Top Physician Assistant Schools in the United States

Physician assistants are medical professionals who provide primary care to patients under the supervision of a physician or surgeon. A physician assistant degree program is frequently offered at the master's degree level and consists of supervised clinical training, laboratory work and classroom instruction. All physician assistants must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).

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Top Schools for Physician Assistants in the U.S.

1. Yale University in New Haven, CT

Yale University offers a Master's of Medical Science through its physician associate program. The 28-month program consists of didactic, clinical and research learning through lectures, discussion groups, clerkships, original research activities and completion of a master's thesis. Coursework in anatomy, physiology, clinical care standards, surgical assisting, pharmacology and preventive medicine are supplemented by hands-on training in suturing, dissection labs and role-playing as physician assistants. In 2012, Yale University was ranked third among national universities by U.S. News & World Report.

2. University of Florida in Gainesville, FL

The University of Florida offers a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree. A bachelor's degree is a prerequisite to enrollment in the two-year program. The first year is devoted to didactic learning while the second year is wholly made up of clinical training rotations that include primary care, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, emergency care, intensive care and psychiatry. The first-time PANCE pass rate for graduates of the program was 97% in 2011, compared with the national average of 93%. The Princeton Review listed the University of Florida as one of the best colleges in the U.S. in 2012.

3. George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

George Washington University offers a physician assistant master's program in which students attend some classes with other health sciences program students, like medical school or nurse practioner students. Students take classes and rotate among both inpatient and outpatient settings. They may serve in specialty practice areas like pediatrics, long-term care, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine and surgery to gain clinical experience with a variety of patients. Graduates can earn a Master of Science in Health Sciences degree (MSHS) or they can pursue a 3-year joint MSHS/Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. U.S. News & World Report ranked George Washington University among the 50 best national universities in 2012.

List of Ten Good Physician Assistant Schools in the United States

School Name Distinction Location
Emory University Listed as one of the best U.S. colleges in 2012 by the Princeton Review Atlanta, GA
George Washington University More than 1,000 physician assistants are alumni Washington, D.C.
King's College Offers a 5-year accelerated Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree program Wilkes-Barre, PA
Philadelphia University School's major-related employment rate for graduates above 90% Philadelphia, PA
Seton Hall University Joint Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Science in Physician Assistant degree program offered South Orange, NJ
Stony Brook University First-time pass rate for PANCE was 97% in 2010 Stony Brook, NY
University of Florida Only state-funded physician assistant graduate program in Florida Gainesville, FL
University of Iowa Ranked second among physician assistant programs by U.S. News and World Report in 2011 Iowa City, IA
University of Utah One of the oldest programs for physician assistants in the U.S. Salt Lake City, UT
Yale University Does not use traditional credit hour system New Haven, CT
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