The physician assistant program at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Florida, is a two-year, full-time course of study leading to a master's degree in physician assistant studies. The program is divided into a didactic year and a clinical year. During the didactic year, students take courses such as physical diagnosis, behavioral medicine, medical communications, clinical procedures and patient evaluation. During the clinical year, students engage in hands-on learning in specialties like emergency medicine, pediatrics, gynecology/obstetrics, surgery and internal medicine. Applicants should have a bachelor's degree, 2,000 hours of direct patient-care experience and all required pre-requisite courses. Financial aid is available.
UF School of Physician Assistant Studies
P.O. Box 100176
Gainesville, FL 32610
352-265-7955
pap.med.ufl.edu
Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, offers a 30-month physician assistant program. It consists of 13 months of classroom learning and 17 months of clinical learning. Courses include biochemistry, pediatrics, anatomical sciences, behavioral counseling, women's health and emergency medicine. To gain acceptance into the program, you need a bachelor's degree with at least a 3.0 GPA, specific prerequisite courses, a basic life support certification and a minimum GRE (graduate record exam) combined score of 1,000. Financial assistance is available.
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza
Taub Annex, MS: BCM115
Houston, TX 77030
713-798-3663
bcm.edu
The 27-month graduate physician assistant program at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, is ranked 14 out of 138 programs across the country, according to U.S. News and World Report. Students partake in classroom and hands-on learning in specialties like human anatomy and physiology, behavioral medicine, pediatrics, biostatistics and emergency medicine. Applicants need a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0, one year (or 2,000 hours) of patient care experience and completion of all prerequisite courses. Students can apply for tuition assistance.
Quinnipiac University
275 Mount Carmel Ave.
Hamden, CT 06518
203-582-8200
quinnipiac.edu