MMSc Physician Associate

Cohort Begins Fall | Credits 125 | Program Length 27 months | Format In-person, full time

Our program is dedicated to fostering skilled, adaptable, and compassionate Physician Assistants who can provide patient-centered and service-oriented care across various environments. Through these efforts, our goal is to revolutionize healthcare and positively impact both individuals and communities with a mission rooted in faith. 

At PBA, our unwavering dedication to advancement in the health sciences ensures that you will have the opportunity to participate in robust, interdisciplinary collaboration. Our clinical education is meticulously crafted to prepare you for the real-world challenges, encompassing a range of experiences, including essential rotations within our local community. With a strong focus on empathy and excellence, you will emerge from PBA ready to deliver empathetic care to those who require it most. .

Program Description

PBA’s new Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate (MMScPA) is a comprehensive 27-month graduate program that seamlessly integrates faith-based principles with training for individuals pursuing certification and licensure as a physician associate (PA). Over the course of 7 consecutive academic terms, students will complete 125 graduate credits, including 10 months of clinical rotations meticulously designed to blend didactic education with real-world clinical experiences, effectively preparing students for clinical practice, with a focus on diverse rotations within our local community. 

Palm Beach Atlantic PA school envisions enrolling 56 students per cohort, fostering a collaborative and enriching environment for both students and faculty. The PA program builds upon the esteemed reputation of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s nationally recognized pre-health, nursing, pharmacy, and other health science programs. Through immersive experiential learning, integration of faith, and dedicated mentorship from our faculty, you will be equipped to deliver exceptional, patient-centered, and compassionate care to all individuals in need. 

Cohort begins each Fall

Applications open for the 2024-2025 cycle on July 8th, 2024

Applications close for the 2024-2025 cycle on December 1st, 2024 

Available seats for the Class of 2027 are 48

See more about How to Apply  

START CASPA APPLICATION 

PA Program Mission Statement

The Mission of PBA PA Medicine is to develop PAs whom patients seek because of their compassion, spirituality, knowledge, and servant leadership. 

Career potential

PAs are in high demand—U.S. News and World Report rank physician assistants #2 among the best healthcare jobs. As the population increases and ages, the demand for healthcare services also grows. Physician assistants play a vital role in independently attending to patients and providing many of the same services as doctors. 

• Employment outlook: 27% increase from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations 
• Median salary (2022): $148,000 

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration

NCCPA Certification (A3.12c)

Upon fulfilling all curricular requirements, graduates become eligible to sit for the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). For further details about the PANCE and eligibility criteria, please visit nccpa.net.

Following the first cohort’s graduation from PBA PA Medicine, we will provide pass rates for the NCCPA exam along with detailed information on the graduates’ PANCE performance.  

Anticipating ARC-PA approval, PBA will begin interviewing for the inaugural class in the fall of 2023 and matriculate the first class on October 1, 2024.

Palm Beach Atlantic University PA program has applied for Accreditation-Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). PBA PA program anticipates matriculating its first class in October 2024, pending achieving Accreditation-Provisional status at the June 2024 ARC-PA meeting. 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 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.

Note: In the event accreditation is not obtained, all deposits will be refunded to cohort members.

Coming Soon