12 months clinical

Illinois

Midwestern University, Downers Grove

Program details: 27 months; 12 months didactic coursework

Northwestern University, Chicago

Program details: 24 months; clinical component consists of seven, five-week rotations

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine, North Chicago

Program details: 24 months; second year consists of independent study courses, seminars, and clinical rotations

Rush University, Chicago

Program details: 33 months; 21-month clinical training

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Program details: 26 months; Masters Completion Program (MCP) is also offered for students who already possess a PA bachelor’s degree and are currently practicing as a physician assistant

Indiana

Butler University, Indianapolis

Program details: 24 months; features a competitive Direct Admit program to undergraduates advancing into the PA program

Indiana State University, Terre Haute (probation status)

Program details: 93 credits hours and 7 semesters; limited to 30 students annually

Indiana University School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Indianapolis (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 27 months, 7 semesters; 15 months didactic training, followed by 12 months of supervised clinical experience

University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne

Program details: 27 months (98 credit hours); 25 students selected into the program each May

Iowa

St. Ambrose University, Davenport (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 29 months, with a 14-month didactic portion

Des Moines University, Des Moines (probation status)

Program details: 25 months, 13 months of classroom study and 12 months of clinical experience

University of Iowa, Iowa City

Program details: 28 months; graduates have a 100 percent employment rate

Kansas

Wichita State University, Wichita

Program details: Program ranked in the top 35 percent of the nation; 10:1 application ratio

Kentucky

University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 27 months; 113 credit hours, of which 68 are didactic coursework

Sullivan University, Louisville, Lexington (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 24 months; first class to graduate June 2016

University of Kentucky, Lexington

Program details: Morehead and Lexington campuses; offers international clinical opportunities

Louisiana

Our Lady of the Lake, Baton Rouge

Program details: 28 months; no semester breaks

Louisiana State University, New Orleans (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 29 months; 17-month didactic, 12-month clinical

Louisiana State University, Shreveport

Program details: 27 months; 12 months didactic education, 15 months of clinical rotations throughout the State of Louisiana

Maine

University of New England, Portland, Biddeford

Program details: 24 months; June start only

Maryland

Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold

Program details: 25 months; collaborative program with the University of Baltimore Maryland

Towson University CCBC, Towson

Program details: 26 months; 97 credits

University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne (probation status)

Program details: Program to withdraw from the ARC-PA process as of December 31, 2015

Massachusetts

Bay Path University, Longmeadow (provisional accreditation)

Program details: new, state-of-the-art facility for physician assistant studies opened in 2015

Boston University, Boston (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 28 months; 101 credit hours

MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 25 months; on-site simulation and health assessment labs

MCPHS University, Boston

Program details: 30 months; fall semester start only

Northeastern University, Boston

Program details: 24 months; was the first generalist PA training program in the nation to offer a master’s degree in 1985

Springfield College, Springfield

Program details: 27 months; also offers a six-year pre-professional track for students without a bachelor’s degree

Tufts University, Boston (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 25 months; ranked among the top PA programs in the nation

Michigan

Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant (probation status)

Program details: 27 months; 15 months of didactic coursework, 12 months clinical mentorship program

Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 6 semesters, 100 semester credit hours; newly renovated facilities for PA students

Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Traverse City

Program details: 28 months; 16 months didactic, 12 months clinical

University of Detroit – Mercy, Detroit

Program details: two-year program; also offers a five-year entry-level master’s program

Wayne State University, Detroit

Program details: 24 months; six consecutive semesters

Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo

Program details: 24 months; program limited to 36-40 students each year

Minnesota

St. Catherine University, St. Paul

Program details: 28 months; new 3,600-square-foot human anatomy lab

Augsburg College, Minneapolis

Program details: 31 months; 18 months of didactic coursework

Bethel University, St. Paul (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 27 months; 116 credits

Mississippi

Mississippi College, Clinton

Program details: 30 months; admits 30 students each year

Missouri

Missouri State University, Springfield

Program details: 24 months; 12 months didactic, 12 months clinical;

Saint Louis University, St. Louis

Program details: 27 months; first-time PANCE rate for the last five years is 99 percent

University of Missouri – Kansas City, Kansas City

Program details: seven semesters

Montana

Rocky Mountain College, Billings

Program details: 26 months; 12 months clinical

Nebraska

Union College, Lincoln

Program details: 117 credit hours; also offers a pre-PA bachelor’s degree

University of Nebraska, Omaha

Program details: 28 months; 13 months didactic

Nevada

Touro University Nevada, Henderson

Program details: 28 months; also offers a bridge program for PA students

New Hampshire

Franklin Pierce University, Rindge

Program details: 27 months; four, twelve-week terms per year

MCPHS University, Manchester, Worcester

Program details: 24 months; state-of-the-art clinical simulation laboratories

New Jersey

Monmouth University, West Long Branch

Program details: 95 credits; no more than 30 individuals admitted to the program each year

Rutgers University, Piscataway

Program details: Three-year program; also offers a BA/MS degree

Seton Hall University, South Orange

Program details: three-year program; 64 weeks of clinical rotations

New Mexico

University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

Program details: 27 months; start date of mid-June each year

University of St. Francis, Albuquerque

Program details: 27 months; 15-month didactic, 12 month clinical

New York

Albany Medical College, Albany

Program details: 28 months; 12 months of clinical rotations

CCNY Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, New York

Program details: 28.5 months; 12-month clinical phase

Clarkson University, Potsdam

Program details: 28 months; 13-month didactic phase

Cornell University, New York

Program details: 26 months; program established in 1973

CUNY York College, Jamaica

Program details: students must possess a GPA of 2.5 in the didactic phase of the program to move on to the clinical phase

Daemen College, Amherst

Program details: offers a graduate program and a dual degree program (BS/MS) in physician assistants studies

D’Youville College, Buffalo

Program details: also offers a combined BS/MS program; 52-week clinical phase

Hofstra University, Hempstead

Program details: two and a half year sequence; also offers a direct-entry BS/MS program

LeMoyne College, Syracuse

Program details: 12-month clinical curriculum; students must work as part of a team on a master’s project

Long Island University, Brooklyn

Program details: 28 months; 15 months of clinical rotations

Marist College, Poughkeepsie

Program details: 24 months; seven required core rotations in the clinical year

Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, Manhattan, Bronx

Program details: 90 credits

New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury

Program details: 30 months; 48 weeks of clinical rotations

Pace University, New York City, Westchester

Program details: 77 credits; students rotate through nine, five-week clinical clerkships

Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester

Program details: BS/MS program

St. John’s University, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan

Program details: Culminates in a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Physician Assistant

Stony Brook University, Stony Brook

Program details: two-year program

SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn

Program details: 27-month program

SUNY Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse

Program details: 27 months; 15 months of didactic training, 12 months of clinical training

Touro College, Bay Shore

Program details: 24 months (6 semesters); BS/MS degree

Touro College, Manhattan

Program details: non-traditional 32-month program leading to a BS/MS

Wagner College, Staten Island

Program details: offers a BS/MS and an MS degree in Advanced Studies for practicing PAs

North Carolina

Campbell University, Buies Creek

Program details: 24 months; students study in the new Leon Levine Hall of Medical Sciences

Duke University Medical Center, Durham

Program details: 24 months; students complete 10 clinical rotations

East Carolina University, Greenville

Program details: 27 months; 15 months didactic, 12 months clinical

Elon University, Elon (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 27 months; 116.5 credits

Gardner Webb University, Boiling Springs (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 28 months; 16 months didactic, 12 months clinical

High Point University, High Point (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 27 months; seven consecutive semesters

Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory (provisional accreditation)

Program details: offers a pre-professional Bachelor of Science (BS) and an MS professional program

Methodist University, Fayetteville

Program details: 27 months; over 60 clinical rotation sites in the Fayetteville area

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (provisional accreditation)

Program details: New program; first class of students to enroll in January 2016

Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem

Program details: distant campus located at Appalachian State University

Wingate University, Wingate

Program details: 40 students admitted at the Wingate campus; 10 students admitted at the Hendersonville campus

North Dakota

North Dakota University, Grand Forks

Program details: 24 months

Ohio

Baldwin Wallace University, Berea (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 24 months; 12 months didactic, 12 months clinical

Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland

Program details: 28 months; collaborative program with Cleveland State University

Kettering College, Kettering

Program details: 95 credits; 40-week clinical phase;

Lake Erie College, Painesville (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 27 months; nine clinical rotations

Marietta College, Marietta

Program details: 12-month didactic phase; 14-month clinical phase, which include a capstone project

Ohio Dominican University, Columbus (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 27 months; 12-month clinical phase culminates in a board review course

Ohio University, Athens (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 27 months; PA program located at the Dublin Integrated Education Center in Dublin

University of Dayton, Dayton (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 27 months (7 semesters)

University of Toledo, Toledo

Program details: 27 months; 45 candidates accepted per class

University of Mount Union, Alliance

Program details: two-year program; 12 months of clinical rotations

University of Findlay, Findlay

Program details: 28 months, including summers; last three semesters include clinical rotations

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City (provisional accreditation)

Program details: New program; anticipated start date of January 2016

Kings College, Wilkes-Barre

Program details: BS/MS five-year program

Salus University, Elkins Park (probation status)

Program details: 25 months; small group sizes, patient care introduced in the first year

University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City (probation status)

Program details: 30 months; didactic training 15 months, clinical training 15 months

Oregon

Oregon Health and Science University, Portland

Program details: 26 months; ranked among the top 10 programs in the nation

Pacific University, Portland, Eugene, Forest Grove, Hillsboro

Program details: 27 months (seven consecutive semesters); students participate in community service projects

Pennsyvania

Arcadia University, Glenside

Program details: offers a number of global opportunities for PA students

Chatham University, Pittsburgh

Program details: 24 months (85 semester credits)

DeSales University, Center Valley

Program details: 24 months; 12 months didactic, 12 months clinical

Drexel University, Philadelphia

Program details: 27 months; 15 months of supervised clinical practice

Duquesne University, Pittsburgh

Program details: first, five-year entry level PA master’s degree in the nation

Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, Clearfield, Harrisburg, Coudersport

Program details: 24 months; emphases primary care

Marywood University, Scranton

Program details: 27 months; 12-month didactic, 15-month clinical

Misericordoria University, Dallas (probation status)

Program details: Program to withdraw from ARC-PA accreditation process effective August 30, 2017

Mercyhurst University, Erie (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 24 months; 12 months of clinical experiences

Penn State University, Hershey (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 101 credits; 55 in pre-clinical year, 46 in clinical year

Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport

Program details: Bachelor of Science degree

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia

Program details: 26 months; 12 consecutive months of clinical preceptorships in multiple medical disciplines

Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, East Falls

Program details: undergraduate and graduate-entry programs

Salus University, (probation status)

Program details: 25 months; anatomy-based curriculum with onsite cadaver lab

St. Francis University, Loretto

Program details: 5-year program (BS/MS); national and international clinical rotation opportunities

Seton Hill University, Greensburg

Program details: combined BS/MS and MS programs available

Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 27 months; 12 months of supervised clinical rotations

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh

Program details: 24 months; 12 months of clinical rotations

University of the Sciences of Philadelphia, Philadelphia

Program details: undergraduate pre-professional and graduate professional programs available

Rhode Island

Bryant University, Smithfield (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 12 clinical specialty rotations

Johnson and Wales University, Providence (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 24 months; part of the new Center for Physician Assistant Studies

South Carolina

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston

Program details: 27 months; begins in May each year

South Dakota

University of South Dakota, Vermillion

Program details: undergraduate (pre-PA) and graduate PA programs available

Tennessee

Bethel University, McKenzie

Program details: 147 total program hours

Christian Brothers University, South Memphis (probation status)

Program details: Program to withdraw from ARC-PA accreditation process effective May 31, 2017

Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate

Program details: 27 months; features unique Assessment Center and Simulation Laboratory

South College, Knoxville

Program details: 27 months; 15-month didactic, 12-month clinical

Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville

Program details: 27 months; 15-month didactic, 12-month clinical

University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis

Program details: 24 months; 112 semester hours

Texas

Baylor College of Medicine, Houston

Program details: 13-month didactic, 17-month experiential, including a master’s paper research project

Texas Tech University, Lubbock (probation status)

Program details: 27 months; 15 months academic phase, 12 month clinical experience phase

U.S. Army Interservice, Fort Sam Houston

Program details: 29 months; 16-month didactic phase, 13-month clinical phase

UT Southern Medical Center, Dallas

Program details: 30 months; 15 months of clinical rotations

University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth

Program details: ranked among the top 35 graduate-level PA programs in the nation

University of North Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio

Program details: 100 percent of PA graduates passed their national certification examination on the first try

University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

Program details: two-year program; 48 weeks clinical

University of Texas – Pan American, Edinburg

Program details: affiliated with more than 200 clinical preceptors/training facilities

Utah

Rocky Mountain University, Provo (provisional accreditation)

Program details: two-year program; clinical assignments in Utah and the intermountain west

University of Utah, School of Medicine, Salt Lake City

Program details: 15 months didactic (four, consecutive semesters); 12 months of clinical training (three semesters)

Vermont

Although there are no campus locations in Vermont that offer ARC-PA-accredited physician assistant programs, students can select from accredited online programs.

Virginia

Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk

Program details: 28 months; includes eight clinical experiences

James Madison University, Harrisonburg

Program details: program accepts 30 students each year; 16-month didactic, 12-month clinical

Jefferson College of Health Sciences, Roanoke

Program details: 27 months; 14 months didactic, 13 months supervised clinical rotations

Lynchburg College,Lynchburg (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 27 months; inaugural class graduated June 2015

Mary Baldwin College, Fishersville (provisional)

Program details: New program; start date to be January 2016

Shenandoah University, Winchester

Program details: 30 months (8 semesters)

Washington

Heritage University, Toppenish (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 24 months; limited to 32 students each year

University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle

Program details: two-year program; clinical includes a four-month primary preceptorship

West Virginia

Alderson Broaddus University, Philippi

Program details: 36 students accepted each year

University of Charleston, Charleston (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 110 total credits

West Liberty University,

Program details: 24 months; includes nine, five-week clinical rotations

Wisconsin

Carroll University, Waukesha

Program details: one year of coursework with supervised clinical rotations, followed by one year of clinical rotations

Concordia University, Mequon (provisional accreditation)

Program details: 26 months; 115 credit hours

Marquette University, Milwaukee

Program details: 3-year program; limited to 15 new students each year

University of Wisconsin, La Crosse

Program details: 11, four-week clinical rotations

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Program details: campus, distance, and dual-degree tracks

Wyoming

Although there are no campus locations in Wyoming that offer ARC-PA-accredited physician assistant programs, students can select from accredited online programs.